The term "heat island" describes built up areas that are hotter than nearby suburban or rural areas. Heat islands can affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illnesses and deaths, and water quality. It’s a significant issue in Louisville, where the heat island is growing at one of the fastest rates in the country. 

This week, Louisville Metro released a study on the issue and started a 60-day comment period.  You can read the study and comment here: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/sustainability/urban-heat-island-project.  Among the recommendations are cooler roofs, cooler streets and planting 450,000 trees, including thousands in District 9.  A tree ordinance is also recommended and I will be working on that in the coming months.  James Bruggers wrote about the Urban Heat Island Study in this report in the Courier-Journal:  http://www.courier-journal.com/story/tech/science/environment/2016/04/25/mayor-fischer-launches-cool502-effort/83301648/

Last week, almost thirty trees were planted along Frankfort Avenue, including one at the Crescent Hill Library, following an event at which Mayor Greg Fischer signed the Compact of Mayors on Climate Change and I spoke about recent Metro Council sustainability efforts. 

Five trees (shown here) were recently planted in a median in Lexington Road just east of I-64.  Brightside will soon be putting in a ground cover as part of that project, which is a joint effort of District 9, the Lexington Road Preservation Area and Brightside.  

We need to plant thousands of trees, by supporting efforts like Trees Louisville (https://treeslouisville.org/).   The Lexington Road Preservation Area has an ongoing tree project to replace trees in the neighborhood.  It will reimburse you for the cost of the tree and has several volunteers who can help you.  In Crescent Hill, the Community Council offers trees at a discount and will help you pick out the ideal tree for your particular site, dig the hole, and even plant it for you.  To take advantage of this offer in Crescent Hill,  email tallenmd@bellsouth.net or call 502-931-1592.  Reducing the urban heat island effect will take all of us!

We’d like to feature your sustainability story - a resident or business doing good things for the environment.  Riding the bus, bicycling, walking, gardening and more - our eNews will feature practices which can benefit all of us.  Send your story to Bill Hollander or Kyle Ethridge. 

A highlight of the Kentucky Derby Festival is centered in D9 this weekend as Bowman Field will once again host a series of balloon races.  Admission to the races is a 2016 Pegasus Pin. For more information on other Derby Festival events, please visit: http://kdf.org/. The BalloonFest schedule is as follows:

U.S Bank Charity Race
Thursday, April 28th / 7:00AM Launch

U.S Bank Rush Hour Race
Friday, April 29th / 7:00AM Launch 

U.S. Bank Great Balloon Race
Saturday, April 30th / 7:00AM Launch 

U.S. Bank Great Race Contingency Windows (due to inclement weather (high winds, rain, etc.))

Saturday, April 30th / 6:00PM (ONLY if NO Race has taken place)

Sunday, May 1st / 7:00AM (ONLY if NO Race has taken place)

Next week, Kentucky Derby Festival action moves to the Ohio River. On Wednesday May 4, D9’s Louisville Water Tower Park, 3005 River Road, hosts a grand viewing party where guests can watch the Belle of Louisville race the Belle of Cincinnati from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.

The “Great Space, Place & Boat Race” Viewing Party offers a clear view of the Ohio River for the boat race and a family-friendly picnic-style event with outdoor activities and games. A parking fee of $20 per vehicle includes access to the WaterWorks Museum, a look inside the historic Louisville Water Tower and a tour of current pumping stations. Indoor restrooms are available in the museum.

Ladyfingers Catering will offer picnic food for purchase plus a cash bar. Louisville Water will have plenty of Louisville Pure Tap®. Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Alcohol, food not purchased on site and pets are not permitted.

Tickets can be purchased online through LouisvilleWaterTower.com. Tickets will also be available the day of the event.

BONUS FEATURE - Yelp Louisville River Lounge: If guests check in to Louisville Water Tower Park via the Yelp app at this event, they will be admitted to the Yelp Louisville River Lounge, which will feature activities for adults and children. This event will be a part of the second annual Yelp's Countdown to Derby, a pop-up event series the week before Derby.

