Sophisticated Giving: Louisville's Olmsted Parks and Parkways

In 1891, the City of Louisville hired the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted – famed for creating Central Park in New York – and his sons to create a park system in Louisville. A system intentionally designed across the East, South, and East ends of Louisville to give everyone – regardless of race, income, or background – easy access to public greenspaces for recreation and relaxation. Today, our city is home to 17 Olmsted Parks and 6 connecting Parkways which have served our city for more than a century, including Cherokee Park, Iroquois Park, Shawnee Park, Seneca Park, Chickasaw Park, Tyler Park, and Shelby Park.

Olmsted Parks Conservancy: Established in 1989 as a private, non-profit partner to Louisville Parks and Recreation, Olmsted Parks Conservancy enhances, restores, and protects Louisville's historic 17 Olmsted Parks and 6 Parkways while connecting nature and neighborhood to strengthen our community's well-being. Over the past 30 years, Olmsted Parks Conservancy has overseen $40,000,000 in capital investment in our Olmsted Parks and Parkways. And thanks to financial support from our 1,800 members, we've been able to work in the parks daily, spending 125,000 hours since 2000 (a value of $4,702,090) maintaining natural areas thanks to hard work from our Team for Healthy Parks and the 1,100 annual volunteers in our Volunteer Program. Member support also allows us to work closely with the community surrounding our parks through our engagement programs, like Friends of Olmsted Parks, which ensures the amenities and programs available in our Olmsted Parks meet the needs of those who use them.

Support your favorite parks by becoming a Member! Olmsted Parks Conservancy members help grow our capacity to restore, enhance and forever protect Louisville’s Olmsted Parks and Parkways. Our Olmsted Parks are more than infrastructure: they are a living, breathing part of the community. When you become a member, you are investing in the quality of life and wellbeing of everyone in Louisville. You’ll support Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s ongoing work to keep the parks free of invasive plants, beautiful with new trees and wildflowers, and abuzz with beneficial birds, bees and butterflies. You’ll also sustain the Conservancy’s robust volunteer program, ensuring that dedicated community members can continue to partner with the Conservancy to keep our Olmsted Parks accessible, sustainable, and equitable.