Each weekend in April, the Zoo will host a different conservation organization to offer ways for guests to help our environment! Organizations and programs that help the air, water, land, and, of course, animals will be featured each of these weekends. Guests can enjoy special animal presentations, keeper talks, as well as tips and suggestions to help protect wildlife and wild places.

Louisville ZooPoopyDoo Compost Sales will be Saturdays in April, plus May 13, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. for $45 per scoop. Only open-top truck beds and trailers will be loaded. To purchase online, visit louisvillezoo.org/zoopoopydoo

Trashformation winners will be announced Saturday, April 22. The annual student Trash-to-Treasure Art Contest has a special emphasis on pollinators this year. 

Earth Day is globally recognized Saturday, April 22. To avoid conflicts with Louisville area festivities and activities on April 22, the Zoo will celebrate Earth Day Sunday, April 30

The Zoo is open daily, year-round. Spring/Summer hours now through September 17; the Zoo will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (stay until 6 p.m.). 

Popular events for adults return to the Louisville Zoo in 2023

The Louisville Zoo announces the return of several popular events created to engage adult guests. Designed to entertain, educate and engage, this season’s lineup features a morning class about pollinator gardens, drink specials in relaxing Zoo settings, movies perfect for date night and more. 

Monarchs and Mimosas is back on April 29 and September 9 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Guests, ages 21 and older, will learn how to create their own pollinator garden while enjoying refreshing mimosas and pastries. Zoo educators will provide guidance on the types of plants that are most beneficial to attracting pollinators, how to identify the best location and type of garden for specific spaces, and how to manage plants to provide the best habitat year-round. Participants will also be able to take home their own milkweed plant to begin their home habitat. Monarchs and Mimosas is $40 per person. Ironweed Native Plant Nursery will host a native plant sale at the front of the Zoo, with no admission required to visit the plant sale. 

The ever-popular Hump Day Happy Hours begin Wednesday, May 10 with Sunset Safari. This 21-and-older event includes specialty cocktails, appetizers and exclusive animal demonstrations and interactions. Tickets include entry, appetizers, and two drink tickets redeemable for beer, wine, or a specialty cocktail. Additional food and beverages will be available for purchase. This series continues July 12, September 13 and October 11, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $40 each.

Trivia Nights make their return to the Zoo June 21 and August 16. These fun-filled evenings will feature music, prizes and of course, trivia! Food and drink specials will be available. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place teams. Advance registration is required; tickets go on sale April 19.

New for 2023, the Zoo has added Late Night Date Nights, a few film favorites to their popular summer movie series on June 30 and July 28. Gates open at 8 p.m.; movies will be shown under the stars in the Zoo’s Oasis festival field beginning at sundown. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Read more on date nights here.

Additional summer events for adults include Friends of the Louisville Zoo’s Zoofari!, June 10, and Brew at the Zoo and Wine, Too!, August 26.

April - Mayor's Give a Day Celebration of Service

Fish Frys in District 10 and nearby

It's Fish Fry Time! Here are a few area churches offering fried fish dinners and more:  Holy Family Catholic Church, 3938 Poplar Level Road, every Friday through March 31 with drive-through, carryout and dine-in for lunch and dinner.  St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church, 2931 Pindell Avenue, 5 to 8 p.m.  St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 2042 Buechel Bank Road, 4 to 7 p.m., dine-in and carry out.  The Lenten Dining Guide has a list including much of Central Kentucky.

Take the Challenge! The four-week Anti-Racism Challenge begins April 1

This is how it works -- every week participants receive an email with a list of 10-12 anti-racism activities. These range from reading an article, calling an elected official, making a donation, watching a film, viewing an exhibit by a Black artist, patronizing a Black business, etc.

We ask participants to choose and complete three of the listed activities. The purpose is to keep us all focused and active in challenging racism in our daily lives. This is a personal Challenge -- no one needs to report back.

If you are interested, register now. 

Buechel Bypass bridge closure set for this weekend

Closure necessary as contractor advances on repairs to bridge

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) advises motorists of the weekend closure of the bridge carrying Buechel Bypass (U.S. 31E/U.S. 150) over a set of railroad tracks in Jefferson County.

The bridge will be closed from 9 p.m. on Friday, March 17, to 5 a.m. on Monday, March 20, between mile point 10.4 and mile point 10.5. That’s between the cross streets of Plaza Avenue and Hikes Lane. During the bridge closure, signs in the area will direct drivers to utilize Hikes Lane, Shepherdsville Road, Buechel Bank Road, and Progress Boulevard as the posted detour.

