♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HI AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

THIS WEEK WE ARE GETTING OUTSIDE.

WILDERNESS LOUISVILLE IS ALL ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY YOUTH, OUTSIDE AND IN NATURE.

IT IS A LOCAL NON-PROFIT THAT SUPPORTS DOZENS OF NATURAL AREAS, INCLUDING THE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST.

THE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST IS NOT ONLY THE LARGEST NATURE PRESERVE IN THE CITY.

IT IS THE LARGEST MUNICIPALLY OWNED URBAN FOREST IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, SPANNING OVER 6500 ACRES, JUST 15 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF 5227 FOOTBALL FIELDS.

THE MISSION OF WILDERNESS LOUISVILLE IS THAT NATURE IS FOR EVERYONE.

AND THIS GROUP WANTS TO MAKE SURE THERE IS EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ALL LOUISVILLIANS TO GET INVOLVED WITH NATURE.

ONE OF THE GAPS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED IS IN WEST LOUISVILLE SO THE WEST LOUISVILLE OUTDOOR RECREATION INITIATIVE AND ENGAGING CHILDREN OUTDOORS OR ECHO, IS A COMMUNITY-LED PLANNING EFFORT TO MAKE SURE OUTDOOR SPACES ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

>> THE OVERALL MISSION OF THE INITIATIVE ENGAGING CHILDREN OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING IS TO CREATE CRADLE TO CAREER ACCESS TO NATURE FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO OUT OF SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES, TO SUMMER JOB OPPORTUNITIES, WE REALLY WANT TO FOSTER AND BUILD A LOVE OF NATURE IN YOUTH SO THAT THEY BECOME THE NEXT GREEN CAREER LEADERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS.

>> IN LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY, WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PARKS, BUT THERE ARE SOME NATURE ACCESS ISSUES, ESPECIALLY IN WEST LOUISVILLE, AND THERE ARE ALSO ISSUES OF POLLUTED LAND AND AIR, WATER AND BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENT OR BECAUSE OF INDUSTRY, OUR LACK OF INVESTMENT.

THERE IS LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE, I THINK.

SOME OF THE HEALTH INEQUITIES WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ARE LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY, HIGHER RATES OF DISEASE AND HEALTH PROBLEMS.

INFRASTRUCTURE ACCESS HAS BEEN A PART OF THAT, TO GETTING PEOPLE OUTDOORS, CREATING SAFE PARK SPACES AND CREATES A SOCIAL COHESION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN SHAWNEE PARK AND THE WEST LOUISVILLE OUTDOOR RECREATION HAS IMPROVED THE AMERCHTS IN THE PARK.

WE HAVE A BICYCLE TRACK AND HIKING TRAIL, BOAT RAMP THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE RIVER AND EVENTUALLY THE SHAWNEE OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER WHICH WILL BE THE HOME BASE FOR ALL OF THE ECHO PROGRAMMING.

>> IT HAS IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT IS GIVING THE CHILDREN A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO, FIXING OF THE POND AND THE ABILITY TO FISH AND CANOE AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND BUILDINGS AND IT IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THEY GET OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE, GET OFF THE COUCHES AND THE COMPUTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND INTO NATURE.

>> WE LOVE BEING A PART OF ECHO.

IT HAS BEEN A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE, NOT ONLY FOR ME AS A PARENT, BUT FOR MY DAUGHTER ADDISON, SHE LOVES COMING HERE AND EVEN MY TWO-YEAR-OLD SON HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN PROGRAMMING.

IT IS SOMETHING POSITIVE AND SOMETHING HEALTH #E AND IT ALLOWS THEM TO LEARN ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

>> THERE IS LOTS OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU CAN LEARN FROM THE STUFF AND EVEN IF YOU FIRST TRY IT AND YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO IT, THEY PUSH YOU TO TRY IT AND YOU END UP TRYING IT AND THEN YOU KNOW, OH, THIS IS ACTUALLY PRETTY FUN.

LET ME TRY SOME MORE.

YOU CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE AND SAY AND SAFE BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFE PLACE.

YOU CAN LEARN A LOT FROM IT.

