Park and Recreation Month – A Lifetime of Discovery
Each visitor has unique interests and goals when they visit The Parklands. Some visit to burn calories with a run or a bike ride. Some are attending events to celebrate and engage with their community. There are children attending field trips and summer camps to learn more about the Kentucky landscape and ecosystem, while others are looking to escape and explore on their own with a leisurely hike.
No matter the purpose of your visit, we hope that it entices you to return and explore all that The Parklands has to offer. After all, that’s exactly what this year’s National Park and Recreation Month is all about!
Since 1985, America has celebrated July as Park and Recreation Month. A program of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), the goal is to raise awareness of the vital impact that parks, recreation and conservation have on communities across the U.S. This July, The Parklands and the National Recreation and Park Association are celebrating A Lifetime of Discovery. Throughout July, we encourage our visitors to get out and explore the “undiscovered” roles of local parks and recreation.
Many are familiar with our spraygrounds and the Louisville Loop, but what about our natural trails and STEAM-based education programming? Did you know, in addition to nurturing our gardens and natural areas, our Horticulture Team also works to maintain features such as bioswales, which help filter storm water as it makes its way back to Floyds Fork? These features, which can be easily overlooked by visitors, offer not only an abundance of native wildflower and grass species to beautify the Creekside area during warmer months, but also a water filtration system year-round.
Bioswale in Creekside Center, Beckley Creek Park.
The Parklands expansive trail system has a little bit of something for everyone. Maintained by skilled trail workers, our four parks offer more than 47 miles of trail for hiking and biking—ranging from paved, to natural surface; from easy, beginner-level routes, to more advanced, challenging terrain. Add to this 22 miles of water trail along Floyds Fork to help you mix up your adventure! Check out our Maps page to plan your next trail excursion.
The Parklands has become a popular location for hosting weddings, parties and meetings, which keeps our Facilities Team on the move. They are also responsible for managing partnerships with folks such as Blue Moon Canoe & Kayak—the exclusive paddling and bike rental vendor for The Parklands—and most recently have begun working with a variety of community groups to offer free programming and events for the entire community like Shakespeare in the Park and Friday at Floyd’s.
Families enjoy lunch from The Blue Crab during Shakespeare in The Park, Broad Run Park.
The Parklands knowledgeable Education Team hosts a variety of educational programming for visitors of all ages to learn through field trips, science camps and programs such as Wednesday Wonders and Junior Explorer. Our newest program, Parklands Explorer, encourages exploration while practicing wellness for body and mind. This program, presented by Trilogy Health Services and The Bufford Family Foundation, is open to ALL ages and free of charge, encouraging visitors to become life-long learners.
We often refer to our Education Team as knowledgeable, but each member of The Parklands staff can offer a wealth of information to new and returning visitors. Our Maintenance and Ranger Teams are best known for keeping the parks clean and safe, but they are also a great resource to those trying to find their way, or to those looking for more information about specific activities in The Parklands.
Parklands Explorer participants head out for a hike after Yoga, Turkey Run Park.
There are so many things to see and do at The Parklands. We hope that you’ll take time to visit this summer to discover what you love about our parks!
Already a fan? Tell us what you love about The Parklands HERE or share on social media using #TheParklands and #DiscoverJuly.
About the Author
Anna Rosales-Crone
As Manager of Marketing and Communications, Anna Rosales-Crone manages internal and external communications strategies for The Parklands, as well as marketing to promote facility rentals, educational programming, fundraising and overall park awareness. Anna was hired as Communications Coordinator in May of 2015 to help build awareness of the newly constructed park by managing The Parklands brand, website and social media. Prior to joining The Parklands team, she worked in communications at the American Red Cross for five years where she grew the Louisville Area Chapter’s digital and social media presence while supporting public relations, marketing and special events. She also provided public affairs support and guidance during major disaster operations. Anna is a graduate of the University of Evansville where she met her husband and the second love of her life—traveling. She also enjoys hiking, reading, baking, dancing, going to concerts and hanging out with her two cats. Contact me about: media relations, photo requests and website.