Various closures have been in place for the bridge since a February 2021 inspection found deterioration on one of the bridge’s pier caps. The repairs were initially delayed as KYTC, and the contractor sought approval from the railroad to work on the bridge section over the tracks. Last year, crews began working under the bridge, in an area not visible to motorists crossing the span. Those repairs have now advanced to a point where the weekend closure of the entire bridge is necessary. The repairs are expected to be completed in spring 2023.

The date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur. Visit goky.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. You can also get traffic information for the District 5 counties at facebook.com/KYTCDistrict5 and twitter.com/KYTCDistrict5.

Cherokee Park Bridge #2 closed for construction through mid-May

Bridge #2 in Cherokee Park, just south of the base of Cochran Hill Road, closed March 17 and will be closed for about two months for a restoration project. Pedestrians and vehicles will be detoured around the bridge construction site via the map on the right. Construction is funded through the Bridges Kentucky program administered by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Solar Over Louisville 2023 is here!

Louisville Metro Government’s Mayor’s Office of Sustainability has partnered with the Kentucky Solar Energy Society (KYSES) and the Louisville Sustainability Council (LSC) to launch the 2023 Solar Over Louisville solarize program!

Solar Over Louisville makes going solar easy by connecting participants with vetted and trustworthy solar installers, providing a step-by-step walk-through of the solar installation process, and helping participants access discounted rates on solar. Going solar will help you reduce your energy bills, potentially increase your property’s value, support local solar jobs, and help Louisville meet its goal of using 100 percent clean energy community-wide by 2040! March 2, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg made the announcement that Solar Energy Solutions and Icon Solar Power have been selected from a competitive pool of applicants as the designated vetted solar installation partners for the 2023 Solar Over Louisville campaign! Both companies are regionally based and bring several years of experience and professionalism. By connecting Solar Over Louisville participants with the vetted installers, we are eliminating the hassle for residents to vet an installer themselves and also helping them access a great wholesale discount of 15 to 23 percent. In 2022, Solar Over Louisville installed solar on more than 90 homes. Join this growing community today! The program is open to residents, small businesses, nonprofits, places of worship, and other small non-residential properties in Louisville/Jefferson County and surrounding counties. To learn more about the program and sign up, please visit: www.100PercentLou.com/2040.  We also invite you to register for our upcoming Solar Over Louisville Workshop, where you can hear directly from the installers, learn more about the process, and ask questions. The workshop is Saturday, April 1, at the Louisville Free Public Library, 301 York Street, from noon to 1:00 p.m. Register in advance.

LMHA seeks comment on updates to plans

Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA) periodically updates our HCV Administrative Plan, Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy, and Moving To Work Annual Plan and puts the updates out for public comment. Current updates will be out for public comment until April 17. Read copies of each document with marked updates and a summary of the ACOP and Administrative Plan changes.

A meeting to discuss the draft documents and to accept public comment will be held on Tuesday, March 28 at 6 p.m. via Zoom (https://www.zoom.us); click on “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID# 843 8074 9289 and Passcode 926863. Additional accommodations for persons with disabilities or for those needing interpretation in other languages will be made available upon advance request.

Written comments may be mailed to the attention of Eric Proctor at the Housing Authority’s Section 8 Office (600 S. 7th St. Louisville, KY 40203) or emailed at proctor@lmha1.org.

The documents are available for public review on the LMHA website (www.lmha1.org); at the agency’s Central Office (420 S. 8th St.); at the agency’s Section 8 office (600 S. 7th St.); at the agency’s public housing Management Offices; or by mail as requested. 

An advertisement notifying the public of both the comment period and the hearing will appear in the print edition of the Courier-Journal and the Louisville Defender.

For additional information about the hearing or the public comment period, please contact Eric Proctor at 569-6933, TDD (502) 587-0831.

We look forward to receiving your comments and hope to see you at the hearing.

Preston Area Business Alliance seeks executive director

The Preston Area Business Alliance (PABA) is seeking a part-time executive director. PABA is a network of business owners and community leaders dedicated to advancing business through enhanced connection, understanding, and action. We focus on supporting, promoting, and strengthening businesses along the Preston Corridor. PABA is a collective of individuals with personal or business interests along the corridor, and creates a platform for its members to strengthen business relationships through networking; voice their most pressing concerns in a unified way; and leverage the alliance as a resource for communicating trends, needs, and recommending strategy and vision for the future of the Preston Corridor. Please send resumes to pabacareers@gmail.com.

