COMMUNITY INFORMATION: PARKS & NATURE
The Kentuckiana region is blessed with the natural beauty of rolling hills, peaceful waterways, and lush trees, making the area's parks one of the biggest draws for residents and visitors. In just the Metro Louisville area alone, more than 120 public parks offer visitors a wide variety of outdoor experiences. To make things even more interesting, a number of Louisville's parks were designed and created by nationally-renowned landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead, who is most famous for creating Central Park in New York City. Olmstead's vision for Louisville's park systems was to bring nature into neighborhoods in a way that would shape the city's geography, social interactions, and economies - a vision that is still very prominent in the city's landscape today.
Outside Louisville's Metro Parks are even more options for people to play, grow, learn, and be healthy. Kentuckiana has a number of State and National parks that are a must-see for any nature lover. Some of these have a rich historic relevance while others are simply striking with beauty.
Rustic campsites, multi-purpose trails for scenic hiking and biking, well-managed wildlife habitats, and sparkling lakes for boating and water sports encourage residents to relax and explore the beauty of the great outdoors. Kentuciana’s parks offer a variety of facilities and services to ensure year-round activities and adventures.
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METRO & REGIONAL PARKS
MAJOR PARKS IN KENTUCKIANA AREA
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Big 4 Station Park 215 W Chestnut St. Jeffersonville, IN 47130
The Big Four Bridge is a mile-long pedestrian and cyclist bridge that spans the Ohio River and connects Jeffersonville, IN and Louisville, KY. Big Four Station Park, which is located at the end of the bridge on the IN side, features a pavilion, green space, and a playground.
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Central Park 1340 S Fourth Street Louisville, KY 40208
Central Park is located in the heart of Old Louisville. Nestled in the middle of the largest collection of Victorian homes in the U.S. and the summer venue for the free Kentucky Shakespeare Festival performances, Central Park offers a uniqueness that can make you almost step back in time, while also serving as an ideal place to relax or play all year round.
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Cherokee Park 745 Cochran Hill Rd. Louisville, KY 40206
This nearly 400-acre park located in the Highlands area was one of the original parks designed by Frederick Law Oldstead. The park’s main feature is the 2.4-mile Scenic Loop which offers separate lanes for vehicle traffic and recreational users. Cherokee Park offers a wide variety of amenities and activities including archery, fishing, hiking & biking, a dog run, a golf course, and much more.
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David Armstrong Extreme Park 531 Franklin St. Louisville, KY 40202
Claimed to be one of the nation's best skate parks, David Armstrong Extreme Park is where skateboarders, in-line skaters, and bikers of all ages and skill levels can enjoy recreational time 24 hours a day. Centrally located in downtown Louisville, the skate park includes 40,000 square feet of outdoor skating surface with a 24-ft. full pipe, a wooden vert ramp, bowls & more.
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Greenway Park 400 Market St. Charlestown, IN 47111
The Greenway Park features playground equipment, a walking trail, and basketball goals. During the summer months watch movies in the park, and during the holidays a Christmas light display is featured.
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Iroquois Park 5216 New Cut Rd. Louisville, KY 40214
Frederick Law Olmsted planned Iroquois Park to be a "scenic reservation" of breathtaking views of the 10,000-year-old forest that serves as the park's focal point. The park, located in Southern Louisville, is home to a golf course and the Iroquois Amphitheatre, which accommodates over 2,300 people.
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Long Run Park 1605 Flat Rock Rd. Louisville, KY 40245
Located in east Louisville, just past Middletown, Long Run Park offers a plethora of activities from fishing and golf to horseback riding and picnicking. Kids of all ages can also enjoy the well-kept playground and sprayground that are surrounded by shaded picnic and grilling areas.
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McNeely Lake Park 10500 Cedar Creek Rd. Louisville, KY 40229
With over 760 acres, including a 46-acre fishing lake with a pier and boat ramp, McNeely Lake Park is one of the largest in the Louisville Metro Park system. The park also offers hiking and horseback riding trails, picnic shelters, a Korean War Memorial, and more.
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Seneca Park 3151 Pee Wee Reese Rd. Louisville, KY 40207
Seneca Park was Louisville's last park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. With over 530 acres in in the heart of St. Matthews, Seneca Park includes various athletic fields, a golf course, a popular 1.2-mile walking path and 3.1-mile cross-country trail, and more.
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Shawnee Park 4501 W Broadway Louisville, KY 40211
Shawnee Park is another Frederick Law Olmstead design that is perfect for picnics, sports, parades, and large public gatherings. The park includes a popular golf course, a state-of-the-art outdoor athletic complex and more. Louisville's RiverWalk Trail passes through Shawnee Park and extends across the city's waterfront.
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The Parklands of Floyds Fork www.theparklands.org
The Parklands of Floyds Fork is the city's newest park project that includes four major parks once completed. Beckley Creek Park, Pope Lick Park, Turkey Run Park, and Broad Run Park are all located in eastern and southern Louisville, along Floyds Fork Creek, and linked together by a park drive, urban trail system, and a remarkable water trail.
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Waterfront Park River Road Louisville, KY 40202
Totaling 85 acres along the Ohio River, Waterfront Park is the "front door to Kentucky" and serves as a playground for 1.5 million people.
