Highland Park is a historically rich neighborhood in Louisville Kentucky, with roots that stretch back to the late 19th century. Originally developed as a residential suburb, Highland Park was shaped significantly by the vision and enterprise of prominent Louisville figures Joshua Speed and James Henning. These two developers, recognizing the opportunity for growth created by expanding Louisville and Nashville (L&N) railroad, strategically acquired and plotted land, south of downtown Louisville. Their efforts laid the foundation for a new community that would become a vital part of Louisville's urban tapestry. The Neighborhoods proximity to the L&N railroad made it a desirable location for working-class families employed by the railroads and nearby industries. This access to transportation and employment accelerated Highland Park's growth and in 1890, the area was incorporated as a fourth class city. The new municipality quickly established its own local governance and identity, with a focus on civic development, schools, and infrastructure. By the early 20th century, Highland Park had. become a bustling small city. Its layout included orderly streets, streetcar lines, saloons, and a variety of modest homes, mostly built in the bungalow and American Four Square styles popular at that time. Its independence, however was relatively short lived. In 1922 amid a broader wave of annexations and urban expansion the city of Louisville officially annexed Highland Park. While the move was met with some local resistance, it was ultimately seen as a necessary step for integrating services and planning in a rapidly growing metropolitan area. Highland Parks annexation marked a turning point in its history, aligning it more closely with Louisville's civic, economic, and infrastructural agendas. However, a more profound disruption came in the mid-20th century , when the neighborhood was caught in the crosshairs of airport expansion. The adjacent Standiford field, now Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, began a series of aggressive expansions in the 1980's and 1990's. These projects, driven by federal and local transportation initiatives, necessitated the removal of hundreds of homes and businesses in Highland Park. Residents of the area mounted a determined resistance, forming neighborhood coalitions and appealing to local government to preserve their community. Though winning the court decision with the Kentucky Supreme Court in a 6 to 1 vote the neighborhood was eventually razed with residents getting additional settlement funds for their homes. Though largely erased from the physical landscape, Highland Park endures in Louisville's collective memory as a symbol of working-class resilience, the complexities of urban growth, and the tensions between development and community preservation.