Russell announces gift for park upgrades

Lakers player grew up next to city’s Algonquin Park

“I feel like the access for kids nowadays is limited, so to get to the park and have access to be able to branch off and be as creative as you want to be — in the grass, on the park, at the pool, whatever you have access to — and this is a start.”

D’Angelo Russell

Louisville native and Los Angeles Lakers player D’Angelo Russell’s foundation is donating $100,000 to make Algonquin Park more accessible for members of the community.

Russell, who grew up next to the park and went there to play basketball, said he was looking for something his foundation could focus on and believed a park was the right path. The donation was announced Saturday at the park with members of the D’Angelo Russell Foundation joined by city leaders.

“I feel like the access for kids nowadays is limited, so to get to the park and have access to be able to branch off and be as creative as you want to be — in the grass, on the park, at the pool, whatever you have access to — and this is a start,” Russell said.

The money will be used to give the park a new look and add ways for kids to have fun, such as a fitness course that will look like a playground to boost physical and mental health, said Bethany Mitchell, chief operating officer for the D’Angelo Russell Foundation.

Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins from District 1 and Tony Hardin, representing District 6 Councilman Phillip Baker, expressed their gratitude.

Hawkins said the investment in the park will help reduce crime because crime goes down when people have access to things they did not have beforehand.

Jason Canuel, the director of Louisville Parks & Recreation, said there is no current timeline for when renovations will start.

SCOTT UTTERBACK/COURIER JOURNAL Louisville native D’Angelo Russell of the Los Angeles Lakers announces on Saturday that his foundation is going to revitalize Algonquin Park.