Degraded limestone will be replaced with more durable concrete panels
Louisville, Kentucky – The James Graham Brown Foundation has issued a major challenge grant of $275,000 to the Waterfront Development Corporation (WDC) to fund the replacement of degraded limestone panels on the north face of the Overlook in Waterfront Park. The limestone, which was installed when the Overlook was first constructed in 1998, is in constant contact with the river. Over time, the limestone has deteriorated, with panels cracking, splitting, and in some areas, falling into the river. The limestone panels will be replaced with cast concrete panels, which are more durable and easier and more cost-efficient to maintain and repair. The total cost of this phase of the project will be $550,000, and fundraising is underway for matching funds.
The replacement of limestone panels on the north face of the Overlook is the second phase of this long-term project, which will eventually also replace limestone along the west face of the Overlook and along the Wharf. The limestone along the Great Lawn was replaced two years ago in conjunction with repairs needed after a barge collided with the river’s edge in that area.
Removal of the limestone and installation of the new concrete panels will take about two months. The start date of the project is yet to be determined. While access to the northern portion of the Overlook at the river may be curtailed during construction, the public’s use of the rest of that area will not be affected.
The James Graham Brown Foundation has been a strong supporter of Waterfront Park from its inception in the early 1990s. This grant continues the tradition of vital partnerships between the Waterfront and private foundations and corporations to undertake park construction, capital improvements, and special park projects.
