LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For almost 60 years, the Hogan’s Fountain Pavilion at Louisville’s Cherokee Park has been an iconic structure. But no more. Louisville Metro Government issued an emergency demolition order.
The city found the structure has extensive deterioration, making it unstable and “in imminent danger of failure or collapse.”
“The Hogan’s Fountain Pavilion has been a familiar site in our community for almost 60 years. It’s been a place for friends to gather for events like birthday parties, barbecues, and more. Like other structures that age, time and weather have taken a toll, and there are now enormous costs associated with making the structure safe for use. Because of the current structural concerns, Louisville Metro will move forward with taking down the pavilion,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville.
Crews will begin moving equipment into the area near the pavilion Monday, July 24 with removal set to take place later in the week.
Greenberg added in a release, “We are planning to seek funding to build a new structure for neighbors, families and future generations to enjoy, and we look forward to sharing details about that soon.”
The city has performed several assessments of the pavilion. The fourth review in June found “consistent cracking the stone veneer” of the pavilion and more cracking in an area where assessors removed portions of the stone veneer by hand. But it was damage to the foundation that ultimately prompted Metro to issue the emergency order.
Metro Parks and Recreation inspected the pavilion in May 2022 after a resident expressed concern. The area was shutdown and contained immediately because of safety concerns. Since the initial assessment, the engineering firm, Tetra Tech, has performed three assessments of Hogan’s Fountain Pavilion.
Every assessment recommended the city shore up and repair the pavilion, which is estimated to cost between $900,000 and $1.3 million, or demolish the structure to prevent a collapse.
The report said, “Shoring a structure of this type and deteriorated condition will be a very dangerous, difficult, and expensive operation.”
In 2013, Louisville Metro Government (LMG) has provided funds and privately raised money that paid for $70,000 for pavilion roof repairs. In the 10 years since, LMG has spent $80,000 on roof repairs, drainage, temporary fencing and analyses verifying the condition of the pavilion.
Parks and Recreation plans to solicit public input along with help from the mayor’s office, Metro Council and other stakeholders such as the Olmsted Parks Conservancy on a replacement structure. There is no timetable on construction set yet.
The pavilion was built in 1965, replacing a smaller shelter originally built in 1895. The design of the Hogan’s Fountain Pavilion mimicked a tee pee with an exaggerated roof, which was characteristic of 1960s architecture. The pavilion is known locally as the “Tee Pee” or “Witch’s Hat.”
The structure was damaged during the 1974 tornado that decimated much of Cherokee Park, but it remained standing. The vertical structural beams were repaired and replaced with steel bases in the 1970s and 80s.