Beechmont Neighborhood Association

Olmsted Conservancy Moves to Olmsted Park

Olmsted Park comes back

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Local/Regional» Neighborhoods» News Item Wednesday, December 5, 2001

Improvements are ahead for Shelby Park
Spray pool, walking path part of plans
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By Sheryl Edelen
The Courier-Journal

After successfully thwarting plans last year to build a new school in Shelby Park, residents there pushed for improvements to the park.

They moved a step closer to that goal last week, meeting with Metro Parks and Olmsted Parks Conservancy leaders to discuss the latest proposal for the 16-acre park. Plans include construction of a walking path, a children's spray pool, additional community center parking, renovation of basketball and tennis courts, and a multipurpose sports field.

A bandstand also may be built in the middle of the park to accommodate such area festivals as Smoketown Pride and Heritage Homecoming Festival, the Red Ribbon Festival and family reunions and other gettogethers.

''We looked carefully at what was really important in the park to save the history here while meeting the modern needs of the users,'' landscape architect Martha Berner said. ''We expect to have the best of both worlds.''

Berner said park and conservancy officials can spend up to $365,000 on the park this year. She said the entire project is expected to cost more than $1 million, so they don't know when it will be completed.

Ann Stewart Anderson said she believes the improvements, such as the removal of graffiti and repainting of the park's pool house, will have far-reaching effects.

''If it's fixed up better, people will take better care of things,'' she said.

Shelby Park, on Oak Street between Jackson and Clay streets, was acquired by the city in 1907. It is part of a system of Louisville parks and parkways designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of New York's Central Park. Its original master plan was drafted in 1911 by Olmsted's sons.

The park became the center of controversy early last year when Jefferson County Public Schools proposed taking five acres of it to build a replacement for the outdated Shelby Elementary on nearby Mary Street.

After a public outcry, school officials decided to build Shelby Elementary about a mile away from the old Mary Street school on part of Preston and Lincoln parks.

Metro Parks and Olmsted Park Conservancy staff members then began gathering public comments on redefining Shelby Park's master plan.

One thing park officials said won't change is the presence of the Shelby Park Community Center in the old Shelby Park library building.

''There were some rumors that the center would be moving,'' Berner said. ''It will remain there and continue to thrive and continue to provide remarkable services for people of all ages who come to the park.''

The Office for Youth Development will give up its upstairs space in the community center and move to the old Parkland library building at 28th Street and Virginia Avenue.

The Olmsted Parks Conservancy will set up offices in the community center. Founded in 1989, the private, nonprofit conservancy works with the city to protect Olmsted parks and parkways.

''We really are looking forward to being able to offer services from one of the Olmsted parks,'' said Susan Rademacher, conservancy director and a Metro Parks assistant director.

In the end, residents say the changes and constants will combine to make the place appealing to all.

''We really treasure having this park in our neighborhood,'' said longtime Shelby Park resident Ella Roberts.