Behind the Times
Regarding the “Great Divide” cover story in the June 11 LEO Weekly: If this Metro region had been building two to three local access bridges (similar to Clark Memorial Bridge) throughout the past 50 years, we wouldn’t have such a “great divide,” and we wouldn’t need to be spending $2 billion for two interstate bridges that will have tolls and create an even greater divide. Poor planning and vision since 1964.
Steve Wiser, Crescent Hill
Connecting the Great Divide
Thanks for an intriguing article on “The Great Divide” — the water wall and wall of attitude between Southern Indiana and Louisville. However, as you know by now, that is rapidly changing as hordes of people are now walking, jogging and biking across the recently opened Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, discovering all sorts of appealing things on both sides: restaurants, museums, businesses, parks and paths. Upcoming soon is a Greenway path and bike lane from the Big Four Bridge to connect to the existing Greenway Path on top of the levee, which extends two miles to the George Rogers Clark Cabin. Of course, you can connect with the River Walk and parts of the Louisville Loop on the Louisville side. Eventually the Greenway will extend to New Albany and the K&I Bridge, where it is hoped people can cross the “great divide” to connect to the Louisville Loop path, and thus create a most dramatic and scenic loop around the riverfront and the “Falls Cities.”
You did not mention the Falls of the Ohio State Park and National Wildlife Conservation Area in Clarksville (and Louisville’s Jefferson County), which attracts nearly 500,000 visitors a year and was voted as one of the area’s natural wonders. About half of the students who visit the Falls Interpretive Center are from Kentucky.
Kenny Karem, Falls of the Ohio Foundation, Crescent Hill
Cross the Bridge!
I’m a 30-something-year-old who just moved back to the area after having lived in NYC for the last 10-plus years. Talk about a city that’s connected by bridges! I crossed ’em sometimes four times a day, whether by train/cab/bicycle/foot. ’Tis a city to embark upon the bridge! And it’s one of the reasons I love it there so much. The train descends underground, and you can pop up somewhere crazy, like a Russian beach, if you so wish.
It’s funny, though. I grew up in New Albany, and when I lived in NYC, I was very casual about saying I was from Kentucky. It was just easier that way. If I had “admitted” I was from Indiana, people would automatically spew words at me like “Gary?!” “Indy?!” It’s just always been easier for me to say I’m from Kentucky, as I feel more connected to that aspect of the Ohio, as opposed to some northern/central part of the Hoosier state. Having noted that, now that I actually do live in Kentucky, I find myself being careful about mentioning my “Nawlbany” roots. People cringe. It’s annoying and unnecessary. Why can’t we live happily as neighbors? Could it be a college basketball thing?
My point is, people in New York have open minds. People in New York cross bridges and don’t think twice about it. And as a result, all areas thrive. What it boils down to, I think, is this: People in New York might just be a little more sophisticated, but they could perhaps be even more adequately described as more curious and more willing.
Kara Stemle, Old Louisville
Our Turn
We love the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge. There is now access to many restaurants and bars in Jeffersonville, but when you are on the Louisville side, there is only Waterfront Park and Tumbleweed. Why not extend the trolley route to the bridge to transport people to downtown and NuLu? This would help people explore all the wonderful dining, arts and events going on in Louisville.
Mary Beth & Ken Nevitt, Crescent Hill