>> SO WITH PROVIDING PROGRAMS, WE ARE REACHING AROUND 2500 YOUTH ANNUALLY, AS WELL AS FAMILIES AND FOR FAMILY PROGRAMS AND WE ARE BASED IN SHAWNEE PARK AND GOING OUT TO OTHER LOUISVILLE PARKS AS WELL.

PROVIDING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION.

WE ARE DOING NATURE PLAY SO WE ARE REACHING ALL THE AGE GROUPS FROM NATURE PLAY, WITH PRESCHOOLERS, ALL THE WAY UP TO DOING TEEN CAMP PROGRAMS AND EVEN FINDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS, TOO.

THANKS TO GETTING FURTHER FASTER INITIATIVE, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ARTICULATE APPROPRIATELY THE WAYS TO MOVE ECHO FORWARD.

THEY HELPED US CREATE A SUSTAINABILITY AND POLICY PLAN AND THOSE WILL REALLY HELP US ADDRESS THE INEQUITIES IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE EXPANSION OF ECHO.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO CREATE THE SHAWNEE OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER HERE IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

THERE ARE NATURE CENTERS THAT EXIST IN SOUTH LOUISVILLE AND EAST LOUISVILLE BUT NONE THAT EXIST HERE IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

SO THIS BUILDING WILL SERVE ALL OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT WILL PROVIDE COMMUNITY SPACE FOR EVENTS AND BE THE HOME BASE FOR ALL OF THE ECHO PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING THE OUT OF SCHOOL TIME COMMUNITY EVENTS AND NATURE PLAY.

ULTIMATELY WE JUST WANT TO PROVIDE NATURE CONNECTION AND APPRECIATION OF NATURE.

I REALLY JUST THINK THAT SENSE OF BELONGING IN THEIR LOCAL PARKS IS SO IMPORTANT.

ONE OF THE POLICIES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO INITIATE IS THE CHILDREN'S OUTDOOR BILL OF HEALTH AND THAT JUST STATES WHAT CHILDREN HAVE BASIC RIGHTS TO.

A HEALTHY SPACE, SAFE SPACE.

THE ABILITY TO CLIMB A TREE, THE ABILITY TO TAKE A WALK IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND BASIC CHILDREN'S RIGHTS OF BEING OUTSIDE.

>> PRASANTHI PERSAD IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WILDERNESS LOUISVILLE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ANDY REYNOLDS, THE BOARD CHAIR FOR WILDERNESS LOUISVILLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WE JUST SAW A LITTLE BIT OF ECHO LOUISVILLE, AND SOME OF THOSE SMILING FACES OF KIDS IN THE OUTDOORS.

TELL US ABOUT THIS PROGRAM PARTICULARLY, THIS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

HOW DID IT START AND THEN HOW HAS IT CHANGED OR EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS?

>> SURE.

IT'S LOUISVILLE ECHO AND ECHO IS AN ACRONYM FOR LOUISVILLE ENGAGING CHILDREN OUTDOORS AND THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2008.

IT WAS STARTED AS A WAY TO HAVE NATURE EDUCATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH IN UNDER SERVED AREAS.

SO WHERE KIDS, ESPECIALLY IN WEST LOUISVILLE AND SOUTH LOUISVILLE DON'T HAVE EASY ACCESS TO NATURE, IT STARTED WITH A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE IN 2008 FOR PROGRAMMING WITH FOURTH GRADERS.

SO IT'S BEEN 17 YEARS AND THERE HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, THEY HAVE CHANGED WHICH SCHOOLS THEY'RE WORKING WITH BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S EXPANDED, THE NATURALISTS WITH THE ECHO PROGRAM ARE WORKING WITH KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADERS AT ATKINSON ELEMENTARY AND CORAL RIDGE ELEMENTARY AND HOPING TO FIND MORE PARTNER SCHOOLS TO WORK WITH.

WE ARE REALLY THRILLED.

IT'S THE PROGRAM OVER THE PAST 17 YEARS, HAS REALLY GROWN AND THRIVED SO I'M-- AND IT'S A LOT OF IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE PROGRAMMERS, THE NATURALISTS WHO WORK WE CAN OWE-- WITH ECHO AND THE STUDENTS AND PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM.

