Here in Louisville, we have a magnificent system of parks and parkways designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and his firm. Political, business and community leaders recognize that these assets provide multiple values to our quality of life. In economic development terms, they attract and retain business, and improve property values. They are places where the community connects and builds its identity, where people go for solace and play. They also stand as artistic masterworks of landscape design by the recognized master of the profession of landscape architecture. Through a public-private partnership, we have effectively involved the public in planning the renewal of these treasures, and we are successfully raising the necessary capital to carry out the plans. More than $8 million in capital improvements has been completed, and another $12 million in projects is currently under construction.

While there are any number of reasonable needs and ideas that have been put forward for your Audubon Park, I sense that the present conflict owes to two primary factors. One is the lack of an effective, meaningful process for public involvement in setting goals and developing plans. The second is the absolute necessity of a master plan for the overall park, addressing the institutions and facilities within it. Here in Louisville, we would not consider undertaking piecemeal or major projects without the framework of a master plan that establishes overall values and principles for guiding all such changes.

And for historic designed landscapes, such as Audubon Park, the master plan must be supported by a full understanding of what the original designer intended, how the landscape was then developed over time, and what of that original intent is still present today. Analysis of these factors leads to a determination of the landscape's design "integrity" -- and from that point, decisions can be made about how much latitude should be taken in current-day plans and designs. While the plans for Audubon's golf course may be good golf course design, they are obviously not supported by the historic understanding that I have just described, and which is the standard of the National Park Service.

I urge all parties to recognize what is at stake in Audubon Park. Now is the time for decision makers to have the courage to defer the current golf course project until a historically sound master plan is developed, and an effective format for ensuring ongoing public participation is instituted.

Please feel free to call upon us should you want to know more about how we have worked out some of these issues here in Louisville. We're happy to assist.

Yours truly,
Susan M. Rademacher, President
Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Inc.