July is National Picnic Month, and The Parklands is the perfect place to celebrate—with plenty of beautiful locations to choose from! You’ll find picnic spots throughout the parks, including outdoor pavilions, shady tree areas with tables, trail-encircled lawns, and more. Most are free and first come, first served. Several pavilions and shelters are available for rental.

Location, location, beautiful locations

With so many great picnic spots at The Parklands, it’s hard to go wrong—but consider factors like weather, group size, and the kind of experience you want.

Shaded multipurpose pavilions

Since July can bring the heat, you may want to opt for an open-air pavilion—especially if you have a larger group or are planning a corporate outing. Since these are popular amenities, the best way to guarantee a space for your picnic is to reserve one through a paid rental.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Pavilion (PwC) in Beckley Creek Park. Located near the Marshall Playground and Sprayground, this pavilion accommodates 100-150 guests and offers close proximity to popular park areas like the Egg Lawn.

Pignic Barn in Turkey Run Park. This venue seats up to 60 people and was once an actual pig barn, making it perfect for hamming it up in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Ogle Foundation Woodland Pavilion in Broad Run Park. This large pavilion has seating for up to 125 people and is surrounded by native Kentucky prairie, paved paths, and a world-class garden landscape.

Covered shelters

If you’re interested in shelters for smaller groups, we have several options to meet your needs—all available on a first-come-first-serve basis. The Redbud Shelter is available when not reserved as a paid rental.

Redbud Shelter

Lake Overlook at Beckley Creek Park. Looking for a serene picnic scene with lake views? This pavilion is located between Green Heron Lake and Snapping Turtle Lake in the northern section of Beckley Creek.

John Floyd Field Picnic Shelter in Pope Lick Park. Located by soccer fields and a playground, this shelter has two long picnic tables and provides a shady respite from active play.

Farmer’s Table in the Brown-Forman Silo Center at Turkey Run Park. Built over the original feeding trough of the dairy farm that once occupied the site, this elongated table seats approximately 40 people.

Redbud Shelter in Broad Run Park. Just steps away from Cliffside Center Playground and Sprayground, this area has six large picnic tables and is buzzing with laughter and delight.
 

Picnic table areas with tree shade

Oak Picnic Grove (Photo by @HikeLouisville)

At some park locations overhead shade is provided courtesy of a large tree or nearby forests. See which of these areas is available when you visit the parks.

Oak Picnic Grove in Beckley Creek Park. An oak grove near the old barns south of the Humana Legacy Commons provides solace from the sun, and its picnic tables offer a quiet spot to share a meal. Fly a kite or play games in the adjacent lawn.

Flats Picnic Grove in Beckley Creek Park. This is another popular spot for picnicking, located by the Flats Trail that leads to Floyds Flats along Floyds Fork. The shade is strongest along the forest trail.

Boone Bottoms in Turkey Run Park. Located at the edge of a parking lot near the Ben Stout House, this single picnic table provides a scenic spot to rest before or after a hike along the Boone Bottoms or Wild Hyacinth Trails.

Uncovered picnic areas with uncommon views

Broad Run Valley Overlook

On days when you welcome the sun and want stunning views all around, the choices are wide open. Here are just a few examples.

Humana Legacy Commons in Beckley Creek Park. Home to the iconic donor fountain in the park, this circular picnic area includes bench seating that’s surrounded by garden plantings in the warmer months.

Pope Lick Trailhead. Sit and watch butterflies fluttering in gardens of blooms and tall grasses. This month, yellow Black-eyed Susans are abundant along the paved pathway leading to the picnic area.

William F. Miles Trailhead in Beckley Creek Park. An ideal spot to relax before ambling out for a walk on the Louisville Loop or over to the William F. Miles Community Garden, this area at the park entrance has multiple picnic tables.

