City to acquire land as home for wildlife
SHELDON S. SHAFER, The Courier-JournalMayor Dave Armstrong wants to keep Towhead Island, 13 forested acres just off the Kentucky shore near the Big Four Bridge, as a nature preserve and a place to study the river's history.
Armstrong said the city and the owner of the island, Nugent Sand Co., have agreed in principle for the city to acquire Towhead.
Armstrong began to negotiate for Towhead soon after he took office 17 months ago because he considers it an adjunct to Waterfront Park.
Rick Northern, an attorney for the sand company, said Friday that the company plans to swap the island for some land the city owns. ``No cash will change hands,'' he said.
Both he and Armstrong declined to say what land Nugent might get, but the city owns some right of way along River Road near Nugent's headquarters at 1833 River Road.
Towhead Island ``is an incredible opportunity for a wildlife preserve,'' said David Karem, president of the Waterfront Development Corp.
Towhead lies just off Thruston Park, near where Beargrass Creek flows into the Ohio. Between the island and the Kentucky mainland is a channel on which the Louisville Municipal Boat Harbor is situated.
The island has a wealth of waterfowl and many small animals, such as bats and squirrels, said Mike Kimmel, the waterfront agency's deputy director. Eagles often stop there when migrating, he added.
Some of the island is usually flooded part of the year, and Armstrong said the city may have to spend some money to shore up areas of erosion.
He said the city also hopes to develop a small edge of the island as a beach and with a pier for pleasure boats and perhaps some recreational rafts. A bridge from the island to the mainland might eventually be built, he said.
But most of the island will remain in its natural state. ``It will be a laboratory to study river heritage'' and will be a great destination for school field trips, he said.
Armstrong has asked the Waterfront Park designers to consider Towhead Island and a nearby stretch of Beargrass Creek in the plans for expanding Waterfront Park. He has asked a task force to recommend recreational uses along that stretch of the creek - in the area where it meets the river near Towhead.
Armstrong sees the creek being used for recreational rafting and perhaps even gondola excursions.
American Commercial Barge Line has a long-term agreement with Nugent Sand to moor barges on the north side of Towhead. Armstrong said the city will inherit that obligation. But he said the lease payments for the mooring rights will provide revenue to maintain the island.
Karem said that, ideally, the barge activity will someday cease. ``Ultimately, it would be desirable to free the island of all industrial uses,'' Karem said.
Northern said Nugent acquired Towhead about 20 years ago from Martin-Marietta Corp.
Towhead Island's 13 forested acres are home to an abundance of waterfowl and small animals, such as bats and squirrels. Migrating eagles often stop there.