Discussion: Otter Creek Park - closing imminent

Dear Orienteers,

Louisville Kentucky's Otter Creek Park is in immediate danger of being closed and sold for development. This park has been used for a USOF "A" Meet and Midwest Champs and is used each year for OLOU's Junior O' Champs. It is a very interesting and valuable recreation area, with excellent terrain for orienteering from trails for beginners to challenging karst terrain for experts.

If you can possibly attend the public meeting / rally in Louisville this Monday evening, December 22, 7 pm, please do so! Details follow

Mike Minium
------------------------

FRIENDS OF OTTER CREEK MEETING!!!
WHERE: SOUTHWEST GOVERNMENT CENTER, 7219 DIXIE HWY (IN LOUISVILLE
APPROX 3 MILES OFF THE WATTERSON EXPRESSWAY (I-264) ON DIXIE HWY)
WHEN: DECEMBER 22ND
TIME: 7:00 PM COME AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
HOPING TO GET STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO ATTEND

-----------------------------

Otter Creek Park needs to be saved. Here is a short history for those of you who are not familiar with the park. It is 16 miles outside of Louisville, near Fort Knox in Meade County. It has been a park since 1934 and has 2600 acres. The park was aquired by the City of Louisville in 1947 from the federal government for their service during World War II. It has 18 miles of trails that are used by hikers, bikers, and horse back riders. It also has an observatory, a cave system, a water park, canoeing, fishing, a hotel, a wedding reception area over-looking the Ohio River,camping, and many other activities. The City of Lousiville has decided to close the park due to budget cuts. The city has been putting up gates this week and their plans are to close the park on January 1st 2009. Meade County said they would take this park if they could develop it into residential homes and an industrial park and we definitely do not want that to happen. There was also some interest in it by KY Wildlife as to keep it as a wildlife management area. I have not heard any more on this. We greatly need your support. We had a rally on December 7th at the park. We had 300 to 400 Otter Creek supporters and lots of media attention. We are hoping for a bigger turnout for December 22nd.

If you need anymore information please email Lori Fedkamp
blueskyhorses@bbtel.com
502-819-1753

I must admit to not being an expert on the finer points of Kentucky politics, but let me get this straight - because of budget cuts (presumably caused by an economic downturn largely attributed to the existence of large stocks of unwanted houses that nobody can sell) the city is proposing to sell off this park to build even more unsaleable houses on?

The park is a gem. Is there anybody I can email to let them know that I have travelled to Kentucky and spent 4 nights in Kentucky hotel rooms SOLEY for the purpose of attending meets at this park?

Absolutely unbelievable. Once gates are erected and all staffing removed, what additional expense does the City incur by allowing the park to lie deserted? How would Louisville benefit by giving this area to another taxing authority? This doesn't make sense.

This park has a fantastic system of parallel long, steep ridges and promontories, which exact stiff penalties for small navigational errors. It is one of the most attractive orienteering areas in the midwest.

As a resident of the great state of Illinois, I can only suggest that there may be a weasel in the woodpile..and the primary tenant in that industrial park may already be getting construction quotes.

If I remember correctly, this is the park with a disc golf course that I always try to get to when I have to travel to Ft Knox for work.

when all that's left to do is
reflect on what's been done
this is where sadness breaths
the sadness of everyone

just like when the guys
built the dam at otter creek
and all the water backed up
deep enough to dive

Nice. Live is a nice PA band. Close enough to where I grew up that I consider them my own.

Actually, Clark, abandoned parks are a real liability for law enforcement. It's often cheaper to keep the park running with a full-time ranger than tie up a bunch of officers doing drug patrol.

Sounds like a great park.

According to the info, the park gets 500,000 visitors a year and is costing the city $500,000 annually. Do they charge an entrance fee?

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60563717048

The coolest thing about this park, as Mike noted in the original post, is the diversity of terrain. One minute you're blasting through open ridge and valley, then you're up atop the cliffs overlooking the river, then BRAKES!, you're into the technical stuff.

I don't ever recall an entrance fee for the park itself, although the campground, etc charge fees. I suspect it is these areas where operating costs might exceed revenue. I would have no objection to paying an entry fee to help preserve the area.

I still don't think it is a matter of economics. Coming from Illinois, I've seen a lot of graft exposed over the years, right up to our statehouse a couple of weeks ago. I know nothing about Kentucky's politicians...but there sure are a lot of Kentucky lobbyists that are being paid big bucks by some large corporations. Could one of them have an eye on Otter Creek?

I've learned that there are usually ulterior motives behind many moves by our elected officials; the real reasons things happen are rarely divulged. So politicians like to spout platitudes about making gov't more "efficient" and reducing "costs of gov't" but these are often red herrings designed to win the support of the general public. And careful scrutiny of gov't spending afterward seldom reveals any actual cost reductions.