Reporting potholes

• Report online. 
• Use Twitter by sending the location of the hole to @LouMetro311 and include the hashtag #502pothole.
• Call Metro311 or 574-5000 to report potholes or any other issues. 

Sidewalk over Goldsmith Lane bridge near Peabody Lane closed due to safety concerns

The sidewalk over the bridge structure on Goldsmith Lane near Peabody is closed until further notice. A Kentucky Transportation Cabinet inspection revealed safety concerns and closing the sidewalk will allow the driving lanes to remain open at this time.  The next steps will be to investigate and design a repair or replacement of the structure. Please watch for signage and use extra caution in the area.

Monthly Food Pantry at St Agnes Parish in partnership with Dare to Care

The monthly Food Pantry at St. Agnes Parish, in partnership with Dare to Care, distributes food to approximately 150 guest families the fourth Saturday of each month. The pantry operates from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and is open to all Louisville residents. Guests are served via a drive-through format and all Pantry volunteers are prescreened and wear masks as per CDC guidelines.

District 10 events

Wild Lights: Around the World at the Louisville Zoo through May 21

The Louisville Zoo welcomes back one of the largest lantern festivals in the nation, Wild Lights: Around the World, through May 21. Tickets are on sale. We have given away all the free tickets we had, and hope that our winners enjoy the festival.  With an almost entirely new lineup of lanterns, guests will be able to see sights from around the world on their 1.4-mile excursion through the Zoo. Famous landmarks, flora and fauna from North and South America, Africa, Europe, Australia and Asia will be highlighted in six different zones. As families venture through the Zoo’s pathways each evening, they will experience hand-crafted, illuminated art displays comprised of silk-covered, metal frames and LED lightbulbs. The event will feature over 50,000 LED lightbulbs, 18 interactive displays, eight animated lanterns and 10 light changing pieces that together present a spectacular feast for the eyes.  This 46-night immersive experience features live cultural performances including Chinese folk dances, acrobatics and more. The event is wheelchair and stroller-friendly on a paved path. The festival is a rain or shine event and will be held 6:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday nights through May 21 and nightly from March 30 to April 9.

Louisville Nature Center

Spring is here! Sunday, March 26, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Celebrate spring with us! Fen will guide you through the waking forest to welcome new blooms, singing birds and emerging wildlife. Pack a lunch and your favorite blanket to end your hike with a bird watching picnic! Family program, ages 3+. Register.

Hello, Spring! Saturday, April 1, 2 to 4 p.m.  The forest is waking up and with it comes new blooms, singing birds, and the appearance of new wildlife, such as salamanders and turtles! Join Jacob on this hike through Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve and welcome the emerging spring wildlife

Phenology: Nature's Calendar Sunday, April 2, 10 a.m. to noon In this program, you’ll learn about the science of phenology and how to participate in the Nature's Notebook citizen science project! Our trained naturalist, Fen, will guide you on how to collect phenological data from a specified site. You can take this knowledge home and set up a site in your own backyard or classroom.

Summer camp registration Camp registration is open for Louisville Nature Center summer camp! Summer camp has sold out quickly the past few years, and we expect this year to be the same! Learn more about day camp and see our 2023 camp themes.  We cannot wait for another summer of adventure!

Register by March 30 for GLOW! Spring Break Camp at Cyril Allgeier Community Center April 3 to 7 

April 14 - Community conversation about social infrastructure and the future of Louisville 

Americans are living in a time of deep divisions – experiencing a level of polarization unseen since the Civil War. How can we come together as a nation again? Sociologist and urban studies scholar Eric Klinenberg, author of Palaces for the People, suggests that the future of our democratic society rests not simply on shared values, but on shared spaces: the libraries, childcare centers, churches, and parks where crucial connections are formed. Through his extensive research, Klinenberg shows how this “social infrastructure” is helping to solve some of our most pressing societal challenges.

The public is invited to join Eric Klinenberg, Mayor Craig Greenberg, and Nat Irvin, Assistant Dean for Thought Leadership and Civic Engagement in the University of Louisville’s College of Business, for a community conversation about our city's social infrastructure and how it may offer solutions to some of Louisville's critical issues. Louisville Public Media’s Vice President of Content, Gabrielle Jones, will moderate the discussion.

This free event will be held at the Main Library, 301 York Street, on Friday, April 14 at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2 p.m. for networking and conversation with social infrastructure partners. Register online at LFPL.org/Authors or call 574-1644.

April 15 TreeFest: an Arbor Day Celebration at Joe Creason Park

Louisville Parks and Recreation and Trees Louisville are holding an annual TreeFest! 

