Over the past two budget cycles, I have worked to get funding for more improvements at Des Pres Park. This summer we included an article on some of the proposed projects in our hard-copy newsletter. Today I wanted to take a moment to update you on the status of those improvements.
New LED lighting installation is scheduled: Contracts for the installation of new LED lighting to illuminate the baseball and football fields has been awarded and we have been informed that construction/installation of the much improved and energy efficient lighting is expected to occur in late 2024 or early 2025. The timing for this installation is being set in an effort to avoid the athletic seasons that make this park so busy from spring through late fall. This lighting is also expected to help reduce light pollution and save thousands in electrical costs associated with the operation of the field lights.
Basketball Court Renovation: The complete renovation (new basketball goals, nets, poles & striping) and resurfacing of the basketball court is scheduled to be completed by spring 2025. We identified this project two years ago while completing updates to the heavily used pickleball and tennis courts. Funding for this project was allocated through a renewed push by myself and my council colleagues to address deferred maintenance in our Metro Parks.
These improvements represent the final piece of a multi-year effort to improve Des Pres Park. This work was accomplished with help from neighboring Metro Councilman Kevin Kramer (District 11) as well as support from the full Metro Council. Other previously constructed improvements included the addition of a new accessible water fountain, additional picnic tables, installation of speed humps, paving, concrete pads, renovation of the picnic shelter, resurfacing the walking path and the sealing of the pickleball courts and repair of barriers that had been damaged or removed many years ago.
As many of you have noticed, there has been a major construction project underway along Shelbyville Road between So. Lyndon Lane and Hurstbourne Parkway. This construction has helped to connect numerous already build sections of sidewalk along the northern side of Shelbyville Road.
This project came to light after speaking with residents from the Bellemeade & Sycamore neighborhoods, then following up on those ideas with Metro Public Works and the State Transportation Cabinet, where we were able to develop a plan to create a walkway that would connect neighborhoods and improve access to the UL Shelby Campus as well as other nearby amenities.
Over the past five years, I have focused by attention to trying to connect people through improved sidewalk access. This project along with others already planned will hopefully lead to a completed sidewalk route that would stretch from the eastern boundaries of the District near Moser Road west along Shelbyville Road until your reach the Oxmoor Mall and New Lagrange Road areas.
Mowing over leaves to mulch them back into your lawn is a great option for reducing waste. Mulching not only returns vital nutrients to the soil, but experts say that it can help your grass grow even better the following year!
Never blow leaves into the street! If you see Street Sweeping signs posted on your street, please make sure to move your vehicle so any leaves that fell naturally on the street can be properly cleaned.
*ALSO: MSD asks if you see a catch basin covered with leaves, in front of your home or near by please collect them/clear the basin! That will assist in proper drainage and helps everyone.*
Leaf Drop-Off Sites (coming soon!)
The Metro Public Works free leaf drop-off sites will be open Tuesday-Saturdays, November 5 through December 7. Drop-off will not be available on November 28 and 29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Only leaves will be accepted. Leaves can be loose, in paper/compostable bags, or reusable containers. Containers used to bring leaves to the drop-off sites must be taken back by residents.
Locations and hours starting Tuesday, November 5:
Public Works Yard, 10500 Lower River Road (enter from Bethany Lane), Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Public Works East District Operations Center, 595 N Hubbards Lane, Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Louisville Free Public Library and the Louisville Orchestra are pleased to announce the fourth season of the collaborative project “Once Upon An Orchestra.” The complete schedule is listed below.
Presented free, each branch will host one of six different, unique family programs that weave music and storytelling together in an interactive experience. Louisville Orchestra musicians perform original music created around familiar and beloved children’s books. The hour-long experiences include a 30-minute small ensemble performance preceded by a hands-on activity to build a musical instrument from recycled materials, so everyone can play along.
For “Once Upon An Orchestra,” composers from the LO Creators Corps have developed original musical scores to accompany a number of beloved children’s books, including Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In addition, this year’s series features two new composition – Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson.
The musically enhanced storytelling leans into one of the key programs of the LFPL, the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge. This Library program encourages all families and caregivers to read at least 1000 books with their preschool-age children to build the vocabulary and language skills needed for success in school.
Co-presented by the Louisville Orchestra and the Louisville Free Public Library, “Once Upon An Orchestra” is funded with support from Louisville Metro Government. For more information, including the complete schedule, please visit LFPL.org/orchestra, contact your local LFPL branch, or call the Louisville Orchestra at (502) 587-8681.
