Hogan's Fountain Pavilion

Cherokee Park may be forever changed if city officials do not fund repairs to Hogan's Fountain Pavilion. This iconic structure at the top of Bonnycastle Hill has fallen into disrepair over the years, and Metro Parks has eliminated it from new plans for Cherokee Park, intending to replace it with two smaller shelters requiring less-expensive maintenance.

The Olmsted Park Conservancy joins Metro Parks in the belief that the Teepee Pavilion must go. Heavy use, including illegally parked cars, in the immediate area around the Teepee Pavilion threatens trees and intensifies erosion.

"Olmsted Parks Conservancy's interest is to enhance the park-user experience while ensuring the health and beauty of Cherokee Park for decades to come," said Liz DeHart, director of marketing and communications for the group. "Two separate shelters will lessen the ecological damage caused by extremely heavy use in a concentrated area."

But a grassroots group of Cherokee Park fans is working hard to save the nearly 50-year-old pavilion that so many Louisvillians think of as a landmark.

"The Teepee Pavilion belongs here, and we didn't want to see it replaced with the same cookie-cutter pavilions that are everywhere else," said Tammy Madigan, co-chair of the group Save the Hogan's Fountain Pavilion.

That group's recent efforts have included speaking before Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer at three community meetings where citizens could comment on the next city budget. Spokespersons stressed to Fischer that restoration of the shelter would not only cost less than building new pavilions but also would be more environmentally friendly. The group further requested that some of the $14,000 generated annually from pavilion rental fees be put towards its restoration.

Meanwhile, Save the Hogan's Fountain Pavilion is working hard to raise the money needed for roof repair to minimize the potential for structural damage. It recently won an $11,000 grant from the "We Hear You America" campaign sponsored by Reader’s Digest, and Ninth District Metro Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh provided a $5,000 challenge grant. Also, the local band Hogan's Fountain has committed 50% of its February and March iTunes sales of the song “Shine Your Light On Me (Remix)” to the cause.

Hurstbourne resident and recent pavilion patron Brian Koressel said he understands why there is a movement to save the pavilion: "It's an artistic design worth preserving."

At the same time, added DeHart, the Olmsted Park Conservancy is certainly not out to ruin the park. “Everything we do aims to ensure that there will be healthy, beautiful and inviting parks for all Louisvillians to enjoy in the decades to come,” she said.

- by Katie Doyle, Louisville Reporter for HelloMetro

Katie Doyle

Katie Doyle is just getting to know Louisville after relocating to Kentucky in the summer of 2010. Formerly an elementary educator, she now puts her bachelor's degree in writing from Marquette University to use as a freelancer. Her work has appeared in a national health and wellness newsletter as well as West Michigan regional publications.