Park DuValle Association Inc.

Park DuValle Association Inc.

About Park Duvalle Neighborhhood

Around 1876, Joseph S. Cotter, Sr. was the first "colored" resident in the settlement first called Homestead, a rural community founded in 1871 outside the Louisville city limits. Points of reference in the area included Cane Run Road, Greenwood Cemetary, 36th Street and Virginia Avenue. William McGowan, a Negro, was one of the keepers of the first home in the settlement, Davidson Place. William and his family moved into a nearby farm house during the 1880's. As more people migrated to the area, the black residents began to refer to their community as Needmore; however, as people 'up in town' began to refer to the area as Little Africa, that name became generally associated with the area's African American population while Parkland became generally associated with the white population. Over time, the area was also referred to as Sticks.

In the 1880's, development began to flourish and by 1916, there were 700 "colored" homes, six churches, seven groceries, one drug store, one county school, and other local professionals and craftsmen. Over this period, a very large proportion of the tin houses and old shacks were torn down and in their place modern attractive homes built. The Parkland Improvement Club was responsible for the organized efforts of Little Africa's residents to lay cinder block walks, put up mailboxes and improve city streets. Many accolades were received from prominent citizens of the era as to the noticeable achievements of Little Africa during its first twenty-five years.

Late on the eve of March 27, 1890, a devastating tornado hit Parkland, destroying nearly all homes and businesses. By 1900, however, the residents had completely rebuilt the city which continued to grow through the 1950's, with gas stations, theaters, bakeries, hardware stores, a bank, and a record store.

In 1952, the area was known as Southwick, the south-central portion of Park DuValle. At that time, the Housing Authority of Louisville spent $7million on the Cotter Homes housing project. In 1958, the Lang Homes housing project for larger families was completed at a cost of $8million. Additional investments totaling millions of dollars were allocated to building and school improvements over the next two decades, but the area deteriorated due to overcrowding, poverty, lack of services. Many businesses left the area in the late 1960's amidst civil strife and vandalism. Dr. Martin Luther King had been assassinated and race riots were rampant.


In 1994, Andrea Duncan, Executive Director of the Housing Authority, began work on a federal land grant of up to $50million that would allow the demolition of the Cotter and Lang buildings covering a 34-acre tract. Funding was sought from the federal HOPE 6 program.


Joseph S. Cotter, Sr., a Principal of the S. Coleridge-Taylor School, was an author, poet and family man. Born of indigent parents, he left school after reaching the third reader class in Nelson County to work at hard, manual labor. Years later, hard study and night schools afforded him the opportunity to secure his place as a scholar.


Miss Lucy DuValle was paid the highest salary, $1,250 per annum, of any local black citizen in 1890 as principal of the California Colored School. Concerned about the welfare of the "colored" children of the area, she attended a meeting of the Kentucky Humane Society held May 22, 1896 to report that children, male and female alike, between the ages of six and twelve were not being properly cared for. She feared their surroundings were such that they would be lead astray, ruin their lives, and possibly become criminals.

About our association

OUR VISION

The vision on the Park Duvalle Association Inc., is that it will be a catalyst in: Ensuring the neighborhood will be a safe, healthy and collegial environment socially and corporatley. Providing an atmosphere condusive to enconmic growth. Providing growth and eductional opportunties for area youth. Making a positive contribution to maintaining the stabilty and quality for the residents of the Park Duvalle neighborhood.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Park Duvalle Association Inc., is to promote the physical, cultural, economic, and social development of the Park Duvalle neighbhorhood.

OUR COMMUNITY CONCERNS

The Park Duvalle Association Inc., concerns are those of neighborhood beautification, youth, community and envirnomental issues. By addressing these issues and concerns the Park DuValle Association hopes to maintain it family feel and bring back former residents as well as maintain current ones.

Email us seancwalker@bellsouth.net