Chickasaw Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chickasaw Park |
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Chickasaw Park's fishing pond
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| Type | Municipal park |
| Location | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Area | 61 acres (25 ha) |
| Created | 1923 |
| Operated by | Metro Parks |
Chickasaw Park is a wonderful municipal park located in the west end of Louisville, Kentucky. It sits right next to the beautiful Ohio River on its western side. To the east, you'll find Southwestern Parkway.
This park has a rich history! It used to be a large country estate owned by a person named John Henry Whallen. Work to turn it into a park began in 1923, but it wasn't fully finished until the 1930s. The famous Frederick Law Olmsted firm, known for designing many amazing parks, created the original plan for Chickasaw Park. It's part of the larger Olmsted Park System in Louisville, which includes other well-known parks like Shawnee Park, Iroquois Park, and Cherokee Park.
A Park for Everyone
Chickasaw Park has an important story about fairness and equality. In 1924, a rule was made that said Chickasaw Park and a few other smaller parks were only for black people. The larger parks in the city were only for white people. This meant that people couldn't visit all parks, which wasn't fair.
After a big decision by the Supreme Court called Brown v. Board of Education, a group called the NAACP helped three people from Louisville. They sued the city because the parks were not equal. Because of their efforts, the park became open to everyone in 1955. This was a big step towards making sure all people could enjoy the same public spaces.
What Can You Do at Chickasaw Park?
Chickasaw Park offers many fun things to do! It has the only free clay tennis courts in the city. Clay courts are special because they are made of crushed brick or shale.
You can also find a basketball court for playing hoops. There's a peaceful pond, perfect for fishing or just relaxing by the water. On hot days, kids love the sprayground, which is like a fun water playground. There are also two regular playgrounds with swings and slides.
If you want to have a picnic or a gathering, the park has a lodge and two picnic pavilions.
Chickasaw Little League
In 1969, a scientist and artist named Elmer Lucille Allen lived in the Chickasaw neighborhood. She noticed that children living south of Broadway couldn't join the Shawnee Little League. So, she decided to organize the Chickasaw Little League. This league was special because it welcomed all children, no matter their background. It was a great way for her sons and other kids in the area to play baseball together. The league was active for about three to four years.
