Louisville opens public survey through April 3 to shape Shawnee Park outdoor learning center programming

City seeks public input on proposed Shawnee Outdoor Learning Center

Louisville Metro Government has opened a public feedback process for a planned outdoor learning center at Shawnee Park, with Mayor Craig Greenberg encouraging residents to help shape what the facility will offer and how it will be used. A city survey is now open and will remain available through April 3, 2026.

The survey is designed to gather community preferences on programming and to document how residents currently use Shawnee Park. The planned Shawnee Outdoor Learning Center is expected to host community activities, programs and events, with city leaders framing the project as part of broader efforts to expand access to quality park spaces for children and families.

Funding and project structure

Project funding totals $10 million, with $7 million allocated by the state and $3 million committed by the city. The outdoor learning center is being developed within the framework of the West Louisville Outdoor Recreation Initiative, an effort administered through Louisville Parks and Recreation that focuses on expanding equitable access to nature-based recreation for Louisville children and families.

State support for the project has been previously identified among a list of Louisville-area appropriations included in a one-time statewide spending measure approved in 2024, which distributed billions of dollars across Kentucky for projects over a two-year period. Local officials have described the Shawnee Outdoor Learning Center as one of the projects advanced through that wave of state investment.

How the planning approach connects to earlier work

Plans to create an outdoor education-focused destination at Shawnee Park have been discussed for years. In 2018, city officials publicly outlined a proposal for a Shawnee outdoor education center that would include a range of nature-based and outdoor recreation activities. That earlier concept anticipated a multi-year development timeline and emphasized building community capacity ahead of construction.

Separately, planning materials associated with the West Louisville Outdoor Recreation Initiative have described a Shawnee Outdoor Learning Center as part of a broader network of park enhancements intended to create accessible, nature-oriented spaces for different age groups and activity levels.

What residents are being asked to weigh in on

• Preferred types of programming at a future outdoor learning center
• How community members currently use Shawnee Park
• Needs and priorities that could influence events and activities hosted at the site

“This is an opportunity for residents to help shape the Shawnee Outdoor Learning Center so we can build a space that reflects the vision and creativity of the Shawnee community,” Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a statement.

Next steps and timeline

The survey window runs from Feb. 25, 2026, through April 3, 2026. City officials have not announced a construction start date alongside the survey release. The feedback period signals an active phase of community engagement as Louisville refines programming expectations for the planned facility and aligns them with park usage patterns in and around Shawnee Park.