Louisville Waterfront Park
Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter, and with plentiful fish and mussels, the falls area of the Ohio River supported a succession of Native American cultures for some 12,000 years prior to European colonization.The French explored the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century and established settlements in present-day Illinois and Indiana, but lost the area to the British by the treaty in 1763 that ended the French and Indian War.The Birth of a CityDuring the American Revolution, Virginian George Rogers Clark conceived a scheme to strengthen Virginia's claim to the territory northwest of the Ohio River by seizing British outposts in the Illinois country. In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.
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"Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Louisville Waterfront Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>129 East River Road</div> <div> <span>Louisville</span>, <span>KY</span> <span>40201</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.louisvillewaterfront.com/" target="_blank">Louisville Waterfront Park</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Louisville+Waterfront+Park%2C+129+East+River+Road%2C+Louisville%2C+KY+40201" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter, and with plentiful fish and mussels, the falls area of the Ohio River supported a succession of Native American cultures for some 12,000 years prior to European colonization.The French explored the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century and established settlements in present-day Illinois and Indiana, but lost the area to the British by the treaty in 1763 that ended the French and Indian War.The Birth of a CityDuring the American Revolution, Virginian George Rogers Clark conceived a scheme to strengthen Virginia's claim to the territory northwest of the Ohio River by seizing British outposts in the Illinois country. In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/louisville-ky/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/louisville-ky/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/louisville-ky/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Louisville Waterfront Park - Louisville, KY</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Louisville Waterfront Park - Louisville, KY"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter," name="description"/> <meta content="Louisville, Waterfront, Park, KY" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Louisville Waterfront Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Louisville Waterfront Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="38.259899"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.744499"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Louisville Waterfront Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>129 East River Road</div> <div> <span>Louisville</span>, <span>KY</span> <span>40201</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.louisvillewaterfront.com/" target="_blank">Louisville Waterfront Park</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Louisville+Waterfront+Park%2C+129+East+River+Road%2C+Louisville%2C+KY+40201" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter, and with plentiful fish and mussels, the falls area of the Ohio River supported a succession of Native American cultures for some 12,000 years prior to European colonization.The French explored the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century and established settlements in present-day Illinois and Indiana, but lost the area to the British by the treaty in 1763 that ended the French and Indian War.The Birth of a CityDuring the American Revolution, Virginian George Rogers Clark conceived a scheme to strengthen Virginia's claim to the territory northwest of the Ohio River by seizing British outposts in the Illinois country. In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/louisville-ky/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/louisville-ky/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?><?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBDinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Louisville Waterfront Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>129 East River Road</div> <div> <span>Louisville</span>, <span>KY</span> <span>40201</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.louisvillewaterfront.com/" target="_blank">Louisville Waterfront Park</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Louisville+Waterfront+Park%2C+129+East+River+Road%2C+Louisville%2C+KY+40201" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter, and with plentiful fish and mussels, the falls area of the Ohio River supported a succession of Native American cultures for some 12,000 years prior to European colonization.The French explored the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century and established settlements in present-day Illinois and Indiana, but lost the area to the British by the treaty in 1763 that ended the French and Indian War.The Birth of a CityDuring the American Revolution, Virginian George Rogers Clark conceived a scheme to strengthen Virginia's claim to the territory northwest of the Ohio River by seizing British outposts in the Illinois country. In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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/> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p 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Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBDinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Louisville Waterfront Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>129 East River Road</div> <div> <span>Louisville</span>, <span>KY</span> <span>40201</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.louisvillewaterfront.com/" target="_blank">Louisville Waterfront Park</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Louisville+Waterfront+Park%2C+129+East+River+Road%2C+Louisville%2C+KY+40201" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter, and with plentiful fish and mussels, the falls area of the Ohio River supported a succession of Native American cultures for some 12,000 years prior to European colonization.The French explored the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century and established settlements in present-day Illinois and Indiana, but lost the area to the British by the treaty in 1763 that ended the French and Indian War.The Birth of a CityDuring the American Revolution, Virginian George Rogers Clark conceived a scheme to strengthen Virginia's claim to the territory northwest of the Ohio River by seizing British outposts in the Illinois country. In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/louisville-ky/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/louisville-ky/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-holiday-harmony-qigong-and-nonviolent-communication-with-nate-12282024-5gnv7r5fl8f.