About Us - River Fields

We are an independent non-profit passionate about conservation, advocacy, and education for the Ohio River and its natural and cultural wonders.

Check out this video produced by Kertis Creative to learn more about River Fields and its impact on the river, its lands, and the people who depend upon them.

We envision all citizens of this area enjoying the natural and cultural environment of the Ohio River, its corridor and surrounding region.

Our Organization

As a land trust, River Fields holds 65 acres of key river corridor properties outright in 10 different parcels and approximately 2,300 acres in 27 conservation easements. Our membership base is more than 2,100 people from 119 zip codes in the Louisville area and around the country. We are
governed by a Board of Trustees that comprises ten committed community leaders of diverse backgrounds and interests. River Fields is proud to be the largest and oldest river conservancy on all 981 miles of the Ohio River.

Our Staff

Kristin Faurest, Ph.D.

President and CEO

Owen Ronald

Advocacy and Conservation Counsel

Tina Adams

Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper

Our Board of Trustees

James Haynes

President Pro Tem

Bea Rosenberg

Treasurer

Robert W. Griffith

Secretary

Trustees

Counsel

Honorary Trustees

Trustee Emeriti

Our Partners

National Partners

State Partners

Regional and Metro Partners

Kentuckiana Underground Railroad Project
Ohio River Way
Jacob School / James Taylor Neighborhood Association
Preservation Louisville
Ohio River Basin Alliance
University of Louisville
West Point Concerned Citizens

Non-discrimination statement: River Fields is an equal opportunity organization that celebrates the diversity of our entire community and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, genetic history, or any other factor. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to our employees and to our event participants to for medical or religious reasons. Any complaints related to discrimination can be directed to the CEO and President of the organization. Complaints will be treated with confidentiality, investigated promptly, and corrected. Any employees violating the non-discrimination policy either with other staff or with members of the community will be disciplined appropriately, up to and including termination.

DOWNLOAD OUR MOST RECENT REPORTS HERE

Our proud history

In 1959, land conservation and environmental advocacy were not priorities for the average citizen. 66 years ago the late Archibald Cochran and Sara Shallenberger Brown invited a group of people committed to preserving the integrity of the Ohio River and its corridor to form the Louisville Area River Foundation, Inc. In 1969, this group was renamed River Fields, Inc. From those modest visionary beginnings, River Fields has grown into the largest river conservation organization on the Ohio River – with over 2,100 members from 119 zip codes and over 2,300 acres of land protected permanently. River Fields is the ninth oldest of the more than 3,000 conservation organizations in the United States. Over the past 66 years, River Fields has focused on a wide range of conservation and community issues with a goal to improving the quality of life throughout our region.

Recognition

River Fields and its achievements have been recognized at local, state, and national levels by numerous agencies and organizations, including:

Commonwealth of Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission
Kentucky Waterways Alliance
Louisville Historic League
Land Trust Alliance
Ohio River Basin Consortium for Research and Education
Senate of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
The International Waterfront Center, Washington, D.C.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation

In 2014, the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) asked River Fields then-Executive Director, Meme Sweets Runyon, to participate in their Lobby Day on Capitol Hill and she contributed significantly to LTA on various ways of speaking to our elected officials about making the tax-incentives for conservation easements permanent. LTA solicited her help because of her government background, lobbying experience, and advocacy role in the state. River Fields is now led by Kristin Faurest, Ph.D., who took over as President and CEO in May 2024.