Volunteer for Saturday, April 15, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and help plant some 200 trees throughout Joe Creason Park at 1297 Trevilian Way. The event also includes tree giveaways, guided nature walks, tree climbing, a rock-climbing wall, crafts, games, live music, vendor booths, community booths and more!

Register Here 

April 15 - Brightside Community-Wide Cleanup day

The Brightside Community-Wide Spring Cleanup is set for Saturday, April 15, and the Fall Cleanup is set for Saturday, October 21. More information will be posted online.  

We encourage all residents to take part in Brightside's Community-Wide Cleanups. These events are a great service opportunity for boy/girl scouts, sports teams, faith groups and community organizations. It could also be a corporate team bonding opportunity! 

Cleanups are an integral part of Brightside's mission and without the help of volunteer groups, and many other volunteers throughout the year, Brightside could not achieve their goals of a cleaner, greener Louisville.

Neighborhoods can hold their own cleanups at any point throughout the year and we can provide gloves and bags for each Neighborhood Cleanup. We will work with Solid Waste Management to have the collected litter bags picked up. Give Brightside a call at 574-2613 or register online about two weeks prior to your event to schedule your cleanup and for information about getting supplies. 

Thanks to each and every volunteer who supports the Brightside Community-Wide Cleanup, for your time and dedication – we can’t do it without you!

May 12 - Shakespeare in the Parks in Joe Creason Park

Free 5K run/walk every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at Joe Creason Park

The Joe Creason parkrun is a free 5K that meets every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at Joe Creason Park. Come join your friends and neighbors - parkrun is family and dog friendly and you can walk, jog or run or volunteer. More information can be found at parkrun.us/joecreason. They're also on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Louisville Metro news

System of Care FIVE Partner Funding Request application open until March 31

This is a notification of a funding opportunity available through the System of Care FIVE grant. The intent of these opportunities is to allow eligible agencies and organizations to apply for funds for one-time or start-up activities aimed at supporting the population of focus of the SOC FIVE grant: children and youth with behavioral health (mental health and substance use) challenges and their families who have involvement with child welfare. The average grant award is $5,000.

Proposals must be for activities aimed at improving and/or supporting the infrastructure for Kentucky’s system of care by:

• raising awareness of needs of the population of focus; and/or
• piloting, expanding or enhancing programs, initiatives, services, supports, etc. for the population of focus. 

This opportunity will be awarded during April. To be eligible, submit your application by March 31. Additional information is included in the application.

Appointment system phasing in

Large Item Pickup by appointment is being phased into the entire Urban Services District. Now, you can quickly get rid of up to four large items, once per week, by simply making an appointment on the Metro311 app or website. This means more opportunities to dispose of large items, less "junk" sitting out for weeks, and improved neighborhood cleanliness!

Monday, March 6 all areas will be eligible to make Large Item Pickup appointments! When your address is on the appointment system, you can make an appointment up to once per week for up to 4 large items to be picked up. Households and property owners will receive a letter and info card in the mail. 

If you'd like a representative to attend a community meeting and share about this program or other waste-related topics, contact the Solid Waste Education Department. 

Learn more at Louisvilleky.gov/LargeItems!

Volunteers are needed to mentor youth for YMCA Safe Place Y-NOW program

The YMCA Safe Place Y-NOW program is currently seeking mentors for our spring class that begins March 31. Y-NOW supports an amazing population of youth and you can help be the change for our community! If you or someone you know is interested in mentoring, please email ynowvolunteers@ymcalouisville.org or call 635-5233.

Income tax preparation assistance available for eligible residents

The Louisville Asset Building Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, or VITA, provides trained, IRS-certified volunteers who offer free tax services at 11 sites across the city. VITA is available to individuals and families who earned less than $66,000 in 2022. Since launching in 2001, VITA services have helped more than 135,500 Louisville tax filers. Last year, VITA processed more than 7,300 returns, adding more than $12 million to the local economy, including nearly $2 million in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to residents. Learn more about the Tax Time Connect, financial counseling and other resources.  VITA sites will prepare in-person free tax filing, by appointment only, at several sites. Most of the sites will provide free tax filing through drop-off services.

AARP Tax-Aide provides free tax prep services with a mission to serve any person who comes through the door, with special attention to those 60 and older. The AARP team helped to file more than 2,400 returns in 2022 leading to over $2.8 million in federal and state refunds. AARP Tax-Aid sites are operating:  http://www.aarp-tax-aide-lou.org.

Assistance

The Louisville Metro Down Payment Assistance Program provides low- to moderate-income homebuyers with down payment and closing cost assistance for purchasing a home in the Louisville Metro area.

