In the 1990s, the landscape of downtown Louisville's riverfront began to undergo a drastic reshaping. The first phase of Waterfront Park's construction began, beginning a project that would eventually provide a place for Louisville residents to find a wide variety of entertainment opportunities.
Waterfront Park offers a wide variety of activities on a daily basis to Louisville visitors and residents. Known as "the front door to Kentucky, a playground for people of all ages, and a gathering place for folks from all over the community," it offers a wide variety of experiences, including "a grand view of the [Ohio] river, space for concerts and festivals, quiet places to read a book, picnic spaces for your family and friends." All in all, it is 85 acres of natural landscape bordering the beautiful Louisville skyline on one side and the rolling Ohio River on the other.
Each completion of a new phase of construction in Waterfront Park has opened the door to even more entertainment possibilities:
Phase One:
*Broad open spaces for large events
*Small secluded spaces for smaller gatherings
*Great Lawn
This phase of Waterfront Park is host to Thunder Over Louisville each April and draws up to 350,000 people.
Phase Two:
*Medium & small spaces for picnics, weddings, parties, events
*Adventure Playground
This phase of Waterfront Park helps visitors forget they're in the heart of a large city and provides a more natural setting, drawing more consistent and regular visitors. This is the busiest area of the park.
Phase Three-Under Construction:
*Promenade along river
*Swing Garden
*Walking paths
*Picnic areas
*Parking & restrooms
*Big 4 Pedestrian & Bicycle Bridge-connection between Louisville and Southern Indiana
The final phase of Waterfront Park connects the first two and finishes out this wonderful project in urban park development.
The Waterfront's Master Plan states, "In broad philosophic strokes, the Master Plan seeks to pull into the 21st century the cultural waterfront heritage of the 18th and 19th centuries, to interpret and restore the ecology of the river as it was before western civilization, and to extend downtown Louisville to the river--and conversely, magnify the presence of the river and extend the river into downtown. In so doing the Waterfront can be come a vessel for public activities, with the natural systems of the Ohio River Valley generating its structure and power. Finally, it is the spirit of the people who will fill this space that adds the most necessary dynamic, that of the natural exuberance of human life."
Upcoming events at Waterfront Park include the 2010 Louisville Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Kentucky in February, a VW/Audi Car Show in March, Rhythm on the River in April, and regularly scheduled events beginning May through late fall. Louisville visitors and residents don't want to miss out on this great entertainment opportunity.
For more information on why Louisville is a great place to call home, please contact The Vince Carter Team.
The Vince Carter Team
502-554-9514
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