Any word about the meeting last night?

Google News Search for "otter creek park"

http://saveottercreekpark.wordpress.com/
I believe the "closing" announcement is a political power play. Metro Louisville has been looking to dump the park on somebody for years since it is not even in Jefferson County/Louisville Metropolitan area.

Thanks Dan.

It says no one from the media attended. They need to fix that.

A few months ago I read "Making the News: A Guide for Activists and Nonprofits" by Jason Salzman. I can't recommend it enough. It starts out a little too "in-your-face" for me, talking more about media stunts (like naked PETA protests or asking CEOs if they flew in on private planes), but in the sense that it is important to not be boring. Then it settles down into short chapters about how to get your message out to the media---Contacting newspapers and TV, Tips for being interviewed---really good solid information.

Amazon

Worldcat Library Search

It's been on my to-do list to recommend this book on Attackpoint. I guess there is no time like the present.

It looks like they've really got the local media involved now:

Google News Search for "otter creek park"

Just a few days ago, I got into a conversation about a local government (here, near Cincinnati) that allowed part of a park to be developed. Apparently, the land was "sold" to someone related to at least one elected official, and it was alleged that that official made a lot of money off the development. It definitely screwed up our ability to set courses on the map.

Looking at the view in the photo here, it looks to me like there could be Big Money involved trying to acquire this parkland and build Big Houses on it.

If any federal or state $$ were used for this park for any reason, it might not be legal to sell it for development.

OCIN,
Get involved in petition signing and recruiting the public. I am sure most people who use the park, and others who see this for what it is, a land grab by some developers.
On a more local level, Reebok Corp. wanted to buy some land in our town which had recently been donated to the state. Only way they could do that was to get 2/3 vote in the legislature AND the approval of the local P&R Dept.
I got a petition and just walked around town getting people to sign, no problem from everyone.
P&R got 2 petitions with lots of signatures against letting the land go.
Dead deal for Reebok. Never even made it to the legislature.

A bit tough you live in OH, but maybe OLOU could lead an effort. Type up a petition and start walking neighborhoods, and contact groups who would be supportive, maybe even some companies like EMS and REI. Get them to put a petition in their store, or stand outside on a Saturday and hit up customers.
The politicians know this would never pass public scrutiny, that's why they are closing it in the winter without any public notice.
Go get 'em!

To point out, this is an OLOU map, southwest of Louisville, so it is a bit far from OCIN for us to spearhead the effort, but we will definitely support in any way we can. It sounds like the equestrians in KY are getting very involved and I think they have a pretty strong organization as far as promoting their interests. So there is hope... I hope.

They have horses in Kentucky? Who knew?

Seriously, that's good news because those folks do have some clout.

I was planning a road trip, to include a run on the fine orienteering map of Otter Creek Park...and was disgusted to find that the State of Kentucky has indeed closed the Park as of the first of this year. Fences and locked gates apparently have been erected. Does anyone know if the O map area can still be conveniently accessed if you park outside?

For those who also value this recreational natural asset The Friends of Otter Creek Park has put together a petition which is available on-line to print out and send in. But it doesn't appear to be too complete at this point...no explanatory information or statement about the purpose of the petition.

Orienteers who live closer to the Park may wish to contact the Friends and lend them support. Their Facebook website lists two geocaching organizations among their members, but no orienteering groups.

I can't think of any convenient place to park. You would need to be careful where you park due to random police patrols and the proximity with Fort Knox.

OLOU has been using Otter Creek for many years with a two-day JROTC meet. We have continually updated the map each year due to numerous storms and extensive trail work.
Damn shame about the closing.

OLOU has some nice new maps along the I-65 corridor that I would reccommend intead of Otter Creek

Bernheim Forest in Clermont, 4 square km, Jefferson Memorial Forest in southern Louisville, 9 square kilometer- 3 sections mapped: Horine Section, Yost Section and Tom Wallace Section

I can't think of any convenient place to park.

It's almost always easy to find a parking place for a bicycle.

Anyone interested in running a park?

INVITATION TO BID
From
METRO LOUISVILLE
RFP for Operation of Otter Creek Park #1842
The City of Louisville is receiving bids on the following:

Project Description:
A Request for Proposals for the Operation of Otter Creek Park, per the attached specifications.