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HARMONY-QIGONG-AND-NONVIOLENT-COMMUNICATION">Holiday Harmony: Qigong and Nonviolent Communication</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Dec 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/louisville-ky/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Louisville Waterfront Park - Louisville, KY</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Louisville Waterfront Park - Louisville, KY"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter," name="description"/> <meta content="Louisville, Waterfront, Park, KY" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Louisville Waterfront Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Louisville Waterfront Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="38.259899"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.744499"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Louisville Waterfront Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>129 East River Road</div> <div> <span>Louisville</span>, <span>KY</span> <span>40201</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.louisvillewaterfront.com/" target="_blank">Louisville Waterfront Park</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Louisville+Waterfront+Park%2C+129+East+River+Road%2C+Louisville%2C+KY+40201" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter, and with plentiful fish and mussels, the falls area of the Ohio River supported a succession of Native American cultures for some 12,000 years prior to European colonization.The French explored the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century and established settlements in present-day Illinois and Indiana, but lost the area to the British by the treaty in 1763 that ended the French and Indian War.The Birth of a CityDuring the American Revolution, Virginian George Rogers Clark conceived a scheme to strengthen Virginia's claim to the territory northwest of the Ohio River by seizing British outposts in the Illinois country. In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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/> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBDinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Louisville Waterfront Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>129 East River Road</div> <div> <span>Louisville</span>, <span>KY</span> <span>40201</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.louisvillewaterfront.com/" target="_blank">Louisville Waterfront Park</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Louisville+Waterfront+Park%2C+129+East+River+Road%2C+Louisville%2C+KY+40201" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter, and with plentiful fish and mussels, the falls area of the Ohio River supported a succession of Native American cultures for some 12,000 years prior to European colonization.The French explored the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century and established settlements in present-day Illinois and Indiana, but lost the area to the British by the treaty in 1763 that ended the French and Indian War.The Birth of a CityDuring the American Revolution, Virginian George Rogers Clark conceived a scheme to strengthen Virginia's claim to the territory northwest of the Ohio River by seizing British outposts in the Illinois country. In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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/> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p 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Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]Code Contextinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html");$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Louisville Waterfront Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>129 East River Road</div> <div> <span>Louisville</span>, <span>KY</span> <span>40201</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.louisvillewaterfront.com/" target="_blank">Louisville Waterfront Park</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Louisville+Waterfront+Park%2C+129+East+River+Road%2C+Louisville%2C+KY+40201" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter, and with plentiful fish and mussels, the falls area of the Ohio River supported a succession of Native American cultures for some 12,000 years prior to European colonization.The French explored the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century and established settlements in present-day Illinois and Indiana, but lost the area to the British by the treaty in 1763 that ended the French and Indian War.The Birth of a CityDuring the American Revolution, Virginian George Rogers Clark conceived a scheme to strengthen Virginia's claim to the territory northwest of the Ohio River by seizing British outposts in the Illinois country. In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Louisville Waterfront Park - Louisville, KY</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Louisville Waterfront Park - Louisville, KY"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter," name="description"/> <meta content="Louisville, Waterfront, Park, KY" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Louisville Waterfront Park"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter,"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Louisville Waterfront Park"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter,"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="38.259899"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-85.744499"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Louisville Waterfront Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>129 East River Road</div> <div> <span>Louisville</span>, <span>KY</span> <span>40201</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.louisvillewaterfront.com/" target="_blank">Louisville Waterfront Park</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Louisville+Waterfront+Park%2C+129+East+River+Road%2C+Louisville%2C+KY+40201" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter, and with plentiful fish and mussels, the falls area of the Ohio River supported a succession of Native American cultures for some 12,000 years prior to European colonization.The French explored the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century and established settlements in present-day Illinois and Indiana, but lost the area to the British by the treaty in 1763 that ended the French and Indian War.The Birth of a CityDuring the American Revolution, Virginian George Rogers Clark conceived a scheme to strengthen Virginia's claim to the territory northwest of the Ohio River by seizing British outposts in the Illinois country. In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]Code Contextinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html");$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Louisville Waterfront Park</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>129 