The Team Kentucky Homeowner Assistance Fund is a program that can help homeowners impacted by the pandemic rebound and avoid foreclosure. Qualifying homeowners can apply for up to $46,350 in assistance to help with delinquent mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowner’s and/or flood insurance, homeowners association fees and utility costs. 

FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020. Eligibility requirements and instructions on how to apply are available online FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance and through FEMA's dedicated helpline at 1-844-684-6333.

If you're 65 years old, own and occupy your primary residence, you may qualify to exempt the first $39,300 of your home value from property taxes through the The Homestead Exemption. Vets with service connected disabilities and totally/permanently disabled civilians may also qualify.

Locate Dare to Care food assistance locations, which include St. Stephen Martyr at 3015 Greenup Road, from 3:45 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays. Please call before visiting sites to verify hours of operation. 

Meals on Wheels is available to qualified seniors in Jefferson County, 60 years or older, who are homebound with no one available to help prepare meals. Call 574-6325 to begin the qualification process. For information on the senior congregate sites for more active seniors, 60 and older, call the number above or sign up at the RCS page. Sites require a one-day advance reservation. See the updated list of open congregate sites.  The Senior Nutrition Program seeks volunteers all year long to help in a variety of capacities. For more information, call 574-6420.

LMPD - which numbers to call for emergencies, non-emergencies, and ongoing criminal activity complaints

The most efficient manner to report crime and/or request to speak to an officer is to call Metrosafe Dispatch at 574-2111.  Furthermore, if the efforts of the officer were not reasonably adequate to address the concern or issue, a citizen can immediately call Metrosafe back and request for an LMPD supervisor to contact them.  For non-emergencies, dial 574-2111 for non-violent crimes, non-injury auto accidents, or to report a crime that has already occurred.  For emergencies, dial 911 for violent crime in progress, serious injury auto accidents, or immediate threat to human life.  To report ongoing criminal activity, dial 574-5673, the LMPD Tip Line, for drug dealing, prostitution, gang activity, or any information that may help close open investigations.

Louisville Metro events

Free workshops focused on mental health and wellness 

Mental Health Lou  and Louisville Free Public Library will offer free workshops focused on mental health and wellness starting in March. The Mind-Body Wellness Series is a four-part series that focuses on the ways in which our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs can positively or negatively impact our bodies and vice versa.

Taught by licensed experts from Mental Health Lou’s partner groups and providers, the series will be offered at six library locations: Southwest, Northeast, Newburg, Main, Western, and Bon Air.

Each workshop in the series addresses a different topic:

• Discovering the Mind-Body Connection: Participants will learn ways to identify and connect feelings, thoughts and somatic responses and develop tools to help manage stress, anxiety, depression and more.
• Movement & Mental Health: This workshop looks at the impact of movement on our mental health by extending into yogic practices and breathing techniques for individuals to use as a means of self-care and deepen their connection with their bodies.
• Practical Mindfulness for Stress Management: Participants will learn basic tools to help identify stressors and implement Mindfulness techniques to manage/decrease stress response. This will be an experiential workshop that focuses on skill building of stress management tools.
• Taking Charge of Your Wellbeing: Workshop participants will begin developing a realistic and easily executable self-care plan with the help of a mental health therapist.

• Saturdays in March, 11 a.m. - Southwest Regional Library
• Tuesdays in March, 12:30 p.m. - Northeast Regional Library
• Mondays in April, 6 p.m. - Main Library
• Tuesdays in April, 6 p.m. - Newburg Library
• Tuesdays, May 9 -30, 6 p.m. - Western Library
• Wednesdays, May 10-31, 6 p.m. - Bon Air Library

Learn more about the series.

Sign up now for Kentucky Science Center's Spring Break Camps

Kentucky Science Center's Pay by Day Spring Break Camps will be March 31 and April 3 through 7. Camp spaces are filling up fast - with exciting themes and extended 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. camp hours, Pay by Day camps are a great value for parents, $80 per day or $70 per day for members and great fun for kids. Sign up for one day or the whole week - the choice is up to you! 

March 25 - Youth Rights Conference

March 27 - Youth Project vendor fair

Louisville Parks Spring Break Camps start April 3

Join Louisville Parks and Recreation for Spring Break Camps! Day camps are set to take place April 3 to 7 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and are offered to youth ages 6-12. A one-time $20 registration fee is due when registering and a $50 per child fee is due a week in advance. 

Spring Break camps are a great opportunity for youth to get outside and play games with new friends, learn a new sport, be creative with arts & crafts, experience outdoor adventures, go swimming and take a field trip to local attractions. 

