Our History
In the Beginning
In the early 1960s, the residents of the Park DuValle Community Health Center began to voice their concern for the lack of medical services provided to this area. At that time, the only health care, other than private physicians, was General Hospital. It was located in the east end of town and public transportation was unavailable after 5 p.m. These primarily medically indigent residents began to work with several civic-minded groups to make their dreams a reality. A coalition of residents, led by the late Vernice Hunter, a community activist, along with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), approached the city government about its concerns.
Due to these efforts, several buildings in the Cotter Homes subsidized housing area were designated by the city to house the new health care facility. Federal Office of Economic Opportunity funding was secured and in 1968, Dr. Harvey I. Sloane became the center’s first director and provided direction for this most important and sensitive endeavor.
Change of Name
In January 1987, the board of directors of The Neighborhood Health Center, Inc. elected to change the center’s name. The name “Park DuValle Community Health Center” was selected because it both described the types of services provided at the center and its location within the community.
Growth and Expansion
In 1982, the Neighborhood Health Center was asked to open a satellite location to serve the rural population in Spencer County, Ky. So, in 1984, the Spencer County Rural Health Clinic began operating in Taylorsville , Ky. It is now known as Park DuValle at Spencer County . In 1985, the center joined with Family Health Center-Portland and the Louisville and Jefferson County Board of Health to work jointly on establishing more primary health care services in the community. As a result, The Neighborhood Health Center established two more satellite locations. The Community Health Center of West Louisville opened in 1986 at 26th and Madison and now operates as Park DuValle at City View near downtown in the newly renovated City View Park complex (formerly the old Village West Mall). The Newburg Primary Care Center was opened in the Newburg area in 1987. It is now operated at a newly remodeled location on Hikes Lane as Park DuValle at Newburg.
Since 1968, the main health center of Park DuValle had been located in two converted Cotter Homes apartment buildings. In July 2002, Park DuValle Community Health Center began operating in a newly constructed, $6 million, state-of-the-art facility located at 3015 Wilson Ave. among the Park DuValle Hope VI Revitalization Development.
The federal government, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, continues to support the operation of Park DuValle Community Health Center, Inc. in order to provide high-quality health services to patients living in medically underserved communities. The cost of health care provided by Park DuValle Community Health Center is based on your ability to pay and a sliding fee scale continues to be available to income eligible patients.
With the new facility at our main location and extended health care services being offered through our three satellite locations,including dental services at all sites, Park DuValle Community Health Center has entered a new era of modern health care service delivery. We are all about caring for our community.
On behalf of the staff and the board of directors, let us express thanks to all for the support you’ve given the center since our opening in 1968. It is a privilege to provide for your medical needs. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to be of future assistance to you or your family.