Happy New Year from Waterfront Park
A message from our Executive Director, Deborah Bilitski:
Dear Friends of Waterfront Park,
Happy New Year!
January isn’t the easiest month to enjoy the outdoors, so allow me to offer you a little something. This time of year, flocks of ring-billed gulls often gather along the wharf. As our friend Dan Maloney, Director of the Louisville Zoo, explained, they migrate south in search of food when the Great Lakes and other water sources freeze. Their stay is brief, and whether you regard them as charming visitors or seasonal nuisances, the sight of them soaring and the sounds of them squealing along our Ohio River is something to behold.
As we look toward spring, we’re excited to build on the milestones of 2025 and continue recovering from the challenges we faced due to historic flooding. Last year reminded us just how important this park is to our community, and it continues to fuel our commitment to keeping Waterfront Park welcoming, vibrant, and accessible for all.
We’re excited to introduce you to some more of our team members who keep the park running behind the scenes. You’ll start seeing staff spotlights in future newsletters so you can get to know the people who help make Waterfront Park the community anchor that it is.
We’re also looking ahead to new experiences, programming, and enhancements for the park in 2026, and we’re excited about what’s taking shape. Of course, none of our big dreams for 2026 would be possible without our donors, volunteers, and supporters – your generosity makes it all happen.
Thanks for being part of our Waterfront Park community. Here’s to a great start to 2026!