A vacant, underutilized space beneath I-264 in South Louisville is now getting put to use. Mayor Craig Greenberg announced that construction at Bike Highland Park is underway, turning what he called vacant, underutilized space under the interstate into what he described as a one-of-a-kind bike park.
“This vacant and underutilized space under I-264 is now going to become a one-of-a-kind bike park in South Louisville,” Mayor Craig Greenberg said
in the announcement. He added that the project is “a great example of the exciting things we can make happen with great ideas and great partners willing to” work together, framing it as a case study in civic collaboration.
A Four-Zone Design Years in the Making
The park's roots stretch back well before Thursday's announcement. A 2025 report from Singletracks detailed a proposed design calling for four distinct zones beneath the overpass, created by PumpTrax USA and Pillar Design Studios. That same report pegged the cost of building out all four zones at an estimated $700,000, though it was described at the time as an estimate tied to available funding rather than a locked-in budget.
The project had cleared a key hurdle: the bike park had been fully approved by the city. Louisville’s fiscal year 2026 budget included $750,000 for construction, allowing the project to move forward once state and federal permits were secured. To help close that gap, a dedicated nonprofit, the Friends of Highland Park Bike Park, had been established to lead fundraising efforts for the project.
From Design Phase to Groundbreaking
Momentum built further toward the end of last year. Louisville officials unveiled visual renderings for the mountain bike park planned for the space beneath I-264 in the South End, according to The Courier Journal. The outlet reported that the move marked completion of the project's design phase, following a news release issued in December.
Once state and federal permits were secured, construction could move forward. The mayor's announcement that shovels are in the ground marks a shift from plans to construction.
Partners Behind the Project
The park's design involved Pillar Design Studios and PumpTrax USA. At an underutilized site beneath a highway in South Louisville, the collaboration marks a visible shift from renderings and fundraising appeals to an actual build underway beneath the overpass.
