LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s been nearly a year since the grounding breaking of a multi-million-dollar upgrade to Chickasaw Park.

What You Need To Know

  • Chickasaw Park broke ground on a multi-million dollar project last June

  • A new pedestrian lake, pickle ball courts and river viewing deck are being built

  • Historically, Chickasaw Park was built exclusively for Black residents during the time of segregation

  • The project is expected to be completed in summer 2024

Deborah Stallworth has been on the same walk for nearly her entire life. Every week she gets her steps in at Chickasaw Park.

“So, I’m well acquainted, almost 70 years’ worth of well,” Stallworth joked.

Over the last year, the scenery on her walks has been changing. On this day, she can see a crew of landscapers building stone walls. “It’s nice seeing some difference come here, something that will enhance future young people to come down,” Stallworth continued.

Last June the Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Louisville Metro began renovating multiple parts of this West End park and Stallworth says with thoughtful designs. “They didn’t just come in and wipe it all out and put water. They have some construction to it and even the walking bridges, you know, like that one there. People used to come down and get married on that bridge,” Stallworth said, looking out over the future recreational lake.

Not that long ago, Stallworth was a member of the Olmsted Parks Conservancy board, the nonprofit organization managing Chickasaw and the other Olmsted Parks in Louisville. Improving Chickasaw Park has been a hope of Stallworth and many others for a long time.

She says serious considerations of a large-scale project go back a decade. “Many years. More than 10. I won’t say 15 yet, maybe,” she said.

According to Olmsted Conservancy records, Chickasaw Park is believed to be the only park in the country built by the Olmsted firm exclusively for the Black residents during the time of segregation. It was completed in the early 1920s.

“At that time was the only park African Americans could go to,” Stallworth said.

One of the grandest additions is a small scenic lake where visitors will be able to canoe.

“And over the past few years a lot of money has been allocated to Chickasaw Park from a variety of partners. So, Mayor Fischer allocated $2.5 million from ARP funds from the federal relief money,” Layla George said. George is the Olmsted Parks Conservancy president.

Tennis courts are being redone, parking lots, and an observation deck overlooking the Ohio River is being constructed. The park will also have a “phenomenal nature playground that’s really going to be probably the best in the city ... So there’s just a lot of energy and momentum here,” George explained.

Stallworth can feel that momentum. “Olmsted wanted to have the opportunity. Of course he was against any type of racism or racial divide, however you want to put that. So he wanted that opportunity for everybody to be able to touch the water and just green in itself,” Stallworth added.

After all this time and countless walks, Stallworth is finally seeing the years of hard work near completion, and it’s a good view.

The project is expected to be completed this summer.

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