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The Louisville Loop is a bike and pedestrian trail which will circle the city of Louisville, Kentucky when completed. It is part of a project known as City of Parks, which will also add thousands of acres of parkland in the city, using the trail to connect many of the city's existing parks and future parks. The trail is projected to be 110 miles (180 km) long when completed, 30 miles (48 km) have already been completed along the city's western waterfront.
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History
The city's first bike path effort, Beargrass Bikeway, which connects Cherokee Park to the Belvedere, was opened in 1980 but received little use.[1] The section connecting the Belvedere to Shawnee Park was first proposed in 1988.[2]
Existing sections of Louisville Loop
The first section of the Louisville Loop was the Riverwalk, a 6.9-mile (11.1 km) bike and jogging trail running along the city's Ohio River waterfront from the Belvedere to Chickasaw Park. It passes through Lannan Park in Portland and Shawnee Park along the way. A portion of the trail runs along city streets Portland, with about 0.4 miles (0.64 km) of the total route existing on city sidewalks. The trail passes through the former Portland Wharf area which was razed for I-64 development, and the old street grid is still visible.
Along the way, there are mileage markers on the surface of the trail every tenth of a mile, as well as markers giving information on 19th century river culture, such as units of measurement, river jobs, and types of riverboats.
The second oldest section of the Louisville Loop is the Levee Trail, which runs from Riverview Park to the Farnsley-Moremen House to Lees Lane. It was completed in 1998 and also has mile markers.
In 2007, the 10-mile (16 km) Mill Creek trail was completed, connecting the Levee Trail and The Riverwalk. A small stretch of the Mill Creek Trail had been completed in 2002 by L G & E, whose property much of the trail is located on, which ran from Greenwood rd to Mill Creek. The extension added by the City = included a $2 million bridge over Mill Creek.
The Louisville Loop currently extends a total of 30 miles (48 km) from the Farnsley-Moremen House to Downtown.
Future sections of Louisville Loop
First sections of the Louisville Loop are slated for completion by 2013. They will connect the Jefferson Memorial Forest, McNeely Park, Floyds Fork watershed, EP Sawyer State Park, and River Road corridor.
The total trail length for a completed Louisville Loop is estimated at 110 miles (180 km) one way.
Gallery
 The RiverWalk near the vertical liftgate bridge |
 Rail crossing for the trail in Rubbertown |
 Section of the trail in West Louisville |
 The RiverWalk going under the I-64 Causeway |
 Junction of the trails leading to Mill Creek bridge and landing |
 RiverWalk at the Old Portland Wharf |
 A Civil War era house off the RiverWalk |
 Louisville skyline viewed from the RiverWalk |
References
- ^ Shafer, Sheldon (1989-12-27). "Plans being made to build 5 1/2-mile riverside walkway". The Courier-Journal. pp. 1B.
- ^ Garr, Robin (1988-11-21). "Hearty few scout proposed trail". The Courier-Journal. pp. 1B.
See also
- List of attractions and events in Louisville, Kentucky
- List of parks in Louisville, Kentucky
- Louisville Museum Plaza
- Louisville waterfront arena
- Ohio River Bridges Project
External links
- City of Parks page at LouisvilleKY.gov (includes a map)
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