Thanks to everyone who volunteered their time to make D9 a little cleaner during D9’s Spring Brightside cleanup. Special thanks to Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, which brought members from U of L, UK, Centre and Eastern to help in the afternoon, and to Heine Brothers’ Coffee and the Clifton McDonald’s for providing coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Click here to view photos from the event.

The District 9 office has partnered with Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation and the Louisville 10 and Under Tennis Association on a project that will result in much-needed improvements to the popular tennis courts at Seneca Park.

Crews from Riverside Paving, with assistance from Tennis Technologies, have begun to resurface and fill cracks on five of Seneca Park’s courts. After that is complete, similar work will be performed on the other five courts. Five courts will remain open at 

Seneca for use throughout the duration of the project, which is to be completed by early June. District 9’s Capital Infrastructure Fund provided $15,000 of the total $64,000 cost.

The Louisville Area 10 & Under Tennis Association is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to developing and promoting tennis for children age 10 & Under in a unique format using kid-sized equipment. For more information, visit http://www.louisville10andundertennis.com/.

Notice of Application for Demolition Permit of Historic Structure      

The Office of Planning Permitting and Design--Construction Review has received a demolition permit application for the property listed below:
Subject Property:  4061 Richland Ave.
Case Number:     WR982968
The above reference property is listed or eligible for listing in The National Register of Historic Places. Per LMCO (150.110), the requested demolition permit can be issued on the following date: 5/21/16

For additional information regarding this application visit the website: http://louisvilleky.gov/government/construction-review  or contact Mike Beard, Plan Review Supervisor at 574-3321 or Cynthia Johnson, Metro Historic Preservation Officer at 574-2868.

We’ll have more about this in future editions but here is a reminder to yield to pedestrians, from the Kentucky Department of Transportation.

Drivers must yield to pedestrians under the following conditions:

• When pedestrians are at a marked or unmarked crosswalk and there is no traffic light.
• When turning a corner and pedestrians are crossing with the light.
• In any situation that could threaten the pedestrian’s safety.

Following these guidelines will help Public Works efficiently collect yard waste in the Urban Services District and keep our city clean. 

• Yard waste may be set out in garbage cans or other reusable containers, paper bags, or compostable bags. Plastic bags are not permitted.
• Each loaded container must not exceed 60 pounds.
• Yard waste must be set out by 6 AM on collection day but no earlier than 4 PM on the day before collection day.
• All containers must be removed from the street or alley no later than 4 PM the day after collection.
• Yard waste such as grass, leaves, or other yard waste must be free of garbage or inorganic materials.

Tree limbs and shrub trimmings should be less than 2 inches in diameter, cut to lengths of 4 feet or less and securely tied into bundles light enough to be easily handled by one individual.

Many residents in the eastern sections of District 9 recently received reassessment notices, just as residents in other District 9 neighborhoods were reassessed last year.

If you believe your assessment is wrong, you are encouraged to seek more information and appeal. Property owners have until May 16 to clarify assessments. Appointments must be arranged through the PVA office before an appeal can be filed. Appeals are to tax adjustment boards overseen by the county clerk. If you have assessment questions, please call 574-6229.

To make the process easier, PVA staff will be at the St. Matthews Library, 3940 Grandview Avenue, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on weekdays until May 16 to answer questions and provide assistance.

Do you live or working in St. Matthews? Consider signing up for the St. Matthews Reach Alert program to be notified of road closures and other important information from the City of St. Matthews.

Registration takes less than a minute to complete!

To register, go to www.reachalert.com and click on the blue text, “Create an account.” When prompted, please use the following information to register for the St. Matthews Network.

Network Name: St. Matthews (city)
Role: Resident or Business
Address: Enter address in first box and street name in the second box.

If you opted to receive text alerts, Reach Alert will send a text message to your cell phone immediately upon completion of your registration. Please enter the 4-digit number on the registration screen and then click the word VALIDATE. If you do not receive this message, please call Reach Alert.

If you have difficulty registering, please contact REACH Alert at (877) 307-9313 or info@reachalert.com.