>> I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SUCH A TIMELY SUBJECT FOR KIDS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE SO MANY TIMES IN FRONT OF SCREENS AND EVEN IN SCHOOL, THEY'RE IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER SCREEN.

SO, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU GUYS-- I'M ASSUMING, HAVE HAD SOME REAL WORLD STATISTICS OR EXPERIENCE ON HOW THIS IMPACTS KIDS?

JUST BEING IN NATURE?

>> SO THERE IS A LOT.

THERE IS A BREADTH OF RESEARCH ON THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, SPIRITUAL, INTELLECTUAL, EVERY ASPECT THAT HAS POSITIVE BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF BEING OUT IN NATURE, OF EXPLORING, BUILDING UP THEIR CONFIDENCE.

IT JUST GIVES THEM A FEELING OF AUTONOMY.

SO THEY'RE JUST-- THE BENEFITS ARE NUMB RABBLE.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE SO SPECIAL ABOUT CHILDREN BEING IN NATURE.

>> WE SAW SOME RENDERINGS OF THE SHAWNEE OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER.

THIS HAS BEEN FOR QUITE SOMETIME BUT IT HAS BEEN ON HOLD.

WHERE DOES IT STAND RIGHT NOW.

>> WE HAVE SEEN A TOTAL CONTRIBUTION OF $9.5 MILLION TOWARD THAT FACILITY WHICH IS VERY EXCITING.

WE RECEIVED $2.5 MILLION FROM METRO AND $7 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

SO THAT MONEY IS SITTING.

WE ARE-- THE INITIAL RENDERINGS CAME THROUGH BEFORE COVID, WHICH PUT A PAUSE ON THINGS.

AND SO NOW WE ARE WORKING WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL FORM TO FORMALIZE THE RENDERINGS TO SEE WHAT CHANGED FROM 2018 AND 2019 TO NOW.

WE ARE HOPING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> YOU WERE TELLING ME, TOO, THAT YOU CONSIDER THIS THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE WEST LOUISVILLE OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN.

EXPLAIN WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMMING YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ONCE THIS HAPPENS?

>> SURE.

IT'S CALLED THE LO RE.

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS HAD TO BE MADE.

WE WERE JUST SAYING FOR WEST LOUISVILLE STUDENTS, YOUTH TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN OUTDOOR RECREATION, THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAD TO BE IN PLACE FIRST.

SO WHEN LORI WAS LED BY COMMUNITY COUNCIL THAT WAS COMPOSED OF WEST LOUISVILLE RESIDENTS AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO GUIDED ALL THE PRINCIPLES.

SO IT'S REAL A COMMUNITY-LED EFFORT WHICH WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR.

AND SO THE SHAWNEE OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER IS THE ONE OUTSTANDING PIECE BUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED HAVE BEEN THERE IS A HIKING TRAIL IN SHAWNEE PARK.

THERE IS A BICYCLE PUMP TRACK IN SHAWNEE PARK.

THERE IS A BOAT RAMP THAT WILL GIVE ACCESS FOR CANOEING AND KAYAKING ALONG THE OHIO RIVER AND SHAWNEE PARK AND THEN WILDERNESS LOUISVILLE WAS ALSO, PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN RAISING FUNDS FOR THE PLAY AREA AND POND RESTORATION OF THE CHICKASAW POND.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF INITIATIVES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED IN THIS AREA.

WHAT HAVE YOU ALL HEARD AS FAR AS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK?

I KNOW YOU INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY A LOT IN THESE PLANS.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM THEM ABOUT , YOU KNOW, HOW IT HAS REALLY IMPACTED THAT AREA AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE?

>> YEAH, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PARTNERS.

PLAY COUSINS INITIATIVE WAS INVOLVED IN THE CHICKASAW PLAY AREA AS WELL AND WE STILL HAVE THE WLORI COUNCIL THAT IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN EACH OF THESE PROJECTS TO GIVE US FEEDBACK.

