Waterfront Timeline

1986   Waterfront Development Corporation created by interlocal agreement between the Commonwealth of Kentucky, City of Louisville and Jefferson County.

First Board Meeting; David Karem named first Chairman of the Board.

  


Waterfront Development Corp, 2006



Louisville's waterfront before Waterfront Park


Phase I - Linear Park


View of Preston Point from the Public Gardens


Waterplay in the Adventure Playground
1987   WDC hires staff and moves into first headquarters on Main Street.

Mary Bingham donates funds to acquire WDC headquarters on River Road.

David A. Jones leads community effort to bring the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church USA to the Waterfront area.

  
1988   Facelift begins with acquisition and clearing of properties.

  
1990   Hargreaves Associates selected as Master Plan designer from national search. Design funded by Mary Bingham, Sara Brown, and David A. Jones.

  
1992   Private fundraising campaign begins for Phase I, chaired by David A. Jones.

  
1993   More than $14 million in private donations are pledged, matched by $12.5 million from the State.

  
1994   Ground is broken for Waterfront Park.

  
1996   RiverWalk completed to Shawnee Park.

New wharf completed, first major piece of Waterfront Park.

  
1997   Waterfront Park hosts its first concert series on the wharf, Rockin' at Riverpoints.

Plans announced to locate Louisville Slugger Field in the Waterfront District.

Joe's Crab Shack opens for business.

Children's Play Area and Linear Park are dedicated and opened to public.

  
1998   Great Lawn dedicated and opened to the public.

  
1999   Phase I of Waterfront Park dedicated and opened to the public (55 acres, $58 million).

  
2000   Construction begins on Waterfront Park Place, a residential development called for in the Master Plan.

  
2001   Waterfront Park is one of five national projects to receive the Honor Award for design from the American Society of Landscape Architecture.

  
2003   Waterfront Park receives Phoenix Award Grand Prize for Excellence for brownfields redevelopment, the highest award in the nation.

Adventure Playground/Waterplay of Phase II is opened to public.

  
2004   Phase II opened to public (17 acres, $15 million).

Waterfront Park voted No. 1 Lawn for Family Fun by Briggs & Stratton.

  
2005   Construction begins on Phase III, final phase of Park (13 acres, projected $21 million).

Waterfront Independence Festival expands to two days and hosts more than 150,000 people.

  
2007   Construction to begin on ramp to Big Four in late spring.

  
2008   Phase III scheduled for completion.

  
     

 

Waterfront Park Facts

 
Louisville Waterfront Development Corporation
129 East River Road
Louisville, KY 40202
(502)574-3768 fax (502)574-4111
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