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The Parklands

It’s Time to Spring into Action!

Now that it’s officially spring (and the snow has finally melted) there is so much to be done. Visitation to The Parklands is increasing every day and we have lots of work to do in order to prep the park for another year of growth.

We thought you might want to see what we’re up to.

Parklands Spring To-Do List:

  • Power-wash & prep the Marshall Playground & Sprayground
  • Mow and re-seed about 50 acres of turf
  • Check all restrooms for repairs and order additional port-o-lets
  • Weekly clear and clean of all 7 miles of the Louisville Loop
  • Cut back perennials & ornamental grasses
  • Remove leaves & other debris from garden beds
  • Seasonal shurb trimming
  • Mulch all garden beds and newly planted trees and shurbs
  • Apply pre-emergent to keep the weeds away
  • Replace any trees and shrubs that didn’t make it through the winter
  • Repair ruts along park road with soil, seed, & straw
  • Dig and divide perennials
  • Tree fertilization
  • Wetland maintenance
  • Vegetable seedling starts for the PNC Achievement Center raised beds (which will be used for education programming)
  • Install perennial seedlings and plugs
  • Flood and other debris removal 
  • Continue invasive species clearing
  • Prep overflow parking lots
  • Review and update signage
  • Increase clean-up around fishing lakes
  • Finalize new curriculum for summer camp programming & train educational staff and volunteers
  • Increase Park Ranger patrols thanks to daylight savings time
  • Train and recruit new volunteers

List of Some of the Items Needed To Accomplish These Tasks:

Seem Daunting? Here’s how you can help:

Every membership contribution goes to fund annual operations in The Parklands, just like these on our spring to-do list. If you love the sight of new flowers popping up along the Humana Grand Allee or the ability to run on maintained trails throughout all 4 seasons of the year, this is your time to give back. 

SIGN UP ONLINE

MAIL YOUR CONTRIBUTION

GIVE US A CALL AT (502)584-0350

As a 501(c)3 organization, we do not receive annual tax support for our operations. Together we must raise $1.5 million this year to keep our park clean, fun, safe, and beautiful. This list of spring tasks is only the beginning. We would appreciate you taking action now-  just in time to enjoy all the perks of membership this spring!

Your donation is 100% tax-deductible and every little bit counts. If you’re already a member and still want to help, you can remember to renew your membership, make an additional donation, or give membership as a gift to someone you know who will appreciate it. We promise you’ll see your contribution in action this spring!

Thank you to the over 1,700 people who are currently Parklands Members and have committed to helping us keep The Parklands safe, fun, clean and beautiful. As you see other visitors in the parks this spring be sure to say thank you to one another – this truly is your park.



About the Author


Picture of Ellen Doolittle Oost

Ellen Doolittle Oost

Ellen has been the Director of Development at 21st Century Parks since April of 2015. In this role she oversees fundraising functions for The Parklands, including the annual fund/membership campaign, corporate sponsorships, supporting the Board of Directors, leading major fundraising events, and seeking grant and foundational support. It’s her goal to create multiple compelling opportunities for donors to support The Parklands, a donor-supported public park that does not receive tax dollar support on an annual basis but has four world-class parks free and open to the public 365 days a year.

Although fairly new to this role, Ellen is intimately familiar with The Parklands as she spent the previous 3 years as the Communications Manager in charge of public relations, social media, community outreach and marketing for the parks. Before joining 21st Century Parks she spent three years with Louisville-based advertising agency Doe-Anderson. Her background also includes marketing and account service roles at Anheuser-Busch InBev, PriceWeber advertising agency, and direct mail marketing at Traffic Builders, Inc. Ellen is a graduate of Marietta College where she studied advertising, public relations and marketing and played volleyball. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling with her two mutts and her husband Andrew.