Monday, Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-03) announced $500,000 in Federal funding to the Parks Alliance of Louisville for construction of a new public park and greenspace in Louisville's California neighborhood. Yarmuth secured the funding through the House Appropriations Committee's Community Project Funding program. It was one of 10 local projects the Congressman sought and secured funding for in the FY2022 omnibus bill.
The nearly 20-acre space sits in a low-lying area of the neighborhood that was the site of intense flash-flooding in 2009. After a Presidential disaster declaration was made in 2009, flood mitigation funding allowed Louisville MSD to transition an estimated 121 properties to the city of Louisville. The park and community space will be constructed and managed by the Parks Alliance of Louisville.
"I'm so proud to have secured this funding for the Maple Street Park project in Louisville's California neighborhood, which will be used to help transform this vacant property into a 20-acre public park," said Yarmuth. "This will be a permanent greenspace where children can play and learn, residents can exercise, and families can come together for special events or simply to enjoy the outdoors. I fought hard to secure this investment not just because of the power vibrant public spaces can have in a community, but also because the California neighborhood has been overlooked or ignored for far too long."
"I want to thank the California neighborhood residents and the Parks Alliance of Louisville for their leadership in ensuring that this land will be conserved forever as a communal space for recreation, education, and celebration," added Yarmuth. "I also want to acknowledge Louisville MSD for its important role in facilitating the transfer of this land into a public greenspace. This is a great day for the California Neighborhood and for our city as a whole, and I am honored to be a part of this effort."
Yarmuth was joined at the event by Parks Alliance of Louisville President and CEO Brooke Pardue, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Louisville MSD Executive Director Tony Parrott, and other local leaders.
"Residents know best what is needed to make their neighborhood vibrant and connected. That's why we've centered the community's voice in the design, development, and leadership of the Maple Street park project," said Pardue. "Thanks to the generosity of many donors and the steadfast leadership of this amazing neighborhood, we will build a new park with the amenities that residents want. We are grateful to Congressman Yarmuth for not only his financial support of this transformative park project in the California neighborhood, but for his years of dedicated service to Louisville."
Categories: Kentucky, Government & Policy