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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
3380 Beaver Road
Union, KY 41091
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Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
5465 State Park Road
Jamestown, KY 42629
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Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park
10299 Maysville Road
Carlisle, KY 40311
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Lincoln Homestead State Park
5079 Lincoln Park Road
Springfield, KY 40069
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Carter Caves State Resort Park
344 Caveland Drive
Olive Hill, KY 41164
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My Old Kentucky Home
501 E. Stephen Foster Avenue
Bardstown, KY 40004
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Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
7351 Hwy. 90
Corbin, KY 40701
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Natural Bridge State Resort Park
2135 Natural Bridge Road
Slade, KY 40376
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E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park
3000 Freys Hill Road
Louisville, KY 40241
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Nolin Lake State Park
2998 Brier Creek Road
Mammoth Cave, KY 42259
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Fort Boonesborough State Park
4375 Boonesboro Road
Richmond, KY 40475
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Old Fort Harrod State Park
100 S. College Street
Harrodsburg, KY 40330
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General Butler State Resort Park
1608 Hwy. 227
Carrollton, KY 41008
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Rough River Dam State Resort Park
450 Lodge Road
Falls Of Rough, KY 40119
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Green River Lake State Park
179 Park Office Road
Campbellsville, KY 42718
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Taylorsville Lake State Park
1320 Park Road
Mt Eden, KY 40046
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Charlestown State Park
12500 Indiana 6
Charlestown, IN 47111
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Falls of the Ohio State Park
201 W. Riverside Drive
Clarksville, IN 47129
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Clark State Forest
Henryville, IN 47126
(812) 294-4306
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Hardy Lake
5620 N. Hardy Lake Road
Scottsburg, IN 47170
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Clifty Falls
2221 Clifty Drive
Madison, IN 47250
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O'Bannon Woods State Park
7234 Old Forest Road SW
Corydon, IN 47112
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Deam Lake State Recreation Area
1217 Deam Lake Road
Borden, IN 47106
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Spring Mill State Park
3333 State Road 60 E.
Mitchell, IN 47446
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Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve
3745 Illinois Ave
Louisville, KY 40213
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Garvin Brown Preserve
6200 Bass Rd
Prospect, KY 40059
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Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
2499 Clermont Rd
Clermont, KY 40110
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Hidden Hill Nursey & Sculpture Garden
1011 Utica Charlestown Rd
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
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Blackacre Nature Preserve & Historic Homestead
3200 Tucker Station Rd
Louisville, KY 40299
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Louisville Nature Center
3745 Illinois Ave
Louisville, KY 40213
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Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve
12501 Harmony Landing Road,
Goshen, KY 40026
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Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
6220 Old LaGrange Rd
Crestwood, KY 40014
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