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STATE PARKS
KENTUCKY STATE PARKS |
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Big Bone Lick State Historic Site 3380 Beaver Road Union, KY 41091 Website
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Lake Cumberland State Resort Park 5465 State Park Road Jamestown, KY 42629 Website
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Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park 10299 Maysville Road Carlisle, KY 40311 Website
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Lincoln Homestead State Park 5079 Lincoln Park Road Springfield, KY 40069 Website
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Carter Caves State Resort Park 344 Caveland Drive Olive Hill, KY 41164 Website
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My Old Kentucky Home 501 E. Stephen Foster Avenue Bardstown, KY 40004 Website
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Cumberland Falls State Resort Park 7351 Hwy. 90 Corbin, KY 40701 Website
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Natural Bridge State Resort Park 2135 Natural Bridge Road Slade, KY 40376 Website
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E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park 3000 Freys Hill Road Louisville, KY 40241 Website
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Nolin Lake State Park 2998 Brier Creek Road Mammoth Cave, KY 42259 Website
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Fort Boonesborough State Park 4375 Boonesboro Road Richmond, KY 40475 Website
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Old Fort Harrod State Park 100 S. College Street Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Website
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General Butler State Resort Park 1608 Hwy. 227 Carrollton, KY 41008 Website
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Rough River Dam State Resort Park 450 Lodge Road Falls Of Rough, KY 40119 Website
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Green River Lake State Park 179 Park Office Road Campbellsville, KY 42718 Website
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Taylorsville Lake State Park 1320 Park Road Mt Eden, KY 40046 Website
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INDIANA STATE PARKS |
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Charlestown State Park 12500 Indiana 6 Charlestown, IN 47111 Website
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Falls of the Ohio State Park 201 W. Riverside Drive Clarksville, IN 47129 Website
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Clark State Forest Henryville, IN 47126 (812) 294-4306 Website
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Hardy Lake 5620 N. Hardy Lake Road Scottsburg, IN 47170 Website
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Clifty Falls 2221 Clifty Drive Madison, IN 47250 Website
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O'Bannon Woods State Park 7234 Old Forest Road SW Corydon, IN 47112 Website
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Deam Lake State Recreation Area 1217 Deam Lake Road Borden, IN 47106 Website
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Spring Mill State Park 3333 State Road 60 E. Mitchell, IN 47446 Website
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NATURE PRESERVES & GARDENS
Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve 3745 Illinois Ave Louisville, KY 40213 Website
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Garvin Brown Preserve 6200 Bass Rd Prospect, KY 40059 Website
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Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest 2499 Clermont Rd Clermont, KY 40110 Website
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Hidden Hill Nursey & Sculpture Garden 1011 Utica Charlestown Rd Jeffersonville, IN 47130 Website
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Blackacre Nature Preserve & Historic Homestead 3200 Tucker Station Rd Louisville, KY 40299 Website
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Louisville Nature Center 3745 Illinois Ave Louisville, KY 40213 Website
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Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve 12501 Harmony Landing Road, Goshen, KY 40026 Website
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Yew Dell Botanical Gardens 6220 Old LaGrange Rd Crestwood, KY 40014 Website
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WINERIES

Best Vineyards 8373 Morgan's Lane SE Elizabeth, IN 47117 www.bestvineyardswinery.com
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Indian Creek Winery 6491 County Line Road Georgetown, IN 47122 www.indiancreekwinery.org
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Smith-Berry Vineyard & Winery 855 Drennon Road Campbellsburg, KY 40011 www.smithberrywinery.com
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Broad Run Vineyards 10601 Broad Run Road Louisville, KY 40299 www.broadrunvineyards.com
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Lanthier Winery 123 Mill Street Madison, IN 47250 www.lanthierwinery.com
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Stumler's Restraurant & Orchard 10924 St Johns Rd Borden, IN 47106
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Brooks Hill Winery 2746 Brooks Hill Road Brooks, KY 40109 www.brookshillwinery.com
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Madison Vineyards 1456 E. 400 North Madison, IN 47250 www.madisonvineyards.com
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Talon Winery 400 Gordon Lane Shelbyville, KY 40065 www.talonwine.com
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Chateau de Pique Winery 6361 N County Rd 760 E Seymour, IN 47274 www.chateaudepique.com
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MillaNova Winery 744 Gentry Lane Mt Washington, KY 40047 www.millanovawinery.com
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Turtle Run Winery 940 St. Peters Church Road Corydon, IN 47112 www.turtlerunwinery.com
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Forest Edge Winery 1910 Clermont Road Shepherdsville, KY 40165 www.forestedgewine.com
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Old 502 Winery 116 S. 10th Street Louisville, KY 40202 www.old502.com
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Wight-Meyer Vineyard & Winery 340 Meyer Drive Shepherdsville, KY 40165 www.wight-meyervineyards.com
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Huber's Orchard & Winery 19816 Huber Road Starlight, IN 47106 www.huberwinery.com
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Scout Mountain Winery 2145 Scout Mountain Rd NW Corydon, IN 47112 www.scoutmountainwinery.com
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