Does Louisville really 'hang its hat on Cherokee and Seneca parks'? It's sad if that's true.

For Metro Louisville to promote itself as a City of Parks, significant deferred maintenance, on-going maintenance and capital investment in all parks is critical. The article “Who will lead? Louisville’s search for an executive parks director comes up empty” states in part “The city hangs its hat largely on Cherokee and Seneca parks, which are part of Olmsted Parks”.

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This sentence makes me sad. Iroquois Park’s 725 rugged acres are teaming with wildlife and amenities such as horse trails, scenic vistas and an amphitheater. Shawnee Park is a beautiful place to picnic or play golf. Chickasaw Park is a tennis mecca with fishing options. To be a City of Parks we must invest equitably in park maintenance and programs throughout the city. This means recognizing certain parks have long been neglected because "the city hangs its hat largely on Cherokee and Seneca parks".

That sentence says so much about the parks and the underbelly of Louisville. We must work hard to fight perceptions and ensure they do not become reality. If this sentence isn't true, more education and promotion of park amenities is needed as some people are missing incredible park experiences. The Courier Journal is a good place to start.

— Maureen Welch, 40214

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville plays favorites in a city of parks. It's inequitable, sad.