District 18 and local area locations:
Thursday, November 7 6:30 PM N.E. Regional Library If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Saturday, February 8 2:00 PM St. Matthews Library The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Saturday, March 29 10:30 AM Jeffersontown Library Bunny's Book Club
*For the complete schedule of event dates and locations go to the website listed above!*
Join us for the Kentucky Veterans Parade and Celebration, an annual event dedicated to honoring and thanking our veterans. The festivities kick off with a traveling parade, Operation Rendezvous, which will bring convoys from north, south, east and west to converge in downtown Louisville. From there, the traditional parade steps off at noon, proceeding east on Jefferson Street from 7th to 4th Street. After the parade, enjoy the static display along 6th Street, where you can meet veterans and view historic military vehicles. This year’s parade will be led by Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Don Ballard, representing the Armed Forces Medic Corps.
To participate in the parade, visit KYVetParade.com. We look forward to welcoming you on Saturday, November 9th to downtown Louisville for the Kentucky Veterans Parade and Celebration!
The Rental Registry (Chapter 119), which is enforced by the Department of Codes & Regulations, aims to maintain transparency and accountability among rental property owners across the city. Starting November 4th, those who need to register their long-term rental properties will transition from using the Metro Business Portal to a new, user-friendly platform called Slate.
The Slate application, developed by Tolemi, has been implemented in several other cities, such as Monterey, CA and Lakewood, WA, for their Rental Registry initiatives. The effectiveness of the program in these locations is underscored by terms like "streamlined," "compliance," and "customer-friendly." We are confident this change will benefit rental property owners and increase the health and wellbeing of their tenants.
A comprehensive step-by-step guide for registering your property using Slate, along with extra detailed information, will be provided by the Department of Codes & Regulations on the day the program is launched. Updates to their website will also be made available at that time. For more information, subscribe to the Rental Property Owner Newsletter by filling out your email address in the following link (you can unsubscribe anytime).
Effective January 26, 2025, TARC plans to implement a series of reductions and service changes. The changes will help TARC to be more reliable and are another step to address TARC’s impending fiscal cliff. One example of the assorted changes includes an increase of frequency on the #40 Taylorsville Road route (Bardstown Rd to Ruckriegel Pkwy) to reduce the impact of the changes on TARC customers.
Lead poisoning and lead toxicity are terms that describe people’s exposures to lead that result in illness and require immediate medical attention. It is used to describe cases when there are severe health effects related to high blood lead levels. No safe blood lead level in children has been identified.
Lead poisoning is preventable! The key is preventing children from being exposed to lead.
Lead is toxic, especially to young children. When lead is breathed in or swallowed, it can cause delayed growth and development, lower IQ and learning issues, damage to the brain and nervous system, and result in hearing, speech, and behavior problems. Additional public health actions are needed for children with higher levels of lead in their blood.
Children younger than 6 years of age are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure. This is because their bodies are still developing and growing rapidly. Young children also tend to put their hands or other objects that may be contaminated with lead dust into their mouths.
About 3.3 million American households with children younger than 6 years old have lead exposure hazards from lead in deteriorated paint, dust, or soil—including around 2.1 million low-income households with children younger than 6 years old.
Lead can be found inside and outside the home. A common source of exposure is from cracked or chipped lead-based paint, which was used inside and outside many homes built before 1978 and in other buildings and steel structures, which may be nearby or adjacent to homes. Children can be exposed by swallowing or breathing in lead dust created by cracked or chipped paint, eating paint chips, and chewing on surfaces coated with lead dust or lead-based paint, such as windowsills.
Visit www.louhealthdata.com to see local data and maps for lead exposure. For more information about lead poisoning prevention, you can visit our website. You can also request a combat kit, which contain:
Swiffer Sweeper
Wet mop pads
Cleaning gloves
Hand soap
Painter’s tape
Wet wipes
Lead tester
The kits are available for anyone who is at risk of having lead hazards present in their home and have any children under 6 years old or pregnant individuals living there. If you have any questions about the Combat Kit, please email us or call 502-574-6644.
Louisville Parks and Recreation is always looking for volunteers to help out with special projects, litter clean-ups, tree plantings, coaches for youth leagues, etc. Available opportunities can be found via the virtual volunteer portal (below) and by checking out our social media outlets!
Louisville Metro Animal Services (MAS) is the only open intake shelter in Jefferson County. Serving as an authority for public safety and the humane treatment of animals, MAS provides a wide range of services including adoption, foster, and volunteer programs, animal care and control enforcement, and collaborative efforts with local partners around our city. MAS strives to create a safer and more compassionate environment for all residents, human and animal alike.