Pre-Proposal: 6/10/09, 6/18/09 & 6/26/09
9:00AM
Otter Creek Park
Conference Center
Muldraugh, KY



A complete set of specifications is available in a hard copy or downloadable format for a non-refundable purchase of $5.00 payable to Lynn Imaging by check, cash, Lynn Account or credit card through this website. All sets shipped UPS Ground will have a $14.00 shipping charge. All checks may be mailed to Lynn Imaging, 11460 Bluegrass Parkway, Louisville, KY 40299




Bid documents are available for viewing and ordering at http://www.cityoflouisvilleplanroom.com or http://www.lynnimaging.com

All Plans and Specifications for Metro Louisville Construction Projects may be obtained by contacting Lynn Imaging, 11460 Bluegrass Parkway, Louisville, KY 40299 (502) 499-8400. Lynn Imaging also has locations in Frankfort, KY and Lexington, KY. Plans may be ordered and picked up at any of these locations. Contractors outside of Louisville may make arrangements with Lynn Imaging to have plans shipped to their locations. PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS MAY NO LONGER BE PICKED UP IN THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT!

Plans are to open the bike and horse trails, but Kinman said help from those user groups probably will be needed. Current Fish and Wildlife regulations prohibit bicycles and horses in most state wildlife management areas.

FWIW, I'd say orienteers should seize the opportunity to maintain the trails. Once you've started doing that, it's very hard for the park to terminate the relationship ("who's gonna do it if we kick them out?") That's how it happens that dozens of trail runs, some with impact order of magnitude greater than the largest conceivable orienteering event, thrive in the Western U.S. Conversely, absent collateral, it's all too easy for a zealous "nature-minded" park person to say, you can't do this here anymore (at least not without a $1M environmental impact assessment, as they tell us in California).

Good point Tundra/Desert. An idea for all clubs to consider.

And while we have you, is BAOC making any effort to get back into the great state parks from which they have been banned? I'd say returning to Annadel would be worth making an effort for. I'd almost be willing to pay the State for the privilege of working on trails in that beautiful area next time I'm visiting my niece in Sebastopol.

I'm not sure what the exact situation is with Annadel, other than that it's not hopeful. At another State Park in the same district, we were hit with the aforementioned assessment just to let the mapper map. It may not have been $1M for the mapping, but something outrageous nevertheless.

Are these access denials coming from higher-ups or the local managers?

If from higher up, maybe it's time for BAOC members to write their state legislators and ask for assistance (eg, pressure from their office on the bureaucrats involved).

I agree with Tundra that each club will have to be a bit proactive with dealing with the KYF&W since they seem to not have any experience with Orienteering, MTN Biking, Hiking, etc. OLOU will make it a priority to get in there and remap the park as soon as the Park opens.. We really used this park quite a bit and miss it!

Online survey:

Courier-Journal: Opinions sought on Otter Creek Recreation Area

Full circle: Kentucky Fish and Wildlife acquires, reopens Otter Creek Park

Thanks Matt for keeping us posted! This is wonderful news, even tho it appears orienteering might be judged "high impact" and require greater ($10/person/day) usage fees:

...Daily admission to Otter Creek is $3 a person...An additional fee of $7 a day is required for all participants of special high-impact activities, including mountain bike riding, shooting or archery range use, or horseback riding....

$10, big deal. Add it to the typical local meet fee and it's still cheaper than any 5K Fun Run I've attended recently.

Perhaps our new contacts in KY government can "pursuade" F&W that orienteering is not high impact.

A couple of days ago, I was running at a local park that hosts a large high school invitational each October. There were clearly visible "paths" where the runners had trod last fall, in a few places. Of course, 24 races of 200-300 (or more) runners will do that on a muddy day, when all running the same course (that has repeating parts). On most of the course, there was no sign of any running path! A few dozen orienteers, all running different "courses" has zero impact, in comparison.

Totally agree. I just had that conversation with a park manager who was concerned that we might mess up some sensitive areas (an acceptable compromise was quickly reached). However, if I did encounter a landowner that wanted to charge a bit extra due to potential impact, I'd just pony up the cash rather than argue about it. Access is too important to mess it up by being cheap.

To close the loop, six years later:

Return of the Otter
Feb 21-22, 2015

https://youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=V-PoZ...

http://attackpoint.org/eventdetail.jsp/event_22803

Orienteering Louisville returns to Otter Creek in 2015 with a two day event including a sprint which features a tube slide route choice on one leg.

Event will be held at Otter Creek Park on Feb 21st and 22nd 2015.

For more information visit olou.org or find us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/OLouisville

Online registration is open for this meet. Great practice for the Flying Pig even though the Terrain is quite different from Carter Caves but hey.. it is in KY! This is classic Karst terrain with numerous deep pits, caves and depressions.

Middle distance/Sprint (with Tubeslide) on Sat/Long distance on Sunday
Saturday will be the Ohio Valley Orienteering Scholastic Championships

https://orienteeringlouisville.webconnex.com/Retur...

Thanks cedarcreek! Nice to see that this wonderful and unique natural area is open to the public again.