LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A major federal investment is on the way to west Louisville aimed at making the environment, both in the air and on the ground, even better.
As a self-described "urban agriculturalist" and a member of the city's Parks Alliance, Eneitra Beattie said she loves living in Louisville's West End.
“It’s actually beautiful ... [there's] always something going on, something exciting," Beattie said. "The people really communicate with each other; the connection is beautiful.”
Beattie was inside Louisville's Metro Hall Wednesday, where Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials and others announced grants for two big projects.
The first is $1 million for a project that’ll examine and address air pollution in west Louisville, focusing on the Rubbertown industrial complex area. It’ll be a three-year project where partners will complete an air pollution-monitoring study in different areas of west Louisville, among other things.
“The data collected during the Ambient Air Toxics and Health Action for Rubbertown Area project is going to provide the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District with a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate and build on the progress made by our Strategic Toxic Air Reduction (STAR) program and so many other efforts aimed at air pollution throughout our community," said Rachel Hamilton, Louisville Metro air pollution control district director.
An EPA acting administrator said Louisville Metro Government was one of seven selectees in this region of the EPA for this funding, which Beattie said was welcome news.
“Oh, my gosh, the whole idea of stamping out that Rubbertown, the horrible smell … that is amazing," she said. "That is a very much of a blessing for west Louisville because it has downed our area for a long time [and] made people sick."
Similarly, a little more than $472,000 is on the way for a project that aims to engage people who live in Louisville’s California neighborhood. It’s about the planning, programming and stewardship of the brand-new Alberta O. Jones Park.
The park is 20 acres in a low-lying area on Maple Street. Catastrophic flooding devastated the area in 2009. Phase one opened last year while phase two is under construction.
“Our people-powered parks initiative funded with this grant will allow us to create a community council that will oversee the park and guide decisions of programs and services,” said Brooke Pardue, CEO of the Parks Alliance of Louisville.
The grants are funded under the bipartisan infrastructure law.
An EPA representative said the agency is in the pre-award process and anticipates the award money being available for projects within the next couple of months.