Press Release
The Parklands

Parklands Madness Virtual Tournament Begins March 26

While this year’s NCAA basketball tournament was cancelled, there is still plenty of madness in March! That same drama and action plays out every day between the plants and animals of The Parklands as they survive and thrive in nearly 4,000 acres of forest, prairie, and stream. Hawks versus mice, coyotes versus fox—the match ups are endless!

To help fill in for the usual March mayhem, The Parklands of Floyds Fork is introducing Parklands Madness—64 of your favorite native Kentucky species compete in a visitor-driven tournament that will crown one eventual Parklands Champion! People of all ages are invited to complete a bracket and help determine the winner of each match up by voting in six rounds of online polls. Parklands Interpretive Rangers have compiled “Player Bios” to guide participants as they make their selections.

“We know Parklands Madness can’t replace the real March Madness, but our hope is that the simple act of filling out a bracket can bring a small sense of normalcy to our turbulent lives,” said Curtis Carman, Director of Education at The Parklands. “We hope parents, families, and our entire community use Parklands Madness as a fun distraction at a time when we need it most.”

A new round of visitor voting will take place each week on Facebook beginning this Thursday, March 26, 2020. Recaps of each round will be posted to Facebook and The Parklands website until a winner is crowned on Saturday, May 2, 2020. For full details and to download your bracket, visit www.theparklands.org/madness. Follow The Parklands of Floyds Fork on Facebook to vote in the weekly polls. Submit a completed bracket to Curtis Carman at ccarman@21cparks.org for a chance to win a free week of Parklands Summer Camp. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 to be eligible.

This tournament is part of The Parklands education team’s virtual Outdoor Classroom to keep people of all ages engaged with the outdoors during the ongoing pandemic. They are making frequent posts on The Parklands blog and social media pages. For the latest updates and educational resources, please visit www.theparklands.org. For more information, contact Anna Rosales-Crone at 502-815-0267 or acrone@21cparks.org.

About The Parklands of Floyds Fork

The Parklands of Floyds Fork is a nearly 4,000-acre visitor-supported public park system in Louisville, Kentucky, stretching from Shelbyville Road to Bardstown Road. Four major parks—Beckley Creek, Pope Lick, Turkey Run and Broad Run parks—are linked by a world-class urban trail system and a remarkable water trail tracing Floyds Fork, a classic Kentucky stream. The Parklands offers something for everyone, whether you are looking for a quiet place to discover nature, a dynamic learning experience through the Outdoor Classroom, a cruise on a scenic park drive, or a stream to paddle. The Parklands does not receive tax dollars for annual upkeep or operations. Ongoing maintenance and operations are funded solely through private donations and an endowment fund. Community members may contribute to the annual fund by becoming a Parklands Member. Learn more and donate at www.theparklands.org/member.

Parklands Madness Bracket