Louisville City helped Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and the Louisville Parks Foundation open new turf soccer fields at Wyandotte Park Monday, marking the third phase of an award-winning partnership between the Louisville Parks Foundation and the club.
“LouCity is excited to continue our partnership with the Louisville Park Foundation,” Louisville City Director of Youth Development Mario Sanchez said. “The new fields at Wyandotte will provide an opportunity to bring people together from all backgrounds in a safe and first-class facility to enjoy the sport of soccer. This is a great day for the city of Louisville and the entire soccer community.”
Mayor Fischer joined the Louisville Parks Foundation (LPF), Churchill Downs officials, Coach John Hackworth, Sanchez and selected LouCity players, Louisville Parks and Recreation staff, other city officials, and donors Monday to celebrate the completion of three 5-a-side turf soccer fields in Wyandotte Park. The construction of the fields completes all three phases of the LPF turf soccer field campaign for South Louisville, which included five new fields in three public parks.“More now than ever, as a community, we’re depending on the work of non-profits like the Louisville Parks Foundation, and the generosity of those who support them, to help move this community forward with investments like the South Louisville Soccer Project,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “I look forward to seeing this field and others full of competitors of all ages enjoying the game of soccer.”
Funding for the $200,000 project was the result of a partnership between the Louisville Parks Foundation, a non-profit that supports Louisville Parks and Recreation, Churchill Downs, the Gheens Foundation, Humana Foundation, Louisville City FC, Louisville Metro Council, JBS Swift/UFCW, CE&S Foundation, Aegon Transamerica Foundation, LG&E Foundation, ORCA Life, the Kentucky Colonels, and individual donors.
The Louisville Parks Foundation raised just under $500,000 to complete turf fields and drinking fountains in the three parks in fewer than 18 months. “Working with various partners in the community to create new amenities and support for our public parks, is what we, as a foundation, are all about,” said Louisville Parks Foundation CEO, Brooke Pardue. “We could not have completed this project without serious community investment from businesses like Churchill Downs, local foundations, and individual donors, large and small. Through our philosophy of projects through partnerships, we will continue to identify needs in our public parks, and work hard to provide new amenities to improve the health and wellbeing of our community, through play.”
After Monday’s press conference, local players from Butler Traditional High School were the first team to get to play on the fields. LouCity players Taylor Peay, Brian Ownby, Alexis Souahy and Shaun Francis joined them on the field to kick a ball around.
Butler Tradition High School coach Mario Carrillo and LouCity’s Sanchez spoke about the importance of the new fields in the community.
About the Louisville Parks Foundation:
The Louisville Parks Foundation (LPF)’s mission is to inspire donors to invest in our 120+ public parks and recreational facilities – for present and future generations. LPF was formed as a non-profit in December 2005 to support parks and community programs not funded by other local non-profits. In 2013, the Louisville Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular opened and the producers of the show partnered with the Louisville Parks Foundation, which became the recipient of the proceeds. Since then, the Foundation has completed major projects in California, Lannan, and Russell Lee parks, installed a 5-a-side turf soccer field at Beechmont, a 7-a-side turf field at William Harrison and built the first “Skate Spot” in the Midwest at Breslin Park. The Foundation is currently raising funds for nature play areas. For more information, visit www.lpfky.org.
About Louisville Parks and Recreation:
Louisville Parks and Recreation, a nationally accredited parks and recreation agency, manages 120 parks, 18 of which are Olmsted-designed, on more than 13,000 acres of land. Louisville Parks and Recreation also operates numerous youth and adult recreation programs and facilities, two historic homes, 10 golf courses, two arts and cultural centers, an outdoor performing arts theatre and two nationally-recognized skate parks. Its mission is accomplished by taking care of all parks properties and creating new ones, by providing safe and diverse recreational programs, and by protecting our public lands and resources for future generations. www.bestparksever.com
