Metro Parks Accepting Proposals For Otter Creek

The Louisville Metro Parks Department is collecting proposals to re-open Otter Creek Park in Meade County.Otter Creek Park has been inaccessible since January, when it was closed due to budget cuts. The closure saves the city about 180 thousand dollars per year, but Metro Parks spokesperson Jason Cissell says it still costs money to maintain the facility."There's one full-time employee with benefits," he says. "There is security that costs about $10,000 a year and there are utilities that I don't know the cost of offhand. But certainly to operate it for a full year the way we're operating it now would be under $100,000."The department is seeking proposals from private entities that would re-open and operate the park at no cost to the city. Cissell says it's possible that some proposals could even generate income for Metro Government."We have the opportunity to look favorably on a proposal that would return a dividend to the city that could be invested in our other parks," he says. "But our main concern is finding a way to get it off our tax rolls and get it open again."Proposals are due in two months.