LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One of the biggest park systems in the Louisville-area is adding even more space to explore.
The Parklands of Floyds Fork in southeastern Louisville plans to add a 508-acre stretch of land that sits next to Broad Run Park, one of The Parklands' four parks, located at Bardstown Road south of I-265.
The Parklands will also add 156 acres in two additional properties, for a total of 664 acres of new public parkland.
This addition to Broad Run Park is the largest single land purchase in the history of The Parklands, according to a news release from The Parklands of Floyds Fork.
"When we set out to create a connected system of parks two decades ago, our purpose was driven by Frederick Law Olmsted‘s approach to ensure growing communities set aside space and are intentional about providing opportunities to connect to nature through the creation of public parks, accessible to all,” Dan Jones, founder and chairman of The Parklands, said. “These new acquisitions allow us to further extend that vision and continue to better serve the people of our region.”
After this massive expansion, The Parklands -- which includes Beckley Creek Park, Pope Lick Park, Turkey Run Park, Broad Run Park, the Louisville Loop walking and biking path and the linear greenspace called The Strand -- will now stretch over 4,000 total acres.
The newly added property will remain closed to the public during planning and construction phases. According to the release, the property features elevation changes over a rolling terrain and a mix of wooded space, grasslands and wildflowers.
“Because of the hills and valleys that make up this land, this portion of The Parklands will likely be used for hiking trails, and as a large natural preserve – helping Parklands visitors find moments of quiet and escape,” Jones said. The proposed name of this section will be The Parklands Preserve at Broad Run Park, reflecting the quiet and remote location.
There is also an endangered wildflower species present in the new land. Jones said, "The Parklands has been focused on protecting and preserving this rare wildflower for some time, and we’re excited to continue that management process into the future.”
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