LOUISVILLE, Ken. — A new $53 million, 24-acre, multi-sport complex in Louisville’s Russell neighborhood is now open after 16 months of development.
The Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center is slated to host a variety of local, regional, and national track meets and other sporting events. The facility features 90,000 square feet of floor space with a 4,000-seat, 200-meter banked indoor track and competition areas for all jump, vaults, and throws.
The track’s Mondo hydraulic floor can be lowered to provide space for a stage and seating to host concerts and other events like robotics conferences. The complex also includes a 4-lane mini-bowling alley, a rock climbing wall, and a multi-purpose space for educational programming for the local community.
The Urban League raised $43 million towards the development of the center over a 22-month period and through corporate sponsorships, tax credits, and philanthropic gifts.
The Russell neighborhood was chosen to encourage investment and growth in Louisville’s West End, a historically black neighborhood. The project met its goal of spending 40 percent of its cost with black people and black companies while creating 302 jobs. The center features a wall-scape feature on the 30thStreet city block featuring a number of local black leaders. Floor-to-ceiling artwork from local black artists is also on display.
