LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There’s a new place for Louisville to honor and remember the victims and survivors of last April’s mass shooting at the Old National Bank.

On Wednesday, May 8, the Louisville Ballet unveiled a new Community Healing Garden.

“How do you get through all that? But, my thought is looking towards nature and God, because that is nature, mother nature and that makes everybody feel better,” said Jon Carloftis, who created the gardens.

It’s his happy place.

“You know, my dogs and my garden. I mean, my garden is my respite. And I hope it is for everybody else,” Carloftis said.

He’s the designer behind the community healing garden at the Louisville Ballet.

“When we were building this garden, just people were stopping and touching, you know. So it’s gardens (that) make people happy and, especially in a city, they elevate everything,” Carloftis said.

He planted a wide range of heat-tolerant plants, from Artemisia, Hollywood Juniper and more.

“I love a good before and after. Beauty makes people feel good,” Carloftis said. 

The garden is a symbol and dedication to reflection and solace.

“I think what’s important is we’re seeing another step, more than a year later, proof that we’re going to continue to honor these individuals and to try to be better because of their sacrifice,” said Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky.

It remembers the tragic shooting at Old National Bank in April 2023, where five people were killed and several others were injured.

“What we’ve done here is about healing from those tragedies that we’ve already experienced and that’s one of the reasons why this healing garden is so lovely and so valuable,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville.

The community healing garden sits at the front entrance of the Louisville Ballet headquarters.

“What happened here was, I’ve never experienced anything like that. But all I know in my own personal life, I’ve been able to just work outside and a going through it, you know?” Carloftis said.