LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It's a promise Louisville's mayor has been echoing since the campaign trail and reiterated again during his second annual State of the City address on Feb. 1, more than one year into his first term in office: To ensure new opportunities are also offered to people living on the outskirts of Jefferson County.
"Both inside the Watterson [Expressway] and outside the Watterson," Mayor Craig Greenberg said last week.
In his speech, Greenberg said there's been major progress on the investment front. So, we asked residents living out in the county suburbs if they're noticing a difference.
"No, I feel the Mayor takes all the money outside the Watterson and pours it back into the city to improve it, and cares nothing about out here," David Steff said. "We need roads to be improved."
Steff, who lives in Highview, is the president of the Apple Valley homeowners association. He showed WHAS11 a portion of Vaughn Mill Road that's fencing has been broken for several years, according to Steff.
"You can tell it's been run down," Steff said.
Then, you have Bob Raymer -- owner of Gorilla Bob's Grub Shack in PRP.
When asked if the city is taking care of people in that community, Raymer said, "I mean, the short answer is no. But, it's been an ongoing thing. Southwest Louisville never gets all the perks. We really don't get the business support."
Raymer says communities like his are used to getting by largely on their own, but they'd welcome more help.
"It just looks old out here," he said. "Infrastructure, roads and things like that, we need to get it taken care of."
Then, you have Camille Anderson-Linton of Highview Ice Cream and Coffee. She's preaching patience.
"I think he does have a plan, and we'll just have to see how that plan is implemented throughout the year," Anderson-Linton said.
Councilman Khalil Batshon, representing a part of southwest Jefferson County, is excited about projects in the works like Windsor Park. But as a small business owner himself, he acknowledges the area's need for more resources.
"I believe that they are listening, and I think they are making strides to make some investments in the south end," Batshon said, referencing the Mayor's administration. "We need to be able to attract more people from other parts of the county to southwest Jefferson County on a more frequent basis."
Upon request, a spokesperson for Mayor Greenberg's office provided WHAS11 a list of notable new projects happening under his leadership.
They include:
- Construction for the new Fern Creek Library, which starts later this year.
- The project converting the Watson Lane Elementary School building into affordable housing.
- The new state park at Petersburg Park, which opened in 2023.
Spokesperson Kevin Trager said there are also several parks across the county where upgrades are in progress, renovations like new wood decks and splash pads at existing parks.
These investments add up to more than $1.7 million.
The Mayor's Office also listed a couple of their requests to lawmakers in Frankfort, including $200,000 to add seating to Iroquois amphitheater and $15 million for new indoor and outdoor pools in South Louisville.
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