East River Road</div> <div> <span>Louisville</span>, <span>KY</span> <span>40201</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.louisvillewaterfront.com/" target="_blank">Louisville Waterfront Park</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Louisville+Waterfront+Park%2C+129+East+River+Road%2C+Louisville%2C+KY+40201" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Ancient HistoryAs a natural river crossing point for migrating buffalo seeking the salt-licks and nutritious cane of the Kentucky region during the winter, and with plentiful fish and mussels, the falls area of the Ohio River supported a succession of Native American cultures for some 12,000 years prior to European colonization.The French explored the Ohio Valley in the late 17th century and established settlements in present-day Illinois and Indiana, but lost the area to the British by the treaty in 1763 that ended the French and Indian War.The Birth of a CityDuring the American Revolution, Virginian George Rogers Clark conceived a scheme to strengthen Virginia's claim to the territory northwest of the Ohio River by seizing British outposts in the Illinois country. In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Clark stopped at the falls landing on now vanished Corn Island to train his 175 Virginia militiamen. When he left for the Illinois country, he left behind some sixty civilians who had accompanied him. This small band became the beginnings of Louisville.The Falls of the Ohio are a series of rapids composed of layers of limestone, which were exposed by the melting water of glacial retreat over some 20,000 years. This resulted in a series of rapids with a river bed drop of over 26 feet. The Falls are the only natural obstruction in the nearly 1,000 mile length of the Ohio River.This natural obstruction became a stopping place for the riverboats above and below the Falls. As river travel technology changed from keelboats and to steamboats in the early 1800s, Louisville's existence as a town tied to river traffic portage and commerce was permanently established. The 1830 opening of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which allowed boats to bypass the Falls for a cost, demonstrated the extent of maritime commercial commitment. Warehouse and shipping industries lined Louisville's banks as water traffic intensified, and the industrial character of the waterfront that would last nearly two-hundred years was firmly fixed.The Golden AgeMid-nineteenth-century modes revolutionized river travel, prompting the growth of new and existing ports around the Falls, such as Shippingport and Portland (which had suffered from the construction of the canal), New Albany, and Jeffersonville. Maritime commerce around the Falls was at an all-time high by the 1850s as cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were now more accessible.By the mid-1800s rail travel had developed extensively, and in 1870 the Falls and river were crossed for the first time by a railroad link connecting north to south from New York to New Orleans. The expansion and development of railroad transportation began to dominate the riverfront. As railroad lines increased along the waterfront, non-commercial public access to the river's edge was further hindered.The Waterfront Falls into NeglectBy World War II, changes in industry and continual advances in transportation methods (particularly trucking) led to the virtual abandonment of the wharf area, which became relegated largely to parking. In the 1950s and '60s, Louisville saw the expansion of the automobile and extensive construction of elevated roadways. Drivers could now cross the waterfront into downtown quickly and efficiently, extending commutable distances well outside Louisville's boundaries. The resulting traffic contributed to the separation of the waterfront from downtown by impeding pedestrian movement to the wharf and river areas.Efforts to re-establish the connection between the city and the waterfront began as early as 1931 with a riverfront redevelopment plan championed by Harland Bartholomew and continued with subsequent plans in the '50s and '60s. In 1962, the Belle of Louisville was purchased. As a public attraction, the restored steamboat served as the only accessible public activity on the waterfront at the time. The construction of the elevated I-64 highway in the 1960s represented the single most significant barrier in the continuing separation of waterfront and city. A concerted effort to revive the waterfront as an urban open space resource was sparked in 1973 by the development of the Belvedere. Since then, renewed interest has led to continued redevelopment of waterfront real estate, and a renaissance of riverfront related interest in the community.A New MillenniumThe completion of Phase I in 1998 and Phase II in 2004 introduced a promising future for the area surrounding Waterfront Park. As a result, Louisville's waterfront area has become a major development center, paving the way for projects like Louisville Slugger Field, Waterfront Park Place, and Preston Pointe, while also indirectly influencing development by going to the top of a growing list of amenities that helped spur residential and commercial development in downtown Louisville. Waterfront Park has become a recreation center for downtown and the region, drawing national events that have historically been out of Louisville's reach.Phase III's completion will fulfill the vision of Waterfront architects and create an award-winning park that Louisville can enjoy for generations.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/louisville-ky/report/place/louisville-waterfront-park-louisville-ky.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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/> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Louisville</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-wy-qigong-with-nate-12272024-64n6nsqv839.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-THE-HEALING-ART-OF-QIGONG-TRY-OUR-GENTLE-HOME-WORKOUT">The Healing Art of Qigong: Try Our Gentle Home Workout</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ak-tai-chi-with-mitch-for-strength-balance-and-relaxation-december-2024-anchorage-alaska-120624-fynwlvss9k5.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-FITNESS-LEARN-THE-ANCIENT-ART-OF-TAI-CHI">Fitness: Learn the Ancient Art of Tai Chi</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET</p> <p 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data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/louisville-ky/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/louisville-ky/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/louisville-ky/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/louisville-ky/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/louisville-ky/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/louisville-ky/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? 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