In Louisville, Kentucky, an elevated event space referred to simply as the Belvedere has straddled downtown and the banks of the Ohio River since 1973. On special occasions the green space and its adjacent plazas are the place to be, thats not to say its really a sorry sight otherwise. A vision unveiled by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg this week posits a new future for the aging parkspace. Greenberg shared that Heatherwick Studio is behind the design for the parks revamp. The city has also tapped Layla George to serve as project executive. George previously held the position of president and CEO of the Olmsted Parks Conservancy and brings extensive knowledge of landscape design to the project.The Belvedere opened in 1973. (Courtesy Louisville Mayors Office)Plans for the Belvedere first circulated in the 1930s, but work on the project didnt get underway until the 1970s. Part infrastructure project, part green space/public plaza, the site comprises a parking garage, the interstate, and 7 acres of park space. Over the years a lot of activity has taken place atop the Belvedere; a crowd gathered in 1974 to celebrate local legend Muhammad Alis World Heavyweight Champion win and then again years later for his funeral procession in 2016. In 1979 the Colonel Sanders of KFC lore celebrated his 89th trip around the sun with a big to do thereand thats not to mention annual festivities like World Fest and Thunder over Louisville that draw thousands to the patch of grass and its adjacent plaza.Early renderings shared by the city this week of a revamped Belvedere reveal a structure with an undulating form. Ribbon-like strips with a copper-colored metal edge the roofline of a pavilion of sorts envisioned for the site. As depicted, the building component could be located atop a cap that spans over Interstate 64 below. This cap and the roof of the structure are nearly completely sheathed over by a green space that appears to stretch from the extremities of downtown to the riverfront. The design seeks to better connect downtown Louisville with the Ohio River.The Belvedere is 50 years old and is crumbling. We have an opportunity to do something big and bold to create an iconic, world-class destination that will serve as Louisvilles front yard and connector, Mayor Greenberg said in a statement.Interstate 64 runs beneath the Belvedere, the highway separates the downtown and the riverfront. (Courtesy Louisville Mayors Office)Progress on the Belvedere thus far and the initial designs shared by the city are the result of three public meetings held in January that asked for community input. More feedback on the design is still being sought and the public can weigh in via this online form.In a recent meeting, Greenberg shared an anticipated timeline for the project that involves a conceptual plan that would ideally be ready by early May, and final designs by mid-2026, all so that construction can kick off before the close of 2026. The city has already allocated $10 million in bond funds for the Belvedere project, however a total cost will not be calculated until the design is finalized.