MEET b.o.b.

B.O.B. stands for Building Our Blocks and is an event that seeks to transform a single neighborhood in one day through projects such as tree planting, home repair, street safety improvements, beautification, and more. The event is community-led, Louisville Metro-supported, and non-profit partnered. It’s organized and implemented by Louisville Metro Council District 15 Councilwoman Jennifer Chappell. The goal is to be proactive in solving issues our community members face daily by bringing city services to their doorstep.

THE ORIGINS OF B.O.B.

As an avid volunteer for Louisville Grows neighborhood tree plantings, Councilwoman Chappell was inspired by the neighborhood canvassing that occurred before the tree planting event and thought of ways to leverage the door-to-door. As a Conservation District Supervisor, she always fancied the idea of “greenifying” a neighborhood by adding services such as rain barrel installations and native garden plantings to the tree planting. After attending one of Mayor Greenberg’s Mayor’s Night Out events, she realized that the event she had always envisioned could be expanded to include a myriad of city services as well. 

Councilwoman Chappell excitedly told her legislative aide, Amy Luckett, about the idea and Amy was like, “I think this has been done before!” Insert Robin Hawkins-Faulkner with Louisville Forward. In 2016, Robin started an event called Building Our Blocks, or B.O.B. for short. The event targeted 11 neighborhoods in West Louisville and “utilized a combination of city data, Metro Council member input, and community interest to identify ‘hotspots’ within targeted neighborhoods to engage Louisville citizens and deliver practical and beneficial on-the-spot services.” The program’s last iteration was in 2017. With Robin’s blessing, we adopted the B.O.B. name for District 15.

B.O.B.’S VISION

We have chosen Lucky Horseshoe as the pilot neighborhood for our program. We chose this area primarily for two reasons: 1) It is the smallest neighborhood in D15, and 2) It is a neighborhood in the central section of D15 which has the greatest need for services. As we build out this inaugural B.O.B. event, we are creating processes that will help us scale and easily implement in other neighborhoods. We should also note that the 150th Kentucky Derby will happen in the month following our B.O.B., event, so we’re hoping that having that on the horizon will help bolster involvement and excitement.

The event will include but is not limited to: 

  • Planting 50 trees through Louisville Grows

  • Rain barrel installation through the Jefferson County Conservation District

  • Home repairs through New Directions Housing Corporation

  • Animal vaccine/microchip clinic through Louisville Metro Animal Services

  • Neighborhood and alley clean-ups

  • Safety consultations through LMPD

  • Smoke detector installation/inspection through Louisville Fire

  • Native garden consultation/installation through Beargrass Thunder

  • Homestead exemption exploration through the PVA

  • A temporary food truck court through the Louisville Food Truck Alliance

  • Distribution of materials ranging from lead testing kits to a book promoting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

  • A tabling area featuring Louisville Free Public Library, TARC, Louisville Water Company, UofL Health, Coalition for the Homeless, Office of Planning, Kentucky Derby Museum, and many more

We will also be working with:

  • Codes & Regulations to get all existing violations in compliance

  • Public Works to install speed humps, repair sidewalks, and replace/install trash and recycling receptacles

  • Office of Arts & Creative Industries on public art projects, including a mural and a Galapalooza horse

  • Solid Waste Management Services to collect junk and recycling items

WHERE IS LUCKY HORSESHOE?

The Lucky Horseshoe neighborhood is bound by Central Avenue to the north, Oakdale Avenue to the east, Longfield Avenue to the south, and Taylor Boulevard to the west.

The majority of land in Lucky Horseshoe is occupied by Churchill Downs, a historic horseracing track that hosts the Kentucky Derby, hence the neighborhood name.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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UPCOMING EVENTS |

Now, meet alena

Alena Balakos, a D15 resident, has been hired by the D15 office to lead this project. Over the coming months, she will be engaging with the community through community envisioning charettes and door-knocking. Alena will also be reaching out to partners that include departments within Louisville Metro, local non-profits, and other entities so that we can exercise the greatest impact in April. 

FAQs

  • We’re still trying to figure out the full scope, so by filling out the survey, you’ll help us get a better idea about what we need to do. We’ve had multiple neighborhood meetings to gather input, but we recognize that feedback is not 100% representative of the entire neighborhood.

  • There is no cost to participate!

  • This is an initiative led by Councilwoman Jennifer Chappell’s office. Alena Balakos is the B.O.B. Coordinator and Amy Luckett is the District 15 Aide.

  • Email alena.balakos2@louisvilleky.gov or contact our office.