LOUISVILLE, Ky. — What was intended to be temporary road closures at Iroquois and Cherokee parks may become permanent. Louisville Parks and Recreation closed the Scenic Loop in Cherokee Park and Rundill Road in Iroquois Park to vehicle traffic a year ago. The intent was to allow for more social distancing while walking, running or biking at the parks.

The survey, which was conducted from March 12-19, garnered 7,234 responses. Louisville Parks and recreation held a virtual town hall meeting Tuesday to discuss traffic at Cherokee Park, and release the survey results. 

A majority of respondents favored keeping the Scenic Loop at Cherokee Park closed to traffic.

Those who were in favor of keeping the loop closed to cars said they feel it is safer. 

“It’s so much easier to get around, especially with a stroller or if we have bikes. It’s great. The lanes are much wider. You are not weaving in and out of cars potentially coming by quickly,” said Lara Coiraton, who was walking at the park with her child.

Others who would like the road to reopen to traffic worry this closure limits who can visit the park. 

“There’s a lot of people who cannot walk, but would like to see the park and be a part of it, so I think it should be open for everyone,” said Robert McLean, who was walking at the park with his wife.

Robert McLean and his wife now walk near the golf course where they park.

McLean and his wife parked at the golf course and walk around the area close to their car since they cannot walk the whole loop. They said it has been a year since they’ve seen Hogan’s Fountain.

That was a common concern from survey respondents. That’s why Louisville Parks and Recreation proposed opening a .08 mile stretch of the park to vehicles to allow people access to amenities near Hogan’s Fountain such as the gazebo, basketball courts, and the playground.

“I like it being open to traffic because I like being able to meet at any part of the park and not having to walk the whole loop,” Grace Stueve told Spectrum News 1 as she walked her dogs around the loop.

The results for Cherokee Park indicate that a majority of people are in favor of keeping the loop closed, but would also support opening part of the loop to allow access to the Hogan Fountain area.

Grace Stueve walks in the park with her dogs, but doesn't always want to walk the full loop.

The survey results for Iroquois Park have not yet been released, but Olmsted Parks Conservancy President and CEO Layla George said reviews have been more mixed than the Cherokee survey.

“At Iroquois it is very different. There are huge parking lots there by the amphitheater. All of the amenities are accessible even with the road closure. The issue there is more of a question of people who may live nearby and use Iroquois as a cut through to get from point A to point B. When traffic backs up on some of those surrounding streets, some people use the park to get to work faster, which we definitely understand. It’s just a very different issue than what we see at Cherokee,” said George.

Louisville Parks and Recreation plans to hold a virtual town hall soon to discuss traffic patterns at Iroquois Park. A date for that has not yet been determined. Louisville Parks and Recreation plans to decide on the traffic patterns at both parks sometime in April.