LOUISVILLE, Ky. — People in Louisville’s West End will have new options for fun in the sun this summer.

This comes as families around Algonquin Park are being impacted by its reconstruction project that's closed down the park for the summer.

What You Need To Know

  •  Algonquin Park's pool is currently closed for a major renovation project set to start later this Summer

  •  New partnership involves the City of Louisville, the YMCA of Greater Louisville, Kentucky Kingdom and Transit Authority of the River City (TARC) 

  • Metro Parks and Recreation purchased 200 YMCA family memberships, 800 Kentucky Kingdom passes and free TARC bus rides for the Summer

  • All Summer Activity passes are free for families impacted by the Algonquin Park pool project

Algonquin Park’s pool holds a lot of good memories for Sherelle Gore. She grew up nearby and still lives in the area. She walks around the park in Louisville’s West End weekly.

Gore used to come to the pool with friends when she was a kid. She said it used to be a nice getaway.

“I would walk with my friends, my brothers. We would all come together to the swimming pool and hang out for the day. It was pretty cool. It was only $2 to get into the pool,” Gore explained.

These days, the pool is closed. In a media release, a city spokesperson said major renovations will start later this Summer. Gore said she’d like to see the pool roar again.

“Now, it’s just like a dull atmosphere. There’s no livelihood to the park anymore. It kind of took the life out of the park,” Gore said.

Mayor Craig Greenberg (D) announced a new partnership that will give Summer Activity passes to families affected by the Algonquin pool project.

Metro Parks and Recreation purchased 200 family memberships to the Republic bank Foundation YMCA and 800 passes to Kentucky Kingdom. They will be given to families — all for free. Plus, free TARC bus rides for the Summer.

The partnership is between the city of Louisville, the YMCA of Greater Louisville, Kentucky Kingdom and TARC.

“It means a lot,” Gore explained. “It would mean honestly more to me to have the pool open and functioning, but it means a lot to me to see the city come out and actually try to do something to make up for that.”

Greenberg handed 42-year-old Syntel Wells the summer’s first passes.

“The fact that they’re able to…no cost to the families, and have the memberships to go and take the kids and stuff honestly, I think it’s a great idea. I think it’s a blessing for most,” Wells said with a smile.

The families Spectrum News 1 talked to said they hope to use the passes soon.

The process of getting passes to families is being overseen by Louisville Metro Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins. Interested families can contact her office for more information on how to get a hold of one.

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