Louisville Metro and 21st Century Parks Forge Innovative Partnership for Land Protection and Park Maintenance
In the development of The Fork project, 21st Century Parks, Inc and Louisville Metro Government, with input from the public and Metro Council, have forged a unique public/private partnership. Modeled after a similar bond between the Central Park Conservancy and the City of New York, our local partnership will further the protection and enhancement of the incredible resource that is The Fork. The partnership will ensure that all properties are protected in perpetuity for public access and use and also allow the new parklands to be maintained at a very high level. Louisville's Metro Council recently approved the creation of a deed restriction protecting participating Metro parklands, as well as a construction easement to allow 21st Century Parks to build park improvements on Metro lands as part of its master plan for The Fork. As important, they approved a process whereby the Mayor's office and 21st Century Parks will negotiate a renewable five year maintenance agreement that will help to ensure that these parks will always be clean and safe. The end result of this innovative public/private partnership is one of the largest metropolitan park projects currently underway today and an amenity to be enjoyed by generations of Louisvillians.