October Newsletter
Dear Louisville,
Over the past 18 months we have been listening to the community. We have had over 1000 people complete the survey, almost 500 people provide feedback through the social pinpoint map on our website, and we’ve heard from hundreds of folks at the 9 public meetings that we have held. I have presented to various groups throughout the city – rotary clubs, neighborhood associations, women’s clubs, nonprofit boards, and cultural organizations.
This active listening does not stop now. The more people we hear from, the greater our chance of success will be.
And what are we hearing? We’ve heard that people want a greener Belvedere with places to gather and free community events. They want better connections to the surrounding attractions. But many people are concerned about safety.
While data shows that violent crime has been trending downward in Louisville, just as it has across the country, sometimes there is a disconnect between reality and perception.
So, what are we doing to ensure the Belvedere is a safe place to gather?
We will have Block by Block Ambassadors walking through the park and garage during the day to provide a friendly face and an extra set of eyes. We will have overnight security in the park and in the garage. Louisville Metro Police currently patrol the area daily and that will continue. We will also have security cameras in the park and in the garage, monitored 24/7 by PARC.
Creating safe spaces is about more than enforcement, though, so we are also incorporating safety into the design. We are working with the Metro Office of Women to ensure the design meets their standards for personal safety, including clear sightlines within the park and adequate lighting. We have designed the Welcome Center to be within eyesight of the playground, putting more eyes on our smallest users.
We also have created a new non-profit, Belvedere Development Corporation to care for and maintain the space once the park is open. A recent report by Reimagining the Civic Commons looked at data from cities across the country and found that well-cared for public spaces increased feelings of safety and reduced crime. They said it best -
But perhaps the most important thing we can do to increase users personal feeling of safety at the Belvedere is to ensure that the space is actively programmed with a wide variety and frequency of free community events and engaging public art.
Which all comes back to community outreach. We want to offer a breadth of programming that appeals to a diverse group of people, representative of every corner of our community. And to do that, we need to hear from you.
Take a minute to complete the survey, share with friends, and let us know – what do you want to do at the Belvedere?
If dangerous places can negatively impact the area around them, we believe the reverse can be said about safe places.
We envision a vibrant and joyful civic park at the Belvedere that will serve as a catalyst for more activity, more people, and more joy downtown.
Downtown Park(ing) Day
On Friday, September 17th, downtown was transformed with over twenty dynamic parklets for Louisville Downtown Partnership’s Park(ing) Day. Different community organizations transformed regular parking spaces into inviting social spaces, including one near the Belvedere! KNBA Architects took advantage of this opportunity to speak with local residents about the project and gather input on the types of activities and programming people wanted to see in the new park. Thanks to everyone who made this great event possible!
Belle of Louisville
We know that one of the primary attractions at the Belvedere is the Ohio River. Poeple love to walk to the overlook and watch all the activity on the river. What better way to enjoy the river than being on the Belle of Louisville! Belle of Louisville Riverboats provides community access to the river and to Louisville's history by presenting fun, meaningful and engaging experiences on the water like no one else can. Passengers are encouraged to explore history, the arts and cultural heritage in a way that represents diverse stories and honest experiences.
Fall is the perfect time to take a sunset cruise or enjoy one of their other specialty cruises that offer history, music, food and more.
Comments