THEY HAVE BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE TO THE IDEA OF SORT OF REFURBISHING AND ENHANCING THE EXISTING PARK STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

WE HAVE AN OLMSTEAD PARK SYSTEM THAT IS UNMATCHED IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN AREAS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN SUBURBAN SPRAWL, AS PEOPLE HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE CORE OF THE CITY, WE HAVE PLACES LIKE THE PARKLANDS WHICH ARE GREAT FACILITIES BUT THEY HAVE MOVED FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS OF LOUISVILLE.

SO BEING ABLE TO INVEST BACK IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROVIDE OUTLETS, ESPECIALLY FOR, YOU KNOW, NATURE PLAY AND, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THOSE AREAS AND HAVE PARKS THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY BE PROUD OF, IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BRING BACK.

>> AND YOU ALL ACE BOARD, TOO, WORK WITH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

AND THAT IS PART OF THE OUTDOOR LEARN CENTERING IN WEST LOUISVILLE RECREATION INITIATIVE?

>> EXACTLY.

THE SHAWNEE OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER, IT IS ONE OF THE FUNDRAISERS AND CHAMPIONS OF THE FACILITY AND WE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY BUT IT'S STILL A METRO LOUISVILLE PARK.

IT WOULD BE A METRO FACILITY STAFFED BY METRO EMPLOYEES AND NATURALISTS AS WELL.

I THINK SHE MENTIONED THE TOTAL CAPACITY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW FOR GOING INTO CLASSROOMS AND SPEAKING TO CHILDREN IS AROUND 2500 STUDENTS PER YEAR.

THE SHAWNEE OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER WOULD ALLOW THAT OVER TIME TO BE DOUBLED TO ABOUT 5,000 STUDENTS.

>> WOW.

>> SO WE DO A LOT THAT IS IN SCHOOLS.

WE ALSO HAVE THE ECHO MOBILE WHICH IS A BOX TRUCK WITH A WRAP THAT TAKES NATURE PLAY EQUIPMENT OUT.

IF ANYBODY CAME OUT TO FOREST FEST AT JEFFERSON MEMORIAL IN MAY, YOU COULD SEE, YOU KNOW, KIDS CLIMBING ON STUMPS AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO USE THEIR IMAGINATION AND PLAY WITH THE OBJECTS THAT THEY CAN SEE IN NATURE ALL THE TIME.

SO THIS WOULD BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME THAT IS STILL IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, JUST GIVING DIFFERENT OUTLETS, RIGHT?

EVERYBODY NEEDS A DIFFERENT WAY TO INTERACT WITH NATURE.

WE HAVE SOME GREAT ASSETS, JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST IS UNIQUE AMONG LARGE MUNICIPALITIES, THE LARGEST MUNICIPALLY OWNED URBAN FOREST IN THE COUNTRY BUT STILL NOT EVERYBODY CAN GET OUT THERE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THINGS IN PEOPLE'S NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> SPEAKING OF JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST, I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT.

I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS THE LARGEST MUNICIPALLY OWNED URBAN FORESTER IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

THAT IS PHENOMENAL.

AND YOU ALL ARE UNDERGOING RIGHT NOW KIND OF A NEW MASTER PLAN FOR THIS, WHICH IS STILL IN THE WORKS.

>> YES, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN A LITTLE BIT.

>> SURE.

THEY'RE GETTING READY TO WORK ON REVAMPING.

THE MASTER PLAN IS A LITTLE OUTDATED SO THERE IS GOING TO BE INVESTMENT IN REVAMPING AND REVITALIZING THE MASTER PLAN TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES WOULD BE, WHICH PROJECTS THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AND WHEN THEY'RE DOING THIS, THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TORE COMMUNITY TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS THROUGH FOCUS GROUPS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS AND MEETINGED.

WE WOULD LIKE COMMUNITY PUT IN THAT SO WE WILL-- STAY TUNED TO THE LOUISVILLE WEBSITE TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED.

>> WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU ARE HOPING TO SEE IN THE MASTER PLAN?

ARE THERE ANY SPECIFICS OF, YOU KNOW, UPDATES OR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE INVOLVED IN THAT.

>> A LOT OF IT IS LAND ACQUISITION, TO BE HONEST AND SOME OF THIS IS JEFFERSON MEMORIAL HAS SOME AREAS THAT ARE MORE ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE FOREST.