Broad Run Valley Overlook in Broad Run Park. Conservation lands make up swaths of The Parklands, areas barred to public use in order to rewild native habitats. Broad Run Valley is one of those areas. While you can’t venture through the valley, you can spread out a picnic along its limits and marvel at the beauty around you.

Lawn spots for picnicking and playing

Greensward Area

Our park lawns are great areas for laying out a blanket to enjoy some food and activities like flying a kite or simply reading. All are encircled by flat, paved trails.

Egg Lawn in Beckley Creek Park. A favorite area for many, the lawn’s 22 acres offer a wide-open field perfect for recreation and relaxation.

Farmyard Lawn at the Brown-Forman Silo Center in Turkey Run Park. A one-acre greenspace made possible by Texas Roadhouse, this open lawn offers access to trails, a silo lookout, bike park, and more.

The Greensward in Broad Run Park. This 15-acre greenspace is located at the southern end of the Cliffside Center and nods to Frederick Law Olmsted’s original name for Central Park in New York City.

ADA-accessible options

Boulder Pond Picnic Area

The Ogle Foundation Woodland Pavilion in Broad Run Park and PwC Pavilion in Beckley Creek Park are both ADA-accessible event sites. The shaded Redbud Shelter in Broad Run Park is adjacent to an ADA-approved paved trail system that allows for further exploration of the park from the Cliffside playground site.

The Boulder Pond parking area has a picnic table designed to accommodate wheelchairs and offers nice views of Sky Meadows. Several other picnic areas throughout The Parklands have wheelchair-friendly picnic tables, including the Marshall Playground and Sprayground in Beckley Creek Park.

Timing is everything

The early bird gets the watermelon and banana nut muffin? Especially in a warm month like July, morning picnics can help you avoid midday heat and humidity. On a weekday, depending on your chosen spot, this may also mean fewer crowds.

Picnicking in the morning can be a family-friendly option that helps you start the day before naptime or afternoon commitments. You might combine this outing with a trip to a playground and sprayground, or a relaxing morning hike on a nearby trail. Since the grass may be dewy, bring a waterproof blanket if you want to picnic on a lawn!

Planning your picnic is its own adventure

Before you visit the parks, start with a plan. Go the classic route and choose a simple menu with items you can pull together at home. Or, think outside the basket and choose a creative theme that you can design your picnic experience around. Some of our staff members have had picnics centered around fun themes like “Italian Summer” with delectable charcuterie and cheeses, a “salad bar” spread with all kinds of tasty toppings, and a “Strawberry Fields” picnic complete with shortcake and fresh strawberry lemonade!

Another idea is to invite a friend or companion and pair your picnic with a fun activity. Paddle out for a picnic by kayak, bring your sketchbook along for a relaxing picnic and art day, or host a Picnic and Pages Potluck at The Parklands (try saying that three times!) and ask your guests to bring a book to read and a dish to share.

Regardless of the location or any theme you might choose, the most important ingredient for any picnic is plenty of water! You might also avoid overly heavy foods on a particularly warm day or if you’ll be getting active. For tips on making the most of your visit on sunny summer days—including how to beat the heat and stay sun-smart—check out our recent “Fun in the Sun” blog.

Leave no picnic morsels or other trace

We hope you have a wonderful picnic experience at The Parklands! To help us keep the parks clean and beautiful, please remember to pick up after yourself and dispose of waste in the proper receptacles. Please note that the use of confetti, glitter, chalk, and/or other ephemera is prohibited as it can damage equipment, the landscape, and endanger wildlife.

For more on pavilions for picnics, birthday parties, or other occasions, visit the “Venues” page on our website: theparklands.org/venues.

Learn more about picnic locations on our “Find an Activity” page: theparklands.org/find-an-activity/picnicking.

Note about summer location availability: In Broad Run and Turkey Run Parks, the Louisville Loop and other trails will be temporarily closed for trail and bridge maintenance. The picnic area in Limestone Gorge will also be closed. As you plan your outing, be sure to check our Alerts page for the latest updates: theparklands.org/alerts.