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Blackacre Conservancy is delighted to announce the upcoming celebration of the 25th anniversary of its community garden, the largest in Jefferson County. A special tribute to Emilie Strong Smith will also be held. Smith is the visionary who purchased the land which now encompasses this remarkable garden.
The community garden, a testament to Smith's dedication, has flourished for 25 years. This garden offers a nurturing environment for an array of plants and cultivates a strong sense of community among the diverse gardeners. Smith's foresight and commitment to land preservation shaped the community garden into an unparalleled haven of growth, learning, and community engagement.
Blackacre Conservancy invites the community to join the garden's monumental milestone and recognition of Smith. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on June 29, 2023, at 6:30 PM followed by light refreshments at Blackacre's enchanting grounds, located at 3200 Tucker Station Road, 14 miles east of downtown Louisville.
Blackacre Conservancy extends its sincere gratitude to all supporters, partners, and volunteers who have contributed to the success and growth of the Blackacre’s nature preserve, community garden and historic homestead. Their unwavering dedication has transformed Blackacre into a cherished institution that will continue to thrive for generations to come.
About Blackacre Conservancy
Blackacre Conservancy is a 280-acre nature preserve and historic homestead located in Louisville, KY. It was generously given by Judge Macauley L. Smith and wife, Emilie Strong Smith for the people of Kentucky.
Blackacre's mission is to promote environmental education, conservation, and preservation. Visitors can explore an early American homestead, hike scenic trails, enjoy farm animals, and tour historic structures, immersing themselves in the region's rich heritage and natural beauty.
For more information, please visit www.VisitBlackacre.org
- Registration is open for four free, hands-on Ford Driving Skills for Life clinics at Cardinal Stadium for newly licensed drivers focusing on critical factors influencing teen crashes: vehicle handling, hazard recognition, speed, space management, distraction and impairment
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens (CDC), and pedestrian fatalities have reached the highest number in 40 years (GHSA)
- Ford Driving Skills for Life celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023 having trained more than 1.5 million teens and parents across the U.S. and around the globe
Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford, and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) are bringing four free Ford Driving Skills for Life hands-on teen driver training clinics to Cardinal Stadium (2550 S. Floyd St., Louisville, Ky.) June 17-18, 2023.
Now in its 20th year, Ford Driving Skills for Life supports the goal of Vision Zero — to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries among all road users while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility. The program pairs newly licensed or permitted drivers with professional driving instructors for hands-on driver training in a safe, closed-course environment. Developed by Ford Fund, GHSA and a panel of safety experts, the program addresses issues and critical factors that influence crashes, including vehicle handling, hazard recognition, speed and space management, distracted driving and impaired driving. The free clinics focus on necessary skills for safe driving, including pedestrian/cyclist education, and are being conducted in partnership with the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety.
“At Ford Fund, we invest in programs that create safer conditions for all road users, including those without car-centric mobility journeys. We believe that everyone deserves access to reliable, safe and affordable mobility,” said Joe Provenzano, Mobility director with the Ford Motor Company Fund. “Our Ford Driving Skills for Life program teaches safe driving practices to newly licensed teen drivers in the context of vulnerable road users like pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders. By training teen drivers, the program results in a safer journey for both the new drivers as well as those who share the road with them.”
Parents/guardians are encouraged to participate with their teen(s), given the significant role they play in shaping their child’s driving habits. Community groups that reach underserved teens are also encouraged to participate. Parents can register their teen(s) for a free training session online.
According to the CDC, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. However, roadway safety is about more than just the driver and that’s underpinned by this alarming statistic:
- Pedestrian fatalities are on the rise. GHSA estimates that 7,435 pedestrians were struck and killed in 2021 – the highest number in 40 years.
In Kentucky, per mile driven, drivers ages 16 to 19 are nearly three times as likely to be in a crash resulting in an injury or death compared with other drivers. In 2022, there were 64 fatal crashes and 2,659 injury crashes involving a teenage driver, according to data from Kentucky’s statewide integrated traffic records system.
“Our goal is for all road users to reach their destination safely – every trip, every time,” said KYTC Secretary Jim Gray. “Experience is the best teacher, and this program complements other methods new drivers use to be prepared and safe on our roadways.”
GHSA and the Ford Driving Skills for Life team recommend that parents of teen drivers positively impact their teen driver’s safety by doing the following:
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Follow Your State’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), which phases in driving privileges as teens gain more experience. Research confirms the effectiveness of GDL laws in reducing fatalities involving teen drivers.
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Be a good role model. Practice safe driving yourself – your teen’s learning starts at home.
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Schedule regular driving practice with your teen, even after they’re licensed to drive without supervision. Teens whose parents actively monitor their driving are less likely to be involved in a crash and to engage in risky behaviors such as speeding, driving impaired or distracted, and not buckling up.
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Collaborate with your teen to create and enforce a parent-teen driving agreement (PTDA) that clearly states the rules and the consequences for violating them. Posting the PTDA in a location where everyone will see it, such as on the refrigerator or adjacent to the car keys, will help to reinforce its importance.
The Hikes Lane Pavement Rehabilitation project continues. The federally funded project mostly includes repairing/replacing concrete pavement, improving curb ramps and sidewalks to make them ADA compliant. Construction costs are estimated to be $7,000,000. Work on the 2.7-mile corridor is anticipated to be completed by late October.
IMPORTANT!! - Pay close attention to work plan and detour map to best navigate the area!
Please click here for work plan and updated detour map.
Metro Public Works recently completed a safety enhancement project between Eastern High School and the Middletown Public Library location. Metro and the City of Middletown worked together to build these safety improvements. Because the existing sidewalk along here sat 3 feet below roadway grade, the project detailed the following:
- Had to rebuild 150’ of sidewalk to gain ADA compliance.
- Adding fully ADA-compliant ramp(s) crossing.
- Adding a fully striped ladder crosswalk accompanied with new warning signage.
- Removed some unnecessary foliage, which impeded drivers view of pedestrians.
- Made some necessary drainage modifications.
Worked performed by PWA contractor, All-Terrain Paving & Construction.
Special thanks to PWA inspectors Nick Rohrman and Bryan Davis for assuring work quality on the project, thus protecting taxpayer funds.
Steve Kurowsky - Project Manager.
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