WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS RECEIVES $4 MILLION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CLEANUP GRANT
‘Transformative’ grant advances the Gardens’ Master Plan by remediating former city dump for future public use.
[Louisville, KY]—Waterfront Botanical Gardens announced that it is the recipient of a $4 million brownfield cleanup grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. Brownfields include formerly developed land that is either abandoned or unable to be used due to environmental contamination concerns. The funds will be used to remediate additional acreage of undeveloped land on the north side of the existing Gardens, situated along the western banks of Beargrass Creek.
As the site of the former Ohio St. Dump, the land is currently overgrown with brush and grass. The grant funding will prepare the site for its next phase of development, creating the necessary foundation for future public spaces envisioned in the Gardens’ Master Plan. Once the remediation is complete, the Gardens will focus on creating additional green spaces, including more planted gardens, meadows, walkable pathways, and an event lawn. Together, the area will create new opportunities for recreation, education, and community gathering. The process will begin later this year alongside existing construction on Phase 2A of the Gardens’ Master Plan.
“This transformative grant from the EPA allows Waterfront Botanical Gardens to continue turning a former landfill into a place where nature prospers and people thrive,” said Philip Koester, President and CEO of Waterfront Botanical Gardens. “This funding not only advances our Master Plan forward, but it also strengthens Louisville as a destination for tourism, education, recreation, and environmental stewardship. We are immensely grateful to the EPA, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, and our local and state partners for believing in our vision of using environmental restoration to create a lasting public resource for generations to come.”
The Gardens, which first opened to the public in 2019, sits on 23 acres and welcomes over 62,000 visitors annually. Approximately five acres were developed during Phase 1 of the Master Plan, which included the Graeser Family Education Center, Ellen T. Leslie Botanical Classrooms, Rounsavall Family Foundation Plaza Fountain, and Beargrass Creek Pathway. Construction of Phase 2A, which includes the Graeser Family Bonsai Garden, Joe and Debbie Graviss Bonsai House, Tree Allée, Beargrass Creek Overlook, and completed Beargrass Creek Pathway Loop, began in April. The grand opening of these new areas is planned for spring 2027.
“Everything that we do is impacted by the fact that we are on a former landfill,” said Andrew Hagerty, Director of Horticulture and Facilities. “The EPA brownfield cleanup grant will jumpstart the critical remediation work we are already doing, and allow us to expand our acreage to include planted beds, managed meadows, walking paths, and an event lawn. This is an incredibly exciting time for our team.”
For More Information:
Megan Bibelhauser, Vice President of Marketing & Experience – mbibelhauser@waterfrontgardens.org
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