By Mitch Morrison
The University of Louisville’s newest park was dedicated on Aug. 24 with a ceremony at its central monument.
The new park is next to the site of the University of Louisville women’s lacrosse field, and a central stop on the new Louisville bike paths.
The park is landscaped with eight picnic tables, making it an escape location or a place to study on a sunny day. A bike rack and a water fountain also surround the lacrosse field.
The man for whom the park is named, Jack Segell, was a Louisville businessman and civic leader much loved by his fellow city leaders. University of Louisville President James Ramsey led the remarks and told several personal stories of his involvement with Segell. He recalled when Segell would send him news clippings in the mail of articles that he thought to be important to the president and several other friends of his.
The Athletic Department paid for the property so the women’s lacrosse team may have a field to practice and play on that is their own, as opposed to alternating time with the soccer and field hockey teams. The former site of this park was the Allgood Food peanut butter factory on Floyd Street that had stood there since 1904.
The monument marking the entrance to the park lists what U of L is calling the “Louisville Legends,” where it has small plates dedicated to notable Louisville students in the areas of Alumni, Athletics, and Faculty.
The University of Louisville is getting a little greener. The old factories that formerly surrounded the campus are turning into green fields and parks, where students can enjoy the newfound scenery. In this case, philanthropist Jack Segell deserves the credit.
