PlayPort at Waterfront Park Louisville, Kentucky

Services Provided

Park Planning & Design
Public Engagement
Landscape Architecture
Construction Observation

People Involved

Andy Knight
Casey Elmer
Ryan Blume
Nathan Young

Award

2020 KYASLA Honor Award in Design Not Constructed

Waterfront Park’s new play space creates ‘Play out of Work’

The first built project resulting from the Waterfront Park Phase 4 master plan, prepared by MKSK in 2016, PlayPort creates ‘Play out of Work.’ Working together with the Kentucky Science Center in downtown Louisville, the Waterfront Development Corporation is in the early stages of fulfilling the vision of a “One Waterfront” by delivering a unique play experience inspired by the industrial history of the site and the founding waters of the city – the Ohio River.

The site for Waterfront Park Phase 4 is a palimpsest of a rich history dating back to the initial settling of Louisville. From the earliest settlement (Fort-on-Shore) to the steel fabrication that took place on this site, there is an abundance of stories, histories, and materials that have provided inspiration for the vision of the overall park and are represented in the design of PlayPort. Taking queues from this vision, the design for PlayPort presents three distinct play experiences: The River, The Big Dig, and The Overlook.