Olmsted Parks Conservancy
Strategic Plan
| Location: | Year Completed: | Project Type: | Partners: |
| Louisville, KY | 2023 | Parks Strategic Plan | City of Louisville |
Olmsted Parks Conservancy is an organization that just marked its 35-year anniversary in 2024 of serving the community of Louisville, focusing on the protection and advancement of the Olmsted parks and parkways system. The Conservancy is a steward of 17 Olmsted parks (and the network of parkways that connect those parks) located throughout the Louisville community.
Frederick Law Olmsted first visited Louisville in 1891 and subsequently developed the design of the community’s first three large multi-purpose parks, as well as a system of interconnecting parkways to link them together. The premise of Olmsted’s designs are parks that connect communities through providing mental, physical and social recreation, while the guiding principal’s of Olmsted’s work were found in creating public spaces that reflect the natural character of the land, support balanced uses, are easily accessible, and preserve the prominence of nature to built landscapes.
Following in the footsteps of Olmsted’s vision, this Strategic Plan was developed in coordination with key partners and stakeholders and details the priorities and direction of the Olmsted Conservancy over the next 10 years. The path plotted in this plan will ensure that Olmsted Parks are available for enjoyment for generations to come, in the . Through an inclusive approach that centers community needs and stewardship opportunities, this Strategic Plan will help create an enduring legacy that helps Louisville live up to the name “City of Parks.”
