LOUISVILLE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES MAJOR S. FOURTH STREET ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

Publication Date: 10-08-2025

For Immediate Release
MEDIA CONTACT: Bryn Alston,
balston@louisvilledowntown.org,
Louisville Downtown Partnership
(502) 614-4122 (Office)

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (October 8, 2025) – Louisville Downtown Partnership (LDP) today announced the launch of the S. Fourth Street Enhancement Project, a landscaping streetscape improvement initiative that will transform a key corridor in Louisville’s Downtown core which will be completed this fall.

Beginning today, October 8, the two block stretch of S. Fourth Street between Broadway and Muhammad Ali Boulevard, as well as Guthrie Street from S. Fourth Street to S. Third Street, will receive improvements including new landscaping, decorative tree fencing, a pet waste station, and an updated irrigation system.

“This project represents our commitment to creating vibrant and welcoming public spaces that enhance the Downtown experience for residents, workers, and visitors alike,” said Rebecca Fleischaker, executive director of LDP. “Improving the public infrastructure along this key stretch of S. Fourth Street will serve as a catalyst for investment and business development along the historic spine of Downtown.”

Funded by Louisville Downtown Partnership and Mayor Craig Greenberg’s FY26 budget, the design, materials, and installation will boost the area’s appeal for businesses, pedestrians, and visitors. Once complete, the enhanced streetscape will serve as a model for future improvement projects across Downtown.

“Downtown Louisville is coming back stronger, and projects like this are helping lead the way,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “By investing in cleaner, greener, and more welcoming streetscapes, we’re making Downtown a place where people want to spend time, open businesses, and build community. This enhancement of S. Fourth Street reflects the kind of momentum and pride we’re bringing to every block of our city’s core.”

LDP partnered with Booker Design Collaborative, a landscape architecture and urban design firm with a primary interest in human-centered design, to develop the landscaping streetscape design.

Inspired by landscape fencing in cities like New York and Chicago, the design will feature custom decorative fencing fabricated locally by Rockerbuilt in the oversized tree wells. Enhanced landscaping by Bowling Nursery will vary slightly by block, featuring flowerbeds that retain the existing trees and introduce a mix of hydrangeas, hostas, boxwoods, hollies, geraniums, and other plantings supported by an upgraded irrigation system.

Additionally, a pet waste station will be installed in the 500-block of S. Fourth Street providing a convenient amenity for Downtown pet owners.

“S. Fourth Street is one of Downtown’s most beautiful corridors and these improvements will add yet another welcoming and attractive feature,” said Kristin Booker, principal of Booker Design Collaborative. “The tree fencing was designed with beauty and resilience in mind and adds a layer of protection for the mature trees and new tree well plantings.”

LDP’s work is guided by the 2024 Louisville Downtown Development Strategy, a bold 10-year vision for how the city, businesses, and residents can ensure that Louisville continues to thrive as the economic, cultural, and creative center of the region. The S. Fourth Street enhancement project directly supports key objectives outlined in the strategy, particularly those focused on enhancing public spaces and improving the pedestrian experience.

Work will take place in three phases and is expected to be complete in early November. To view renderings of the S. Fourth Street enhancement project, click here.

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