otter creek update

Sorry for getting a little provincial here, but I heard an interview with Jason Cissel from Metro Parks on NPR this morning. In an "I know that guy" moment, I dropped him a line to see what the status of reopening the park was and what info he could share. Some of you already know this, so skip to the end.

"we’re working to find a way to reopen this park for public recreation at no cost to Louisville’s taxpayers. We’ve received five proposals that we’re reviewing – all five contain some intriguing elements, and all five leave us with some questions that we’re exploring further. We’re also coordinating our efforts with the U.S. Department of the Interior, which must review any proposed lease of this former federal land to an outside operator.



It’s been a complicated and time-consuming process – one that we’re eager to put behind us! That said, we’re committed to getting this right, which means that a decision may not come as quickly as we’d all hope. Our main interest is guaranteeing the long-term viability of the park, and doing it in a way that will meet any requirements set by the feds. Meanwhile, we’ve committed to keeping one employee out there to keep facilities from deteriorating.



We do expect any outcome to maintain access to the park’s trails by hikers, mountain bikers and those horseback riding poop machines. It’s likely that volunteerism will play a key role in keeping the trails in good shape, similar to the support we received from trail users when we operated the park.



I wish I could offer a firm timeline, but this is a process we’ve never found ourselves in before, and one that the feds are also having to feel their way through. As someone who misses hiking the trails at Otter Creek, I’m looking forward to a positive outcome on this one."

Thatnks for the update Jason. Hopefully this will get resolved sooner than later.