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The Crescent Hill Reservoir is a rich part of Louisville Water’s history. In June 2025, Louisville Water will began a multi-year project to preserve the reservoir. Built in 1879, significant repairs were made in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including securing the berm (grassy perimeter) around the reservoir and installing a heavy-duty liner. Louisville Water will improve the sidewalk and address the aging railing around the reservoir to make sure it meets today’s safety standards.
There are two basins that are part of the reservoir. The north basin is closest to Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center and the Crescent Hill Golf Course; the south basin is closer to Frankfort Avenue. Each basin will take approximately two years to complete.
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The walking path at the top of the Crescent Hill Reservoir remains closed as the relining project continues. We have drained the entire north basin. During November, our contractor will set up a conveyor system which will make sediment removal faster and more efficient. Trucks will also haul sediment out of the basin.
Starting Monday, December 1, Reservoir Avenue will be closed on weekdays between Frankfort Avenue and Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center to allow the work to continue safely and smoothly. Reservoir Avenue will reopen at the close of business every Friday and stay open until Monday morning. Access to Mary T. Aquatic Center will always remain open.
We won’t use the green space across from the reservoir until later in the project. At this time, we do not have a firm date on when that will begin.
Preserving Our History – Did You Know?
- It took 2 years, 8 months, and 4 days to build the reservoir. The groundbreaking was April 11, 1877, but it did not start operations until December 15, 1879.
Learn more about the reservoir’s history.
See our progress!
- Summer 2025 draining the north basin of over 55 million gallons of water.
- Click on the below images for a larger view.
Curious about what’s happening at the Crescent Hill Reservoir? Check out this cool time lapse video of draining the north basin.
Project includes:
- Draining the north basin
- Emptying the sediments out of the basin
- Removing the old liner, making repairs, and installing a new liner
- Repeating the process for the south basin
- Addressing the aging iron railing around the reservoir to meet today’s safety standards
We expect it will take up to 50 “truckloads” a day at certain times during the project to remove the sediment. To ensure the safety of the public, Reservoir Avenue will be closed to thru-traffic. Parking on Reservoir Avenue from Frankfort to the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center will be prohibited Monday – Friday. Reservoir Avenue will reopen Friday evenings to allow parking through the weekend. Road and parking restrictions will be enforced again starting Monday morning.
Staging Areas
- Green space across from the reservoir
- Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center parking lot
Louisville Water will use the green space across from the reservoir to store materials and equipment for ongoing projects. We plan to reopen about one-third of the space to the public after the first year of the relining project.
Additionally, a little over half of the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center parking lot will serve as a staging area and access point for the trucks. The remaining parking lot will be available to the public.
