LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer's Annual Hike, Bike, and Paddle returned to the city after going virtual last year.

What You Need To Know

  • Louisville mayor's 17th annual Hike Bike and Paddle was held on Memorial Day

  • The event was virtual last year

  • It is part of the Louisville's Healthy Hometown movement

  • Participants were happy to be out enjoying the event and the nice weather

The Memorial Day event is designed to get residents active, but for some participants it was also a sign that things are returning to normal. 

Since 2004, the Louisville community has been invited to hike, bike or paddle with the mayor on Memorial Day.

“I like the idea of it promoting wellness, promoting getting active and stuff so, I thought it was cool,” says hiking participant Rodney Furman. 

“I just really like the view and everybody out here participating. It's really nice. The weather is perfect. It's a perfect day to do it,” says participant Aric Williams. 

After more than a year of social distancing and isolation, The Phillies, a group of ladies who walk together daily, were happy to see so many faces on their route. 

“We came out here for our health. We came out here to enjoy ourselves and to be in the company of all of the great walkers and bikers and be a part of this great day with the mayor,” says one member of The Phillies.

Hundreds of feet, and wheels passed over the Big Four Bridge and some were doing so for the first time in a long time.

“I haven’t been on the Big 4 Bridge in two years since the pandemic. Now that I’m vaccinated and everything is opening up I decided to come on and get my little exercise this morning,” says hiking participant Malcolm Sanders. 

Mary Helen Davis, a biking and paddling participant of many years, was able to check off her final mark after completing one of the hiking courses. 

“This represents some of the best of our community. You get to see all of the different faces. You get to see the police and at their best where they are doing traffic and protecting and everybody is waving and being friendly, so I kind of come out to support the community, get some exercise and have some fun,” says Davis. 

She and her friend, a first time participant, were excited to see the city leaders’ efforts to help the community return to normal pay off while getting their steps in. 

“I try to think of this as the beginning of the new normal. Hopefully we won’t return

 to some of the things that we’re not so positive about our community but this is the best of us,” says Davis’s friend Karen Newman. 

For participants, the event means the community is one step, one pedal, one paddle closer to life like it was before the pandemic. 

“We still have a long way to go for all of the challenges that we faced, but I think the important thing for all of us to focus on today is that we’re all in this together to make it a better community,” says Newman. 

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