Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 235

HISTORY/DEMOGRAPHICS
For more than 130 years, Louisvillians have experienced the enjoyment and satisfaction of
purposely preserved green-space as part of our city’s development. It all began in 1880, when
Louisville established its first public park, Baxter Square. Since that time, Louisville Metro has
acquired approximately 13,000 acres of park lands. These beautiful parks guarantee our citizens,
and those visiting, an opportunity to become immersed in beautiful vistas and valleys, steep
hillsides of old-growth timber, riverfront views and the original Great Lawn located Shawnee Park.
Louisville’s Park System is one of the oldest in the country, thanks to the foresight of the Board of
Park Commissioners established in 1890. Their first order of significant business was the
successful recruitment of Frederick L. Olmsted, the father of Landscape Architecture. Olmsted
was able to realize the dreams and interpretations of our forefathers.
Today, Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation manages 120 parks (18 of which are Olmsted-
Designed Parks) throughout the county, 6 parkways (14.5 miles), with additional responsibilities of
13 Community Centers, 2 Arts & Cultural Centers, 2 Senior Centers, 1 Adapted Leisure Center, 1
Nature Center, 4 Swimming Pools, 1 Aquatics Center, 16 Spraypads, 14 Spraygrounds, 9 Golf
C ourses, 3 Youth Golf Courses, 2 Historic Homes, 180 Playgrounds, 160 Tennis Courts, 135
Athletic Fields, 300 Restrooms, 70+ Miles of Marked Hiking Trails, 60+ Miles of Paved Exercise
Paths, 19.5 Miles of Bridle Trails, 1 Extreme Skate Park, 2 Outdoor Amphitheaters, 5 Cemeteries,
and so much more.
In September, 2015, our department underwent
major changes when our Director retired and
our new Department Director, Seve Ghose was
hired. Our Department took this opportunity to
develop a new strategic plan with input from all
levels of staff through multiple meetings.
Our Core Team created the objectives for this
plan in February 2016.
The subsequent
strategic plan was developed in spring 2016
with the help of multiple sub-committees. The
Metro Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan was
developed as a tool to help the department
concentrate on critical areas within our
Department.
Our strategic plan will continue to include staff
at every level, from a park or recreation worker
to our director. Each and every full time
employee has the opportunity to work on
initiative teams and to move our strategic plan
forward. We believe this team effort will result
in a better agency and a happier, more
informed employee.
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