City of Parks
Encyclopedia
City of Parks is a municipal project to create a continuous paved pedestrian and biking trail around the city of Louisville, Kentucky
while also adding a large amount of park land. The project was announced on February 22, 2005. Current plans call for making approximately 4000 acres (16.2 km²) of the Floyds Fork floodplain in eastern Jefferson County
into park space, expanding area in the Jefferson Memorial Forest
, and adding riverfront land and wharfs along the Riverwalk Trail and Levee Trail. There are also plans to connect the 100 miles (160.9 km) Louisville trail to a planned seven mile (11 km) trail connecting the Southern Indiana
cities of New Albany
, Clarksville
and Jeffersonville
.
when completed, using the trail to connect many of the city's existing parks and future parks. The trail is projected to be 110 miles (177 km) long when completed, 30 miles (48.3 km) have already been completed along the city's western waterfront, with the other sections slated for completion by 2012.
The city's first bike path effort, Beargrass Bikeway, which connects Cherokee Park
to the Belvedere
, was opened in 1980 but received little use. The section connecting the Belvedere to Shawnee Park
was first proposed in 1988.
The first completed section of the Louisville Loop was created in the 1980s and is known as the Riverwalk. It is a 6.9 miles (11.1 km) bike and jogging trail running along the city's Ohio River
waterfront from the Belvedere
to Chickasaw Park
. It passes through Lannan Park in Portland
and Shawnee Park
along the way. A portion of the trail runs along city streets Portland, with about 0.4 mile (0.643736 km) of the total route existing on city sidewalks. The trail passes through the former Portland Wharf area, which was razed for I-64 development, and the old street grid is still visible. Along the way, there are mileage markers on the surface of the trail every tenth of a mile, as well as markers giving information on 19th century river culture, such as units of measurement, river jobs, and types of riverboats.
The second oldest section of the Louisville Loop is the 3.6 miles (5.8 km) Levee Trail, which spanning the flood protection from runs from Riverside Park in Pleasure Ridge Park to the Farnsley-Moremen House
to Lees Lane.
In 2007, the 10 miles (16.1 km) Mill Creek Trail was completed, connecting the Levee Trail and The Riverwalk, ending at Lee Lane in Riverside Gardens. A small stretch of the Mill Creek Trail had been completed in 2002 by LG&E, on whose property much of the trail is located, which ran from Greenwood Rd. to Mill Creek. An extension added by the City in 2007 included a $2 million bridge over Mill Creek.
, McNeely Park, Floyds Fork watershed, EP Sawyer State Park, and River Road corridor using the proposed trails:
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
while also adding a large amount of park land. The project was announced on February 22, 2005. Current plans call for making approximately 4000 acres (16.2 km²) of the Floyds Fork floodplain in eastern Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of...
into park space, expanding area in the Jefferson Memorial Forest
Jefferson Memorial Forest
The Jefferson Memorial Forest is a forest located in southwest Louisville, Kentucky , in the knobs region of Kentucky. At , it is the largest municipal urban forest in the United States...
, and adding riverfront land and wharfs along the Riverwalk Trail and Levee Trail. There are also plans to connect the 100 miles (160.9 km) Louisville trail to a planned seven mile (11 km) trail connecting the Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana, in the United States, consists of the 33 counties located in the southernmost part of the state. The region's history and geography has led to a blend of Northern and Southern culture distinct from the remainder of Indiana. It is often considered to be part of the Upland South...
cities of New Albany
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
, Clarksville
Clarksville, Indiana
Clarksville is a town in Clark County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River as a part of the Louisville Metropolitan area. The population was 21,724 at the 2010 census. The town, once a home site to George Rogers Clark, was founded in 1783 and is the oldest American town in the Northwest...
and Jeffersonville
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
.
Louisville Loop
The Louisville Loop is a planned 110 miles (177 km) bike and pedestrian trail which will circle the city of Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
when completed, using the trail to connect many of the city's existing parks and future parks. The trail is projected to be 110 miles (177 km) long when completed, 30 miles (48.3 km) have already been completed along the city's western waterfront, with the other sections slated for completion by 2012.
