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Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Councilwoman says Algonquin Pool safe after gunfire incident, but new rules may be needed
The Louisville Metro Council member who represents the area around Algonquin Park said a newly renovated pool remains a safe place for the community after shots were heard in the area just as an opening day event was wrapping up May 24. Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins said she did not hear any shots, probably because of all the other noises from the pool area, but she did see people dispersing. "LMPD was here to make sure everybody was safe, and everybody was safe," she told reporters during a media availability at the pool on May 26. No injuries have been reported from the shooting. A Louisville Metro Police spokesperson previously said officers were dispatched to a field near West Gaulbert Avenue and Catalpa Street around 4:55 p.m. on a report of shots fired. Officers searched the area, but did not find anyone down from gunshot wounds. Algonquin Pool, which had been closed for about two years for repairs and the addition of several new amenities for visitors, reopened for the first time just hours before the shooting. The pool was scheduled to close that day at 5 p.m. As swimmers entered the pool grounds May 26, Louisville Metro Police officers were patrolling the park. In a previous statement, LMPD spokesperson Matt Sanders said the department plans to maintain a "strong, visible presence" this summer in Algonquin Park and other city parks to ensure recreational areas are safe for visitors. Hawkins said she wanted to "clear the air" for those concerned about their personal safety at Algonquin Pool following the shooting May 24. "Everybody that came inside this pool felt safe," she said. Nevertheless, Hawkins said she is considering recommending some new rules to city officials, such as requiring pool visitors to store their belongings in clear bags, and restricting access to children who are not accompanied by an adult, similar to what Kentucky Kingdom enforces. "We had a lot of small children in (the pool area) that were left alone," Hawkins said. "They have to be accompanied by an adult. They can not be accompanied by another child." "They're some things that we did very well (May 24)," Hawkins continued. "We kept everybody safe, right? But there are also some small things, small adjustments that we're going to work on moving forward. We're going to sit down with some community members, Metro Parks (officials), because I want to be clear, even though I fought to try to get this pool here, this is Metro Parks' pool. This is a community pool." Ed Robinson, founder of Algonquin Community United, and Desmond Smith, who represents the Algonquin neighborhood on the West End Opportunity Partnership board, are among the community members seeking to promote the new pool as a safe, enjoyable space for neighbors. In an interview with The Courier Journal, Robinson said he was disappointed about how the shooting disrupted what was otherwise a happy day for residents, but he doesn't think the incident takes away from the progress he sees in community efforts to deter crime. "For the most part in this area, kids do a pretty good job," he said. Smith said he doesn't want neighbors to get distressed about the shooting. "Come down and enjoy (Algonquin Park) for what it is, like you do at all the other parks," he said. "It's big enough and nice enough to enjoy." A few hours after the May 24 shooting, LMPD officials posted a security camera image of a suspect on social media and asked for public assistance with identification. No arrests in relation to the shooting have been reported by LMPD as of May 26. Anyone with information about the shooting can contact LMPD at 502-574-5673 or via the anonymous tip line. Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@ or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Algonquin Pool safe to use after shots fired Louisville councilor says
The Sun
09-05-2025
- The Sun
I went to the American city that's the bourbon capital with unusual museums and the world's biggest baseball bat
FANCY a holiday in Louisville, Kentucky? First, learn to say it right. Is it Louie-ville, or maybe Loo-uh-vul or simply Luh-vul? Say it wrong and a Kentuckian will correct you. Say it right, and they'll probably still correct you. While we can't guarantee you'll nail the pronunciation — which definitely features a silent S — we can tell you where to eat, drink, explore and sleep in the city of horse-racing, baseball bats and bourbon. WHY SHOULD I GO? Louisville packs big-city fun with small-town Southern charm — without the tourist hordes of Nashville or New Orleans. As the bourbon capital of the world, it has more than a dozen distilleries within the city limits. It also features the historic Kentucky Derby racetrack. And now is the perfect time to visit the city as 2025 marks 100 years of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, partly inspired by the author's boozy nights with mobsters at Louisville's Seelbach Hotel. STREETS MADE FOR WALKING? Most of Louisville's highlights are walkable, with ten to 15 minutes on foot between the major sights. 6 The city has a bus system, but Ubers are affordable and easy to use. For a stroll that will take in most of the sights, start on Main Street's Whiskey Row, a stretch of 19th-century buildings now home to top bars and restaurants. Then head east to NuLu (New Louisville), a once-industrial district now a hub for galleries, indie boutiques and everything from Cuban to Yucatan food. From there, loop back west via Waterfront Park, which traces the edge of the Ohio River. You'll get sweeping views across to Indiana. The park is expanding this year, with new sections connecting downtown to the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Portland, just west of the city centre. 6 ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST? The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is the place to get a handle on Kentucky's most famous export. The five-storey-high bourbon bottle out front sets the tone, and tours end with a guided tasting in a sleek underground bar. Just a few steps away is the KMAC Museum, a contemporary art museum where the descriptions actually help you understand what you're looking at. I popped in between distillery visits and found it fascinating, though that might have been the bourbon talking. Baseball fans can swing by the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, where the world's biggest baseball bat leans against the building. You can also catch Minor League team Louisville Bats from April to September. For something a bit more offbeat, look out for Louisville's disco balls. During the 1970s and 1980s, the city made nearly 90 per cent of America's mirror balls. 6 They are now on show as part of the Frazier History Museum's Cool Kentucky exhibit. Churchill Downs, home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby, is a must-visit. When there's no racing, the Kentucky Derby Museum offers daily tours of the historic track. No trip to Louisville is complete without paying tribute to its most famous son: Muhammad Ali. The legendary boxer is honoured at the Muhammad Ali Center, a riverside museum that's part tribute and part interactive exhibition on civil rights, confidence and courage. It's powerful stuff — and the views from the upper floors are knockout. WHERE SHOULD I EAT? Housed in an old petrol station and garage, Garage Bar now fuels up customers with epic pizzas. I wolfed down a house-made pepperoni, then got convincingly beaten at late-night table tennis on their glowing tables. Just down the street, Feast BBQ lives up to its name. Their tater tots (those crispy little potato nuggets Am- ericans obsess over) are legendary. I recommend them piled with smoked brisket and washed down with a bourbon slushie. 6 I FANCY A DRINK! My favourite, for the sheer variety of bottles, was Down One Bourbon Bar on Whiskey Row. They stock more than 130 different bourbons and whiskeys and their Mexican food is great. Don't miss the speakeasy room hidden behind an old red British phone booth. Meanwhile, over at The Lucky Penny, a mirror-covered bar pays tribute to Louisville's disco legacy with drinks such as the Mirror Ball cocktail. WHERE SHOULD I STAY? I stayed at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Louisville Downtown. The rooms are spacious and it's well located for a night of live music in the lively Downtown area. For more character, the nearby Seelbach Hilton, one of Louisville's grandest hotels, has just unveiled a new Great Gatsby Suite decked out in full 1920s style. Even if you can't book it, take their free hotel tour (Thursday-Saturday at 4.30pm) to see the Oakroom, where gangster Al Capone played cards, and the Rathskeller Room, where Fitzgerald knocked back drinks and drew inspiration for his novel.