March 27 to April 1 - National Youth Violence Prevention Week

March 28 - Conversation with a City Planner about zoning

April 11 - Starting a Neighborhood Association

April 13 - Intro to auto repair for youth 

April 15 - 2023 Open Data Day

All aboard our new open data portal! Come join us Saturday, April 15 for an open data event. At this event you will get the chance to meet the staff behind Louisville Metro's Open Data, get to learn about the new open data platform, and ask questions about our data. We will have scavenger hunts (with prizes), surveys and a showcase of some of our employee's data sets. Don't miss this opportunity to participate in the future of Open Data and share your thoughts and ideas. We, here at Metro, appreciate and value your feedback! This is a free event.  Please register now to reserve your seat!  Food and drink will be provided. This event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., at 900 East Market Street.

April 26 - "How does a city go solar?" virtual conversation

Clearing the way for solar power in Louisville: Will state government and LG&E help or hurt Louisville’s clean energy future?

A solar power future for Louisville faces roadblocks on the way to meeting the city’s renewable energy goal. A virtual event April 26 will explore what those hurdles are and how to overcome them. This is “REAL Good News” tenth in a series of quarterly public Zoom meetings aimed at making sure Louisville implements its green energy goals.

In 2020 the Metro Council passed a resolution to move the city’s operations to 100 percent clean renewable electricity by 2030. That resolution also sets a goal of 100 percent clean energy for the entire Louisville community by 2040. April’s event will feature a discussion by an expert panel on how other cities have transitioned to solar and how Louisville can follow their example. Speakers will include Steve Ricketts, chair of the Kentucky Solar Energy Society and owner of Generation Solar; Ryan Van Velzer, Energy and Environmental Reporter at Louisville Public Media; and Andrew Owen, newly-elected Metro Council Representative for District 9.

Music by Louisville musician and activist John Gage will open and close the event. People attending will also be encouraged to attend Metro Council meetings to speak in favor of implementing Louisville's clean energy resolution. The REAL Good News event will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The three sponsoring organizations are 100%REAL, Kentucky Interfaith Power and Light, and the Christian Action group of St. Paul United Methodist Church.

The event is free but registration is required. Here’s the url for the Zoom link to register: https://tinyurl.com/3xzya46s More information is available at the 100%REAL website: https://renewableenergylouisville.org/events.html

May 20 - The Neighborhood Summit returns to Louisville

Join the in-person learning event and “Bloom Where You’re Planted!” Center For Neighborhoods is proudly hosting this year's Neighborhood Summit on Saturday, May 20 at Neighborhood House, 201 N. 25th Street. With the pandemic largely behind us, we anticipate this will be our most successful Neighborhood Summit to date. More than 250 attendees will be joining together to build connections and knowledge-sharing, guided by the theme “Bloom Where You’re Planted: Embracing Your Power in the Place You Call Home.”  

The Neighborhood Summit is an in-person, half-day conference that showcases community-building success stories and celebrates inspired neighborhood development across Louisville. Through interactive workshops, engaging keynote speakers, and networking breakouts, attendees learn about community achievements, make valuable connections, and recognize leaders affecting positive change in the places and spaces we live in. 

Register for the Summit.

News you can use

District 10 CIF and NDF appropriations

Councilman Mulvihill-initiated D-10 Capital Improvement Funds (CIF) appropriations documentation dating to 2016 is linked here.  The D-10 Neighborhood Development Funds (NDF) appropriations document is linked here.

Louisville Metro Planning and Design Services District 10 cases

Note: short term rental is the general term used to describe vacation rentals including AirBNB, VRBO, and Tripping. 

Recent revision submitted to Planning and Development Services:

23-CAT2-0009, 4501 Poplar Level Road, a revised submittal for a Category 2B development for a 4,309 S.F. warehouse with loading and parking area on 0.4777 acres in the M-2 zoning district. Chaparro's Warehouse. 

March 27 - Neighborhood Meeting regarding 1628 Belmar Drive

April 10 - Public Hearing regarding 3710 Rosemont Boulevard

22-CAT3-0009, 3910 Produce Road, a Category 3 Plan Application for a storage/distribution warehouse. Exeter Warehouse. 

22-CAT2-0037, 4601 East Indian Trail, Building 2, a category 2B application for a 67,500 square foot warehouse/office building on 8.8 acres in the M-2 zoning district.

21-DDP-0087, 2020 Bashford Manor Lane, a District Development Plan for a building expansion. Walmart Fulfillment Center. 

