Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 74

complete, now consists of about 50 miles constructed and open to the public. 24 more
miles are now in design and expected to be constructed in the next few years. Three
greenways, the Butchertown Greenway, Clifton Heights Greenway and designation of an
older path along I-64 as the Beargrass Creek Greenway at Irish Hill have been added to the
paved, off-road, shared-use path system, and a greenway adjacent to A. B. Sawyer Park is in
design.
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The South Points Greenway Plan outlines opportunities for a much more extensive path
system in the area between I-65, the Watterson Expressway, the Ohio River and the Bullitt
County line. The CID land of over 1,000 acres and the existing drainage ditches many of
which are already used for informal pathways represent a significant opportunity for
expanding safe ways to move around the community and connect neighborhoods, schools,
parks and even workplaces and retail.
F. Administ ration and Finance
F1. Administration, Operations, and Maintenance
Parks and Recreation operations for Jefferson County and City of Louisville were
consolidated into a merged department in 1968. Both the County and the City provided funding
for the Department with the understanding that County funds were to be used for the facilities
located outside the City boundaries and the City funds would be used within the boundaries.
This system continued until the merger of all County and City functions which occurred in 2003.
The Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation Department (LMPRD) now reports to the Mayor and
Council of Louisville Metro Government and receives its budget from the Metro Government.
The Department is under the administration of the Director of Metro Parks and
Recreation, who is assisted by a Deputy Director, two Assistant Directors and three Parks
Administrators. The operations and maintenance functions fall into 4 divisions which are
reflected in the administrative structure (see Figure III.F.1).
Operations and Maintenance for developed parks is supervised by the Deputy Director.
Golf Courses and Turf (playing fields) are a specialty subdivision supervised by the same Deputy
Director. Playgrounds are another specialty subdivision under the same supervision. This
Deputy Director also oversees Information Technology.
Parks and recreation facilities managed by the LMPRD are divided into six districts for
maintenance and administration purposes. Five of the districts span different sections of
Louisville and include a variety of parks and open spaces. The sixth district is the Natural Areas
Region which includes Jefferson Memorial Forest, Waverly Park, the Beargrass Creek and
Butchertown Greenways, Caperton Swamp, Clifton Heights Greenway, Kulmer Reserve,
Fairmount Falls, Fairdale Mini Park and most areas of the Louisville Loop.
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