LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Children, families and the community are celebrating the grand opening of Phase IV of Louisville’s Waterfront Park.
Eleven-year-old Gabrielle was one of the first children to play at the new Playport at Waterfront Park.
“It’s actually pretty nice. I love going up on the slides. I love climbing through a bunch of stuff. It’s really fun,” she said.
She was at the park on a field trip with her J. Graham Brown School classmates and many other children and families.
“Over where it looks like a construction site, I get to play with my friends. It’s really fun,” Gabrielle added.
The entire Playport uses and transforms industrial objects. For instance, a dump truck bed was turned into a slide and river-themed objects, including a boat, have been turned into interactive play structures.
Twelve-year-old Marshall liked playing on moveable tires.
He said, “I love it very much. It’s very cool because of all the stuff around here that you can enjoy and play with. It’s a lot of slides that you can go down and a lot of stuff that will make kids happy,” he said.
State, city and local leaders cut the ribbon on the $50 Million Phase IV Waterfront expansion project. It will add 22 acres of new public space along the Ohio River.
Deborah Bilitski, Waterfront Park’s executive director explained, “Playport isn’t just a playground as you can see. It’s an adventure that blends history, science and play inspired by Louisville’s industrial and river heritage. It’s a place where all children can play and learn and grow together.”
It’s a science-based play and learning area created alongside the Kentucky Science Center.
Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., said, “Families in West Louisville deserve the best and if you look around, that’s exactly what you have here.”
Once the expansion is complete it will stretch from 10th to 14th Streets.
Leaders said this expansion now puts Waterfront Park within a 20-minute walk of over 10,000 people living in the area.
Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, added, “This is without a doubt as fine of a park as you can build not just in West Louisville, not just in Louisville, not just in Kentucky, but anywhere in the world. We’ll put this Playport up against any other place.”
Gabrielle’s mother, who loves the Playport, said the community impact could be huge.
Torrie Woolridge said, “I think this is an opportunity for everyone to come from all over Louisville and just live and be free and it’s a safe space down here.”
As Phase IV expands, more community gathering spaces will be added.
