Local Spotlight: The Parklands of Floyds Fork

In today’s blog, we will highlight a local treasure that you may or may not know about or have visited yet. If you like outdoor activities, then you must visit The Parklands of Floyds Fork. What is it? Where is it? What all can you do? Does it cost money to get in? What are the hours? Let’s dive in and answer all of those questions as we talk about one of the most beautiful parks in the Louisville area.

What is it?

The Parklands is a public park system, made up of four parks, that covers nearly 4,000 acres of land. It is donor-supported and the parks are connected by 19 miles of the Louisville loop.

Where is it?

The parks are located east of the Gene Snyder Freeway, between Shelbyville Road and Bardstown Road. Those roads cover a lot of ground. Essentially, it’s the Middletown area of Shelbyville Road and the Fern Creek area of Bardstown Road. It follows Floyds Fork, a tributary of the Ohio River.

What can you do?

Where to begin. I won’t go into full detail on every single activity that you can do at The Parklands. You would be here all day reading about it. But here is a quick list of what you can do at the parks:

-Walking, running, and hiking.

-Fishing year-round.

-Sports fields with room for soccer, football, frisbee, and more.

-Bark park for the dog in your life.

-Canoeing and paddling.

-Playgrounds and spraygrounds.

-Host an event. There are spaces for weddings, birthday parties, picnics, business meetings, and more. There is even outdoor space for fairs and festivals.

-Mountain biking and cycling. You have options of a smooth road or rugged trail.

-Community gardens where you can reserve your own plot.

-Camps for kids.

-Field trips.

-Other activities such as scout programs, Parklands explorer hikes, Junior Explorer, and Wednesday Wonders.

Does it cost money to access the parks?

No. The parks are free and there are several events that are free. Occasionally they will host events that do require a small fee.

When are the parks open?

The “hours” of The Parklands are from dawn till dusk. Sometimes, there can be particular hours at different sites and based on what events are going on.

Conclusion

If you have not been out to The Parklands, I encourage you to do so. There is something to do for all ages, and it really is a beautiful part of Louisville that not everyone has gotten the chance to visit. If you would like to contact The Parklands for any questions or to set up your own party to host, you can call 502-584-0350.

Have a great day!