History
Cherokee Park
Cherokee Park is a municipal park located in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It was designed, like 18 of Louisville's 123 public parks, by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture...
to the Belvedere
Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere
Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere is a public area on the Ohio River in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Although proposed as early as 1930, the project did not get off the ground until $13.5 million in funding was secured in 1969 to revitalize the downtown area . On April 27, 1973 the Riverfront...
, was opened in 1980 but received little use. The section connecting the Belvedere to Shawnee Park
Shawnee Park
Shawnee Park is a municipal park in Louisville, Kentucky. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed 18 of the city's 123 public parks...
was first proposed in 1988.
Existing sections
The Louisville Loop currently extends a total of 30 miles (48.3 km) from the Farnsley-Moremen House to Downtown.The first completed section of the Louisville Loop was created in the 1980s and is known as the Riverwalk. It is a 6.9 miles (11.1 km) bike and jogging trail running along the city's Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
waterfront from the Belvedere
Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere
Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere is a public area on the Ohio River in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Although proposed as early as 1930, the project did not get off the ground until $13.5 million in funding was secured in 1969 to revitalize the downtown area . On April 27, 1973 the Riverfront...
to Chickasaw Park
Chickasaw Park
Chickasaw Park is a municipal park in Louisville, Kentucky's west end. It is fronted to the west by the Ohio River. It was formerly the country estate of political boss John Henry Whallen, and began development as a park in 1923, but was not completed until the 1930s...
. It passes through Lannan Park in Portland
Portland, Louisville
Portland is a neighborhood and former independent town two miles northwest of downtown Louisville, Kentucky. In its early days it was the largest of the six major settlements at the Falls of the Ohio River, the others being Shippingport and Louisville in Kentucky and New Albany, Clarksville, and...
and Shawnee Park
Shawnee Park
Shawnee Park is a municipal park in Louisville, Kentucky. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed 18 of the city's 123 public parks...
along the way. A portion of the trail runs along city streets Portland, with about 0.4 mile (0.643736 km) of the total route existing on city sidewalks. The trail passes through the former Portland Wharf area, which was razed for I-64 development, and the old street grid is still visible. Along the way, there are mileage markers on the surface of the trail every tenth of a mile, as well as markers giving information on 19th century river culture, such as units of measurement, river jobs, and types of riverboats.
The second oldest section of the Louisville Loop is the 3.6 miles (5.8 km) Levee Trail, which spanning the flood protection from runs from Riverside Park in Pleasure Ridge Park to the Farnsley-Moremen House
Riverside, The Farnsley-Moremen Landing
Riverside, The Farnsley-Moremen Landing is a historic 300 acre farm and house in Southwest Louisville, Kentucky along the banks of the Ohio River...
to Lees Lane.
Future sections
The total trail length for a completed Louisville Loop is estimated at 110 miles (177 km) one way. The next sections of the Louisville Loop are slated for completion by 2013 and they will connect the Jefferson Memorial ForestJefferson Memorial Forest
The Jefferson Memorial Forest is a forest located in southwest Louisville, Kentucky , in the knobs region of Kentucky. At , it is the largest municipal urban forest in the United States...
, McNeely Park, Floyds Fork watershed, EP Sawyer State Park, and River Road corridor using the proposed trails:
- Jefferson Memorial ForestJefferson Memorial ForestThe Jefferson Memorial Forest is a forest located in southwest Louisville, Kentucky , in the knobs region of Kentucky. At , it is the largest municipal urban forest in the United States...
Trail - Floyds Fork Trail
- Eastern Suburbs Trail
- River Road/Waterfront Trail
See also
- List of attractions and events in Louisville, Kentucky
- List of parks in Louisville, Kentucky
- Louisville Waterfront ParkLouisville Waterfront ParkLouisville Waterfront Park is a municipal park adjacent to the downtown area of Louisville, Kentucky and the Ohio River. Specifically, it is adjacent to Louisville's wharf and Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere, which are situated to the west of the park....
External links
- The Parklands of Floyds Fork
- City of Parks page at LouisvilleKY.gov (includes a map)
- 21st Century Parks
- Louisville Loop official site
- Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy
- Construction begins on Parklands of Floyds Fork – August 2010
- Floyds Fork Parks Get $10 Million Boost -- August 2010
- New park system named Parklands of Floyds Fork -- August 2010
- New Property Connects Sections of Jefferson Memorial Forest -- Nov. 2009 (includes a map)