A Complete Guide to the Olmsted Parks
Known for his designs of world famous parks like Central Park in New York City, The Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Olmsted’s work has also extended a hand in some of Louisville, KY. His park system in Louisville creates a unique setting for local neighborhoods as they connect nature with the efficiency of transportation throughout. His signature tree lined parkways instead of stand alone parks are what make these neighborhoods some of the most desirable in the area. The only other completed parkway systems in the country are in Buffalo, Rochester, and Boston.
Prominent Parks
The Olmsted Park system in Louisville consists of 18 parks throughout the city. Many of these parks are situated in some of the most desirable locations for homeowners in the Louisville Area. Here are some features of those parks.
Cherokee Park
Featuring fishing, playgrounds, hiking trails, and much more, the Cherokee Triangle is one of the most sought after neighborhoods in the area to live in. Most of the homes are traditional in style and known for their unique architectural style. Also referred to as The Highlands, you will find an abundance of restaurants, eccentric night life, and one of the area’s most famous cemeteries, Cave Hill, where you can find the resting sites of Colonel Harlan Sanders, George Rogers Clark, Muhammad Ali, and many more. You can read more about the cemetery and its history at this link.
Iroquois Park
Mostly known for the state-of-the-art amphitheater which welcomes a wide range of entertainment, and the North Overlook which offers beautiful views of the Louisville and Indiana Knobs areas, Iroquois park is another prominent park in the city. Similar in features as other parks, walking and biking trails, basketball courts, and playgrounds, Iroquois was created on more of a rugged terrain. The area consists of lots of old-growth woodlands and interesting topography.
Seneca Park
Seneca park was the last of Olmsted’s commissioned works in the Louisville park system. In this park, you will also find the historical Bowman Field, which at one point, was home for the Army Air Force school for surgeons, medical technicians and fight nurses. Seneca park includes a historic neighborhood of Seneca Gardens and has a stark contrast to its neighbor of Cherokee Park. Seneca park welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests a year which places them in the top 100 of municipal parks in the US. Seneca park provides people in the community unique hiking, walking and running trails, basketball courts, playgrounds, and much more.
The remainder of Olmsted’s parks in the area are Algonquin Park, Baxter Square, Bingham Park, Boone Square, Central Park, Chickasaw Park, Elliott Park, Shawnee Park, Shelby Park, Stansbury Park, Tyler Park, Victory Park, Wayside Park, and Willow Park.