2703 Preston Highway: 

23-LANDSCAPE-0028, 2703 Preston Highway, a Landscape Plan for expansion of an existing liquor store with three apartments on the second floor on 0.33 acres in the C1 zoning district. 

22-CAT2-0034, 2703 Preston Highway, Revision of a Category 2B Plan for a proposed 6,525 sq ft retail and residential addition on .33 acres in the C-1 zoning district.

4819 Poplar Level Road: 

21-DDP-0073, 4819 Poplar Level Road, a revised District Development Plan to construct an office/warehouse on 1.41 acres in the CM Zoning District. Louisville Countertop. 

21-WAIVER-0112, 4819 Poplar Level Road, a request for a Landscape Waiver to the required 35-foot landscape buffer along the northwestern property line on 1.41 acres in the CM Zoning District. Louisville Countertop. 

21-MVARIANCE-0003, 4819 Poplar Level Road, a Modified Variance to allow encroachment into the 25-foot building setback on 1.41 acres in the CM Zoning District. Louisville Countertop.

4730 Champions Trace Lane:

19-DDP-0077, 4730 Champions Trace Lane, a Revised District Development Plan for a medical office and dialysis center on 1.4 acres in the C2 zoning district. 

19-VARIANCE-0076, 4730 Champions Trace Lane, a variance from section 4.8.1 of the Land Development Code to allow the proposed pavement to encroach into the middle and outer 100-foot stream buffer for a medical office on 1.4 acres in the C2 zoning district. 

19-LANDSCAPE-0050, 2128 Old Shepherdsville Road, Revision of a Landscape Plan for a private automobile parking area on 0.74 acres in the C1 zoning district.

22-MPLAT-0044,4322 Mildaun Road, application for a Minor Plat change to create two lots from one on .736 acres in the R-4 zoning district and SW form district. Bicker Division.

22-MPLAT-0044, 4322 Milldaun Road, a Minor Plat to create two lots from one on .736 acres in the R-4 zoning district and SW form district.

21-MPLAT-0011, for 3901 Atkinson Square Drive, a Minor Plat Application to create two lots from one lot on 9.59 acres in the C2 zoning district. 

22-VARIANCE-0168, 3119 Harmon Court, a Variance from Section 5.3.11 to allow a garage to encroach 20 feet into the required rear yard on 0.139 acres in the R5 zoning district.

20-WAIVER-0136, for 6000 Six Mile Lane, a waiver to allow a residential driveway onto a collector roadway on 0.462 acres in the R5 zoning district. 

21-WAIVER-0140, 1200 Hodel Road, a waiver to reduce the required vehicular use area on 1.45 acres in the M-3 Zoning district.

19-WAIVER-0016, 4500 Champions Trace Lane, a sidewalk waiver request for requirement along Champions Trace Lane. 

2814 Newburg Road

19-WAIVER-0112, 2814 Newburg Road, a waiver for the sidewalk requirement along Newburg Road. 
19-WAIVER-0113, 2814 Newburg Road, a waiver to allow detached houses to abut a private street.  

22-ZONE-0169, 2221 Bradford Drive, a change in zoning from R-5 to R-6 on 5.4 acres for a 94 unit multi-family development. 

23-ZONE-0033, 1618 Lincoln Avenue, application for a change in Zoning from R-5 to C-1 to allow for a law office and commercial kitchen in an existing building on 0.10 acres.

23-ZONEPA-0034 , 1391 Gardiner Lane, application for a change in Zoning from OR-3 to OR-3 and C-1 for Lee Hospitality Hotel & Apartments on 4.822 acres.

Short Term Rental cases

23-CUPPA-0063, 1537 Lincoln Avenue, a Conditional Use Permit Pre-Application for a Short Term Rental on 0.08 acres in the R-5 zoning district.

23-CUPPA-0062, 3709 Willmar Avenue, a Conditional Use Permit Pre-Application for a non-primary residence Short Term Rental on 0.2602 acres in the R-4 zoning district.

23-CUPPA-0014, 1628 Belmar Drive, application for a Conditional Use Permit for a Short Term Rental on 0.13 acres in the R5 zoning district.

23-CUP-0024, 3921 Marwood Place, a Conditional Use Permit for a Short Term Rental at a non-primary residence on 0.15 acres in the R5 zoning district. 

22-CUP-0408, 1000 Parkway Drive, a Conditional Use Permit for a Short Term Rental on 0.17 acres in the R5 zoning district

22-CUP-0373, 1724 O'Daniel Avenue, application for a Conditional Use Permit for a Short Term Rental on 0.21 acres in the R5 zoning district. 