SO A LOT OF IT IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A LARGE CONTIGUOUS AREA THAT IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE FOREST AND INSIDE THE FOREST.

IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO CONNECT HIKING TRAILS IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO ALWAYS COME BACK OUT TO A ROAD OR YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE ARE SEEING GREAT INVESTMENT THERE ALREADY.

A LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE COMMUNITY DRIVEN SO IT'S NOT SO MUCH WAS WE WANT TO SEE SPECIFICALLY.

IT'S ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE AND WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO USE THE FOREST AND THE PEOPLE WHO NEIGHBOR THE FOREST WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND WHAT THEY THINK IS IMPORTANT.

I DON'T WANT TO SORT OF PUT MY THUMB ON THE SCALE SO MUCH.

WE HAVE SOME IDEAS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND TELL US WHAT THEY THINK THEY NEED.

AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT PART OF WHAT WE COVER AS WILDERNESS LOUISVILLE IS THE NATURAL AREAS DIVISION OF METRO PARK.

SO IF YOU THINK OF PARKS, YOU THINK OF, YOU KNOW, SENECA PARK, CHEROKEE PARK, YOU KNOW, SHAWNEE PARK THAT WE HAVE MENTIONED.

BUT THOSE ARE MORE SORT OF CURATED SPACES THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE MORE MAINTAINED AND MOWED AND IT'S SOCCER PRACTICE FIELDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, THE NATURAL AREAS DIVISION ARE THE PLACES IN NATURE THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE UNTOUCHED.

SO IT'S AN AREA THAT YOU CAN GO AND HIKE AND YOU CAN BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY BUT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE SOMEWHERE LIKE RED RIVER GORGE.

IF YOU ARE AT JMF, YOU ARE FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM FAIRDALE BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS.

>> I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY DOES, AND SOMEBODY HAS TO MAINTAIN AND GET THE MONEY FOR AND UPDATES FOR AND TAKE CARE OF.

SO THAT'S WHAT WILDERNESS LOUISVILLE DOES.

THERE WAS A RECENT EXPANSION OF THE RECREATIONAL AREA IN JEFFERSON MEMORIAL, THIS WAS A BIG DEAL.

TELL US ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT AND WHAT THESE NEW IMPROVEMENTS MEAN?

>> YEAH, SO THIS WAS A 2K $.8 MILLION-- $2.8 MILLION INVESTMENT GREW GRANTS AND PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM METRO GOVERNMENT, WE JUST HAD A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

WE, THOMAS WALLACE RECREATIONAL CENTER AT THE PARK AND THE FOREST, WE HAVE THE TOM WALLACE LAKE THAT HAS BEEN STOCKED WITH FISH FOR DECADES.

BUT IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE MOST ACCESSIBLE AREA.

SO THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT THERE WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAD ACCESSIBLE ACCESS TO THE LAKE SO WE HAVE PAVED WALKING PATHS AROUND THE LAKE NOW.

WE INVESTED IN AN ACCESSIBLE NATURE PLAY AREA.

SO A PLAYGROUND THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE ACORNS AND INSTEAD OF A REGULAR SWING SET, IT'S LIKE A BIG, YOU KNOW, LOG SWING SET.

A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT LIKE PICNIC PAVILIONS AND WAYS YOU CAN GO OUT AND BE ON THE EDGE OF THE FOREST AND NOW YOU CAN WALK DOWN AND WALK AROUND THE LAKE INSTEAD OF JUST BEING ABLE TO SEE IT FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM YOUR CAR OR FROM THE PARKING LOT.

SO I WAS VERY EXCITED.

I TOLD MY FAMILY, WHEN THIS HAPPENED, AND THEY SAID WE'LL ALL GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

WE WERE GOING TO GO BUT WE WENT OUT AND COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO PARK SO IT WAS GREAT NEWS TO HEAR THAT EVERYBODY KNEW IT WAS OPEN AND EVERYBODY WAS OUT THERE.

>> A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE, RIGHT?

SO THIS IS SORT OF THE BEGINNING, I GUESS, OF THIS NEW REVAMP OR JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST FOR THE MASTER PLAN, THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY AWARDED MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT AS WELL AS THE CITY.

