U of L Dedicates Cardinal Park
August 30, 2000 | General
Aug. 30, 2000
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Louisville dedicated Cardinal Park, a collection of new sports facilities located on the eastern portion of the Belknap Campus between Floyd Street and Interstate 65, in a ceremony on Aug. 30.
"Cardinal Park will propel the University of Louisville's sports facilities into the top 10 percent in the nation," said U of L President Dr. John Shumaker. "This is a shining success story that developed from a dynamic partnership between the university and the city of Louisville, Jefferson County and the commitment of many generous donors."
"The reason we're all here is because of the people standing behind us," said U of L Director of Athletics Tom Jurich, referring to the nearly 300 student-athletes present at the event. "This university is a very special place to be able to so quickly accomplish such an incredible project with the cooperation of our student body and its leaders, the university administration and all in our community."
The dedication for U of L's "front lawn" began with memorial dedications for the Joe Kitchen Memorial Pavilion and living tree tributes to four former U of L student-athletes who each suffered untimely deaths: Kelly Dwyer, James Jeter, Andy Schrecker and Derek Smith.
A self-guided tour of the facilities followed the ceremony.
U of L broke ground on the first phase of Cardinal Park on Dec. 9, 1998, and the project has been on the fast track since. Facilities now occupied and open for use include:
Ulmer Stadium, an 800-seat softball stadium in which the Cardinals completed their first season this spring,
Jewish Hospital Cardio-Path, a cushioned fitness trail which surrounds and winds through the Cardinal Park site,
Cardinal Park Track/Soccer Field, which features an Olympic configuration track oval, international quality soccer field with Bermuda grass, and seating for over 3,000,
Cardinal Park Sportsplex, which houses the Nancy and Harry Jones Training Room, the Bonnie Rechter Wing with enhanced locker rooms, meeting rooms, concession areas, public restrooms and a Cardinal Store,
Joe Kitchen Memorial Pavilion, a gathering spot and picnic area between the softball and track/soccer facilities, and
Trager Stadium, an artificial turf field which will be the home for the U of L Field Hockey team and other intercollegiate team practices and intramural events.
Among those facilities to be completed later this fall include:
Kiel Courts, outdoor basketball and sand volleyball courts,
Don Fightmaster Playground for Exceptional Children, which will have equipment to accommodate all children, including those with physical disabilities, and
Lenny Lyles Statue, a tribute to one of U of L's finest football and track athletes designed by Ed Hamilton.
Future facilities being planned and fund-raised include:
A state-of-the-art natatorium, which will feature a 50-meter, Olympic-sized pool and a separate diving well with seating for over 2,000,
A baseball stadium on the site of Parkway Field which will seat over 1,200,
A boat house on the bank of the Ohio River to serve as a home for the Cards' rowing team, and
A fieldhouse adjacent to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium to house an indoor track, turf practice facility, golf and batting cages, offices, locker rooms and class rooms.
Cardinal Park Donors (donors as of Aug. 30, 2000)
Cardinal Cup Donors Owsley Brown Frazier University of Louisville Students Papa John's International, Inc. Adelphia Business Solutions City of Louisville Jefferson County Government Jewish Hospital Trager Family Underhill Family James A. Patterson, Sr. Ruth Mason Holloway Keil Brothers Oil Company Helen and Dan Ulmer Dr. William SelvidgeGold Club Donors Kentucky State Government Service America LG&E Energy Foundation
Silver Club Donors Anonymous Jeannie and Bruce Henderson Anonymous Foundation Grant Brown-Forman Corporation Bonnie and Sam Rechter Blanche Kitchen Alice Wright Belknap
Bronze Club Donors Dean Foods Don Fightmaster Golf Tournament for Exceptional Children Bank One, Kentucky Gault Development Nancy and Harry Jones Maker's Mark Distillery Bill Samuels, Jr. Bank of Louisville Klein Family Foundation Groundbreaker Donors Barbara Tway Partlow ULA's Charles Lester Key Cochran Foundation Cardinal Dames Terrilynn and Tom Jurich Rotary Club of Louisville SPAVA/Timir Banerjee
Friends of Cardinal Park Donors Tom Grant Don Dobina Family Judge Olga Peers April and Todd Allen Elaine and Pat Conway Ginny and Doug Hampton Kathie and Rick Hill Kevin Miller Pam Bustin Rex Ecarma Julie Hermann Betty Jackson Kenny Klein Kelly Meyers Eleanor and Rowland Miller Sandy Pearsall Meg Peavy Mike Pollio John L. Smith Mary and Bill Stone Sara White and Martin Clapp Linda and Keith Whitlatch Cindy Zwischenberger
