ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Louisville Metro Parks sought to revitalize the historic Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Chickasaw Park in Louisville’s West End to address longstanding community concerns, environmental challenges, and the need for safe, accessible recreational spaces. The city envisioned a transformation that would foster community trust, improve public amenities, and restore the natural beauty and functionality of Chickasaw Pond, creating a vibrant hub for recreation, education, and environmental stewardship.
Luckett & Farley partnered with Louisville Metro Parks to bring this vision to life. Our solution focused on:
Rebuilding Community Trust: Addressing the community’s historical concerns, we prioritized transparent communication and engagement. Through a year long public outreach process, Luckett & Farley conducted public outreach, workshops, and educational forums, we provided residents with clear information about the environmental restoration efforts, safety measures, and future benefits of the project.
Innovative Environmental Restoration: Historically, pollutants in Chickasaw Pond prevented recreational use and sport fishing, creating lasting distrust. Our team prioritized transparency, educating the community on how these pollutants had broken down over time and outlining steps for ongoing testing and contingencies during construction. Bioretention strategies were implemented to improve water quality, supported by educational materials and forums to inform and reassure residents.
Enhanced Recreational and Educational Features: We designed accessible, inclusive spaces tailored to the community’s needs, including ADA-compliant kayak launches, fishing piers, walking trails, picnic areas, and a nature play zone. An educational component was also incorporated, offering local schools hands-on opportunities to engage with the park’s natural environment.
Phased Implementation: Understanding the constraints of public funding and reliance on grants and volunteers, we created a flexible, phased construction plan to ensure steady progress without overextending resources.