Kentucky Parks Project Begins

Construction is underway on a $113 million, 4,000-acre park system in Kentucky designed to create a massive swath of recreational and natural greenspace along the Floyds Fork watershed. The Parklands of Floyds Fork

Major construction recently began on one of the nation's largest and most ambitious metropolitan park-development projects with The Parklands of Floyds Fork, a nearly 4,000-acre new parks system being developed in Kentucky by 21st Century Parks.

The $113 million project will create a massive swath of recreational and natural greenspace along the Floyds Fork watershed in eastern and southeastern Louisville. Four community parks will anchor it, each named for tributaries of Floyds Fork: Beckley Creek Park, Pope Lick Park, Turkey Run Park and Broad Run Park.

The project will be funded by more than $60 million in private donations along with $49.5 million in public funding, including $38 million in federal transportation funds secured by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

''Louisville has long been a first-class city when it comes to parks, and the 21st Century Parks Project will give our city an innovative system of parks unmatched anywhere in the county,'' McConnell said. ''Upon completion of the project, Kentuckians will be able to enjoy access to quality parks and open spaces throughout Louisville.''

The Parklands will be constructed in phases over the next several years. The first phase includes the 616-acre Beckley Creek Park. It includes land 21st Century Parks acquired for The Parklands, and incorporates the existing acreage of the current William F. Miles Park on Shelbyville Road.

''The vision Frederick Law Olmsted had a century ago of a city built around its parks is coming alive again,'' said Dan Jones, 21st Century Parks' chief executive officer.