Louisville Waterfront Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Louisville Waterfront Park |
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The Louisville Waterfront Park exhibits rolling hills, spacious lawns and walking paths on Louisville's waterfront in the downtown area.
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| Type | Municipal park |
| Location | Downtown Louisville, Kentucky |
| Area | 85 acres (340,000 m2) |
| Created | 1999 |
| Operated by | Waterfront Development Corporation |
| Status | Open, expansion planned |
Louisville Waterfront Park is a large 85-acre park located right next to downtown Louisville, Kentucky and the Ohio River. It's a wonderful place for families and friends to enjoy the outdoors. The park is close to Louisville's wharf and the Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere, making it a central spot for fun activities.
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How the Park Grew Over Time
The Louisville Waterfront Park didn't appear all at once. It was built in different stages, growing bigger and better over the years!
Starting the Park: Phase One
The first part of Waterfront Park, about 55 acres, officially opened on July 4, 1999. Talented architects from Louisville helped design this amazing space. Much of the park, like the big open "Great Lawn," was ready for visitors by late 1998. Building this first part cost about $58 million, using money from both public and private sources. Before it became a park, this area was used for industrial things like scrap yards.
When it first opened, the park quickly became popular. It hosted hundreds of events, including outdoor concerts and festivals, attracting over a million people!
Adding More Fun: Phase Two
Phase Two of the park opened on June 10, 2004, adding about 17 more acres. This new section brought exciting features like the Adventure Playground, which opened in July 2003. There's also a walkway along the river and a cafe area. The park also gained the Brown-Forman amphitheater, which is a great spot for performances. Docks for boats and an area for rowing teams were also added. The University of Louisville Women's Rowing Team and other community groups use this rowing facility.
Connecting Cities: The Big Four Bridge
Construction on part of Phase Three began in 2005. This phase added 13 acres and included a very special project: turning the old Big Four Railroad bridge into a walking and biking path! This bridge connects the park in Louisville to Jeffersonville, Indiana. More lawns, tree areas, walking paths, and picnic spots were also added.
In February 2011, leaders from Kentucky and Indiana announced they would provide $22 million to finish the Big Four Bridge project. This money helped create a pedestrian and bicycle path linking Louisville and Jeffersonville. The bridge is now open for people to walk and bike across, offering amazing views of the river and both cities. The Jeffersonville side of the bridge, known as the Walking Bridge, opened in November 2013.
In July 2012, Jeffersonville officials planned a new plaza, called "Big Four Station," near their end of the bridge. This plaza, finished by early 2014, includes a covered playground, a fountain, a stage, and green space. The entire bridge project was completed in May 2014.
In 2013, the park won a special award called the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence. This national award recognizes places that are well-designed and help communities.
A Funny Sign Story
In 2006, the park's director wanted to stop people from swimming in a large public fountain. So, he put up signs that said: "DANGER! – WATER CONTAINS HIGH LEVELS OF HYDROGEN – KEEP OUT." This was a bit of a trick! Water molecules (H2O) naturally contain two atoms of hydrogen, so the signs were technically true but made it sound dangerous when it wasn't. It's a funny example of a water-related hoax.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Louisville Waterfront Park is full of exciting features and activities for everyone.
Staying Connected: Free Wi-Fi
Since 2005, Waterfront Park has offered free wireless Internet access. It was once the largest public park in the country to offer this!
Exciting Events and Activities
The park is a popular spot for many events. Each year, it gets very crowded during Thunder over Louisville, a huge fireworks show over the Ohio River. The park is the perfect place to watch!
The western part of the park has cool linear fountains. Even though they aren't officially for swimming, kids often enjoy playing in them on hot days. Further east, you'll find two big lawns, perfect for picnics or playing games. There are also small docks for boats. The Children's Play Area and the Adventure Playground are fantastic spots for younger visitors.
The park is used a lot every day, with over 1.5 million visitors each year. It's a favorite place for free and paid concerts and festivals, especially in the summer months.
Waterfront Park also connects to the Riverwalk through the Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere. There are plans for it to become part of a long trail that goes all around the city of Louisville.
Images for kids
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The Clark Memorial Bridge viewed from Waterfront Park
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Waterfront Park
