Jerry Abramson Closing Otter Creek Park

[cgable]

All, I ask for help with a heavy heart. I for many years on this site shared many Wonderful experiences with you about the waters and land of Otter Creek Park. The City of Louisville owns this property and has decided it is too expensive to up keep. I am first of all perplexed as to how it is suddenly over budget when they recently refurbished the roads into the park and closed it off from its past access. I am sure on paper now it may look very expensive and the numbers may support that it still is over budget even if those expenses were not on the budget. It is one of the states stocked trout streams and is one of the more beautiful and very accessible areas on the Ohio River. I have many fond memories with my family and friends and one most recent of my daughter bass fishing were she accidently catch her first Rainbow trout. (She is 8) My heart aches for her and all of our future outdoors men and women. They are losing a resource that holds deep memories for her. I know many on this site have shared my enjoyment of the park. As an avid outdoorsman I think something must be done to preserve this for future generations. If anyone has ways or resources and can help with grants or other ways to raise funds to help please do. I know I can use my voice and networks in the outdoors community to knock on doors and start something to maybe save this resource. Sad to have to ask these things but my heart is heavy. Help please

[zx150]

Try working for Abramson! I don't know how to he gets reelected every time. The short fall of the budget is anyone's guess he is refusing to open the books to anyone. He is saying that there is not enough time to look at them.

[RoadToad]

I think a whole lot of us were shocked to hear they were closing it, although we really shouldn't have been. They held a rally there yesterday. I had to work, or I would have gone. KDFWR has expressed an interest in taking it over as a WMA. That would not be a bad option if they can do it, although I'd rather see it stay open as a park. And this article in Saturday's CJ seems to leave open the possibility of it reopening in 2010:
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/...=2008812060467

[Dakota Kid]

seems to me that he is too worried about his Fourth Street Live pet project. Roosevelt is rolling in his grave watching what is going on about Otter Creek.

[Chubminnow]

It seems to me that if KDFWR buys it, it can only lead to better things. Am I wrong in this assumption or not?

[Tim_T]

It seems to me that if KDFWR buys it, it can only lead to better things. Am I wrong in this assumption or not?

I would have to say yes, particlarly if they manage it properly. Lot of potential there.

[cgable]

It seems to me that if KDFWR buys it, it can only lead to better things. Am I wrong in this assumption or not?

It would be a wonderful resource. It is was just recently updated, it has brand new trail signs the road was refurbished and it has a camp ground area that is in pretty good shape. There are many pavilions that can be used for so many different functions. I hope that the KDFWR does get their hands on it. It is a gem of a smallmouth stream too. I think it may even benefit from a change of hands as a fishery. One of the other parts of this stream is it also has history in it. There are some old cabin foundation and I think acouple of mills were on the park in the past. I also would not mind paying a few bucks to access the park it is worth my hard earned money to keep it as a resource.