Waterfront Botanical Gardens
The decline started when a Louisville neighborhood fell to a 100-year flood. Next, the 23-acre footprint became a landfill and, ultimately, a blemish on this Southern jewel of a town.
Yet for more than 30 years, garden loving citizens saw beautiful opportunity on the land: sprawling native and exotic gardens that draw global tourists for its beauty, entertainment venues, and educational programs. And they were determined to see their vision through.
When the idea finally took root, we went to work. Design elements were tricky. Steep slopes, invasive plants, and landfill soil issues were significant. And about that soil—the presence of heavy metals required lots of research about which plants would naturally aid in the containment of soil contaminants across the site. Happily, ideal solutions were found to further root the vision of the town’s plant lovers.
Kasey Maier, Waterfront Gardens
It’s only natural for a garden to showcase the cycles of life. But this garden’s plan encompasses visitors’ entire lifespans as well. Both the client and team wanted to build a place that people would flock back to. No “one-and-done” here.
As children, there are holiday lights to marvel. Teenagers find perfect spots for prom selfies. Young adults propose and marry here. As homeowners, thirty-somethings attend gardening workshops while their children play in summer camp just an acre away. An aging retiree admires the art collection. And the cycle continues.