AND SO WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO COME OUT OF THAT?

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE?

>> A LOT OF IT, AS YOU GET MORE TRAFFIC IN THE PARK, YOU NEED SOME MORE AMENITIES, THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, RESTROOMS, ARE ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT AS PEOPLE ARE GOING FARTHER AROUND THE LAKE, YOU NEED RESTROOMS THAT THEY CAN GET TO.

AND AGAIN WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER DEVELOP THE PARK AND THE FOREST BECAUSE AGAIN, IT IS MEANT TO BE A NATURAL AREA.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS LIKE TRAIL RESTORATION THAT CAN BE DONE THAT WE CAN SORT OF HIGHLIGHT THE EXISTENCE OF THE FOREST YOU KNOW, AT THE BACK END OF FAIRDALE THAT RIGHT NOW THERE IS A SIGN A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS THERE, EVEN IF THEY DRIVE THROUGH FAIRDALE, SO TRYING TO MAKE THE ENTRANCE MORE APPEALING AND INVITING AND MAKE PEOPLE AWARE IT EXISTS.

I KNOW MAYOR GREENBURGH, WHEN WE HAD THE RIBBON CUTTING MENTIONED THAT RAISING MONEY AND INVESTING IN JEFFERSON MEMORIAL WAS ONE OF HIS TOP THREE PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I THINK HE HAS PUT IN A VERY SUBSTANTIAL REQUEST OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

HOPEFULLY THE SUCCESS WE HAVE SEEN AND THE EXCITEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY SO QUICKLY AFTER MAKING THAT INVESTMENT AT TOM WALLACE WILL PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL MOMENTUM TO SAY HEY, IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME SITUATION; WILL IF YOU LET PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THINGS THAT THEY CAN USE AND INTERACT WITH EVERY DAY, THEY WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO COME BACK.

>> SURE.

YOU MENTIONED HOW LOUISVILLE IS SO FORTUNATE TO BE AND HAVE ALL THESE OLMSTEAD PARKS AND PLACES LIKE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL AND BURNHEIM AND I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF NATURE AREAS FOR A CITY OF OUR SIZE.

DO YOU KNOW HOW LOUISVILLE COMPARES WITH OTHER CITIES?

IT SEEMS LIKE WE DO INVEST A LOT IN THESE NATURAL AREA ISES.

>> I THINK FOR-- I CAN SPEAK TO THE NATURAL AREAS BECAUSE OUR COLLEAGUES AT OLMSTEAD PARK CONSERVANCY ARE IN CHARGE OF THE OLMSTEAD PARKS.

I THINK, AS ANDY SAID, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE HAD AN UPTICK IN THE INTEREST IN NATURAL AREAS AND JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST SO WE ARE THRILLED TO BE, IF YOU WILL, RIDING THAT WAVE RIGHT NOW.

THE MAYOR HAS SAID IT'S A TOP PRIORITY OF HIS.

WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH SUPPORT.

IT'S BEEN A TEAM EFFORT FOR SHAWNEE OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER, WE HAVE HAD THE SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER DONNA PURVIS, WE HAVE HAD CHAMPIONS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHO HAVE REALLY HELPED US AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO RAISE THE MONEY AND THEY AWARDED US THE $7 MILLION FOR THE SHAWNEE CENTER.

AND THEN COUNCILMAN DAN SEIN IN FAIRDALE HAS BEEN A HUGE ADVOCATE.

THE SIGN ANDY MENTIONED THAT SAYS WELCOME TO FAIRDALE SO PEOPLE KNOW THE FOREST IS BACK THERE.

>> IT SAYS GATEWAY TO JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST.

>> THAT WAS HIS INITIATIVE.

SO WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL THE TEAM PLAYERS WHO HAVE BEEN HELPING US MAKE THIS MOVE AND MOVE THIS FORWARD.

I THINK IT IS A BIG PRIORITY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER DAN AND THE MAYOR THAT THEY'RE REALLY WANTING TO INVEST IN JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST IN SOUTH LOUISVILLE AND FAIRDALE, SO WE ARE THRILLED TO BE PART OF THAT.