22-CUP-0066, 1607 Orchard Avenue, a Conditional Use Permit for a Short Term Rental on .14 acres in the R5 zoning district. 

20-CUP-0147 for 1500 Lincoln Avenue, a Conditional Use Permit for a short term rental at a non primary residence on 0.18 acres in the R5 zoning district.

19CUP1017, 2606 Pindell Avenue, a Conditional Use Permit for a short term rental on 0.1197 acres in the R5 zoning district. 

18CUP1130 for 3762 Illinois Avenue, a Conditional Use Permit for a Short Term Rental of a non-primary residence in the R-5 zoning district.

Check on Planning and Design Services cases.

In D-21 but nearby: 22-STRCLOSUREPA-0031, 1305 Durrett Lane, a Street and Alley Closure Pre-Application from Durrett Lane to I-264. Louisville Dive Center.

 Locate legal Short Term Rentals with new interactive map

Short term rental enforcement continues in large part to be complaint-driven, based on public reporting of alleged violations to administrators. An interactive map tool contains all of the registered short term rentals in Louisville having an active permit to rent their property out to paying customers on STR websites like Airbnb. If you believe someone is using a property as a short term rental but it does not show up on this registry, or if the registry indicates a non-owner occupied property does not have a CUP, then please report the issue here (select “Zoning and Business Concerns,” “Zoning Concern,” “Short Term Rental,” complete the form and submit). Or contact our office.

Driver licensing - REAL ID enforcement date extended to May 7, 2025

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has extended the REAL ID Act enforcement date by two years offering Kentuckians, and residents of other states, more time to request a compliant driving or identity credential that maintains air travel access and military base entry. The enforcement date has been moved from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025. Read details on REAL ID.

Be informed about crimes with LMPD's crime mapping website

The Louisville Metro Police Department uses a Crime Mapping website to display crime on a map in Jefferson County.  Zoom in to see crimes in an area, or put an address in the address bar at top left to search. You may sign up for auto email alerts for crime around an address. Reports are made available to the public after a process of internal review, often in the same day as the report taken. Due to the nature of some crimes, reports are made available to public upon the completion of a thorough investigation and will be made available as soon as practical. These LMPD divisions serve sections of District 10: Link to LMPD Fourth Division  Link to LMPD Fifth Division Link to LMPD Sixth Division

Know the signs of human trafficking - you could save a life

Do you know the indicators of human trafficking? You could save a life.  If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-888-373-7888 to speak with a specially trained Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocate. Support is provided in more than 200 languages. We are here to listen and connect you with the help you need to stay safe. Callers can dial 711 to access the Hotline using TTY. Or text at 233733. Message and data rates may apply. You can also email at help@humantraffickinghotline.org  or submit a tip online here.

988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline.  Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org The program will connect callers to trained volunteer crisis counselors. You can also access a listing of community mental health services.

Veterans Crisis Line 

Some offices and VA hospitals offer a "Health Promotion Disease Prevention Program" that includes treatment methods including acupuncture, tai chi, and meditation instead of opioids, and they work with the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255, Press 1) to provide support and treatment for PTSD and depression, the leading cause of suicide for veterans. Additional references for VA material and assistance or 1-877-WAR-VETS. Lifestyle changes for better health, or sexual trauma.

"Embrace the Journey" website for parents of LGBTQ+ children and adolescents

For LGBTQ+ children and adolescents,a parent’s support makes all the difference. The Embrace the Journey website is designed to educate the parents of LGBTQ+ children and adolescents about how to give children the emotional support they need.

Streetlight out? Report it. 

Please report non-working streetlights to LG&E.  Report a hazard on a state road or highway, such as non-working highway lighting or potholes.

Report litterers

Get directly involved in making Louisville a more litter-free community through the Report-A-Litterer program aimed at motorists who throw fast-food wrappers, cigarette butts, soda bottles or any type of litter out their car window.

Would you like to serve on one of Louisville Metro's Boards or Commissions? 

Interested in volunteering for one of Louisville Metro Government's Boards and Commissions? Serving on a board or commission, you will have a chance to improve the quality of life in our community. There are approximately 100 boards and commissions with many areas of interest, including business and economic development, land planning, parks and recreation, public health and public safety. Read more about board applications.

If you know of a community event you'd like to be considered for inclusion on the District 10 enews, let us know. Please email our office or call 574-1110.

You are receiving this email because you have signed up for the enews or have contacted our office for assistance. If you would like to be removed from this communication please email Sara Feltner with "REMOVE" in the subject line.