LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville plans to examine how exposure to nature and forests affects human health thanks to a $1 million grant by Louisville’s Trager family. UofL’s Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute will create the Trager Micro-Forest Project.
According to organizers, the project will be a “scientific inquiry into the impact of intense urban greening on human health, economic vitality and the natural environment,”. A long-term operation, the Evirome Institute got a 30-year lease from the Louisville Metro Government for the use of Founders Square, located in the heart of downtown.
The idea is to plant native plants and trees throughout the downtown location. The Trager Mirco-Forest will also partner with the Green Heart Project, a group studying the link between nature and human health. Researchers will work with members of the community to track and measure changes in human peoples’ well-being as well.
Another goal is to look at the project’s impact of biodiversity, micro-climates, economic development and public safety. They hope that what they learn can inform the way city planners integrate nature into urban environments everywhere.
“The Trager Micro-Forest Project is a transformative project connecting people with nature, starting in the heart of our city,” said Michael Trager-Kusman. “The members of our family are honored to support learning about the impact of scientifically planned and planted green spaces in the city we love.”
“This is an exceptional project for UofL’s Envirome Institute at the New Vision of Health Campus, and we are delighted to have the Trager family’s generous support as we embark on new fields of inquiry into the impact of the built environment on human health,” said Lori Stewart Gonzalez, interim president of UofL.
Trager Micro-Forest Project planners also said that the effort should excite and engage the community while changing perceptions of downtown and promoting a greener and healthier city.
“The Envirome Institute is committed to the health and vitality of downtown Louisville, which is why we’re establishing our New Vision of Health Campus downtown at Fifth Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard,” said Aruni Bhatnagar, director of the Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute. “The Trager Micro-Forest Project is not simply a beautification project. It is a scientific project, which will be the first of its kind in our region of the country.”
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer agreed with this assessment. “The Trager Micro-Forest Project and the Envirome Institute’s New Vision of Health campus are catalysts for positive momentum during this pivotal time for downtown Louisville. These initiatives complement our commitment to a sustainable future, a commitment that requires vision and action. We expect these initiatives will spur additional economic development in the area while adding well-planned and maintained green spaces that make our downtown area more attractive for those who live, work and visit there,” the Mayor said.
Work at the site has already begun. Researchers said they are analyzing current park usage and taking air and surface temperature measurements in Founders Square and surrounding properties. They have completed an inventory of the existing trees as well.
This past summer, they also used ground-penetrating radar to scan below the surface of Founders Square and identify any possible underground obstacles. They plan to invite community members to activities in the square and provide input into the project over the next few months.