>> AND I THINK IT'S A VERY PARTISAN ATMOSPHERE EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL AND I THINK ALL POLITICS IS NATIONAL NOW.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, PARKS TEND TO BE NON-PARTISAN OR BIPARTISAN EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO WALK AROUND A PARK.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE A CLEAN GREEN SPACE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT OUTSIDE THEIR DOOR THAT THEY CAN GET TO WHETHER IT'S TO GO HIKING OR FISHING OR TO JUST, YOU KNOW, GO PLAY WITH THEIR KIDS IN THE PARK OR GO TAKE THEIR KIDS TO THE PLAYGROUND OR, YOU KNOW, HAVE A PICNIC LUNCH.

SO I THINK THAT'S-- WE FOUND THAT THAT IS, ESPECIALLY POST-COVID-19 WHEN PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO GO BACK OUTDOORS, THAT'S AN AREA THAT PEOPLE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, YOU KNOW, TO BE ENGAGED IN.

THEY WANT MORE SPACES LIKE THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU ASKED HOW WE COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES.

IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO SORT OF TRACK THAT BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT METRICS FOR WHAT COUNTS AS INVESTMENT OR WHAT COUNTS AS ACCESS BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW IS THAT IT IS A PRIORITY AND WE ARE TRYING BOTH AT THE CITY AND STATE LEVEL, AND WITH NON-PARTISAN GROUPS TO PUT AS MUCH INVESTMENT INTO THE PARKS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

>> AND WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE?

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ALL HAVE A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

I'M TALKING, YOU KNOW, 10, 20 YEARS FROM NOW, DO YOU HAVE ANY BIG PICTURE GOALS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?

>> FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST.

SURPRISINGLY SOME HAVEN'T, EVEN IN LOUISVILLE.

BUT WHENEVER I TELL-- WHEN BEAM ASK ME WHERE DO I WORK AND I SAY WILLEDDER IN EASE LOUISVILLE, THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF OUR ORGANIZATION WILDERNESS LOUISVILLE.

ONE THING WE WOULD LIKE INTERNALLY IS THAT WE ARE KNOWN MORE WIDELY AS THE FRIENDS GROUP OR THE 501 C 3 NON-PROFIT THAT SUPPORTS JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST.

RIGHT NOW ALSO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, ANOTHER ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS THAT I'M A STAFF OF ONE.

SO RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST ME AND WE HAVE A BOARD OF 11, ANDY IS THE BOARD CHAIR.

I THINK WE WOULD LIKE, IN THE LONG-TERM, IN 10 YEARS FROM NOW, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE WOULD HAVE A ROBUST STAFF.

SO WE WOULD HAVE SOMEBODY WORKING IN DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE, BE ABLE TO REACH OUT MORE TO THE COMMUNITY AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND JUST ACHIEVE MORE IN GENERAL.

>> YEAH, AND I THINK FROM THE ACTUAL PARKS PERSPECTIVE, IT IS CLICHE BUT WE HAVE A WORLD CLASS PARKS INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE WANT THOSE PARKS TO BE WORLD CLASS NOW, RIGHT?

WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT INVESTMENT.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT BECAUSE IF THIS WERE WORLD CLASS IN 1995 AND YOU DON'T INVEST IN THEM, THEY QUICKLY BECOME NOT OBSOLETE BECAUSE IT'S A PARK BUT THEY FALL BEHIND IN THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE SEAN O'UTICA DOOR LEARNING CENTER IS A GREAT FIRST STEP TWRDZ THAT.

THAT WOULD BE A WORLD CLASS FACILITY THAT WOULD NOT JUST BE USED FOR FOR THE ECHO PROGRAM BUT WOULD BE A COMMUNITY CENTER USED FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS AND JUST A CAPSTONE ON THE INITIAL PHASE OF THIS, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PROJECTS LIKE THAT THROUGHOUT THE NATURAL AREAS AND ACROSS PARKS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELL, IF WERE YOU GETTING OUTSIDE TO EXPLORE SOME OF THESE AREAS, BE SURE TO SHARE YOUR PHOTOS WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

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THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE.

HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

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