The Parks Alliance Of Louisville Announces Major Rebrand And Initiative

Louisville KY

14 August, 2021

2:27 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Louisville: August 10, 2021 Click the link to learn more about seasonal job opportunities. The Louisville Parks Foundation is now the Parks Alliance of Louisville and, as its first step towards fulfilling its refreshed mission, announces the Parks For All Equitable Investment Initiative. The Parks Alliance of Louisville, a nonprofit organization driving equitable investment in our city parks, unveiled its extensive rebrand in tandem with launching a 'Parks for All Equitable Investment Initiative' focused on enhancing our public park system for the betterment of all Louisvillians. The new brand identity reflects the organization's refreshed mission and vision, which has evolved with the needs of the community and aligns with progress being made citywide as we collectively address inequities to become a more resilient city. "This is a major milestone for our organization as we work towards supporting one another, our communities, and focus on how we can make the greatest impact," said Brooke Pardue, CEO of the Parks Alliance of Louisville. "As the events of 2020 unfolded, we assessed the work we were doing and how we could really move the needle on equitable access to our public green spaces. We concluded a bold new identity, which reflected our values and vision, was needed." The rebrand coincides with the launch of the Parks for All Equitable Investment Initiative. This initiative puts Louisville in the national spotlight as the third city in the country to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the condition of all public parks, and the neighborhoods those parks serve, while simultaneously gathering community input about their desires for park improvements, maintenance, and programming. "Parks are open to all, making them vital civic infrastructure. They represent a critical component to a thriving city and there needs to be equitable access to positively impact our wellbeing," said Pardue. With the support of Louisville Metro Council and their initial funding of $200,000, data will be collected to examine the needs at each public park and to identify gaps in both access and quality. The gold standard is for every resident to have access to quality public green space within a 10-minute walk of their home. The parks need assessment will be aligned with neighborhood statistics including multiple dimensions of poverty, crimes against persons, vacancy rates, air and water quality, and the frequency of physical and mental health concerns like obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and asthma. Additionally, in-depth, demographic-driven, community outreach will occur to gather input and share information as the project unfolds. This data-driven approach will provide the roadmap to ensure parks and neighborhoods with the greatest need receive the earliest investment. "We are fortunate to have nonprofit partners, like the Parks Alliance of Louisville, to spearhead important work in our community," said Mayor Fischer. "Equitable investment in our pubic green spaces must be a priority to ensure we are a healthy, vibrant community committed to an active lifestyle." To learn more about why this initiative is important and how you can get involved, visit www.parksalliancelou.org. This press release was produced by the City of Louisville. The views expressed here are the author's own.