Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 175

Frankfort/Franklin County, Hopkinsville/Christian, Lexington/Fayette County, and Owensboro).¹
The relatively low level of maintenance expenditures in Louisville has resulted in deteriorated,
inoperative, and even unsafe facilities for which replacement and renovation will ultimately cost
more than if adequate maintenance had been undertaken on an ongoing basis. Therefore, it was
strongly recommended that Louisville’s level of maintenance expenditures be brought in line
with the average for other larger communities in Kentucky. This would allow for improvements
such as new maintenance equipment, increased weekend and night presence of park staff,
increased frequency of maintenance operations, and timely attention to vandalism and other
repair requirements. By applying the difference of 35 percent in average per capita expenditures
to the $14.7 million operating and maintenance budget for the Parks and Recreation
Department in FY 1994.95, a recommended annual expenditure of $19.8 million for the existing
parks and open space system was determined.
Additional Regional Parkland
The average annual cost of maintaining the existing regional parkland in the County was
estimated at $120 per acre. The Master Plan recommended acquiring 5,789 acres of regional
parkland by the year 2020. By multiplying this acreage by the average $120 maintenance cost,
and then increasing the total by 35 percent (to allow for the general upgrade in maintenance
expenditures recommended above), the total annual cost of maintaining additional regional
parkland was estimated at $938,000 (in 1995 dollars).
Additional Major Urban Parkland
The average annual cost of maintaining the existing major urban parkland in Louisville
was estimated at $325 per acre. The 1995 Master Plan recommended acquiring 1,668 acres of
major urban parkland by the year 2020. By multiplying this acreage by the average $325
maintenance cost, and then increasing the total by 35 percent (to allow for the general upgrade
in maintenance expenditures recommended above), the total annual cost of maintaining
additional major urban parkland was estimated at $732,000 (in 1995 dollars).
Additional Community Parkland
The average annual cost of maintaining the existing community parkland in the County
was estimated at $1,350 per acre. The Master Plan recommended acquiring 435 acres of
community parkland by the year 2020. Multiplying this acreage by the average $1,350
maintenance cost, and then increasing the total by 35 percent (to allow for the general upgrade
in maintenance expenditures recommended above), the total annual cost of maintaining
additional community parkland was estimated at $793,000 (in 1995 dollars).
Additional Neighborhood Parkland
The estimated existing average annual cost of maintenance for neighborhood parkland
in the County was $7,000 per acre. The Master Plan recommended adding 145 acres of
neighborhood parkland by the year 2020. By multiplying this acreage by the average $7,000
maintenance cost, and then increasing the total by 35 percent (to allow for the general upgrade
in maintenance expenditures recommended above), the total annual cost for additional
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VII. IMPLEMENTATION | October 2016 Update