Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 123

expertise for natural areas. The region includes several parks that are managed as natural areas
and wildlife habitat with passive recreational use: the Jefferson Memorial Forest, Waverly Park,
Caperton Swamp, Fairmount Falls, Beargrass Creek at Irish Hill and Kulmer Reserve.
In addition, parks such as Cherokee, Iroquois, Shawnee, and McNeely contain natural
areas such as wooded hillsides, stream valleys, and riverbanks. Iroquois Park contains
outstanding woodlands and potential habitat for several rare, threatened, and endangered
species (see Section III.C.3). Natural areas are maintained in a predominantly undeveloped state,
with a limited trail system for public access where appropriate. The Olmsted Parks Conservancy
assists with natural areas management in the Olmsted Parks and Natural Areas region also
provides management expertise in the parts of McNeely Lake Park that are managed for wildlife
and native plant habitat.
Special Interest Facilities
A number of groups either use
the Louisville park system for special
recreational activities or have
expressed the desire that such
activities be accommodated within the
system. Examples of these activities
include disc golf currently provided at
Iroquois Park and Vettiner Park and
flying of model airplanes and sail
planes, currently provided at McNeely
Park and Vettiner Park, respectively.
The disc golf course at Iroquois Park is
located on an environmentally
Flying Field at McNeely Lake Park
sensitive site, suggesting it should be
relocated to a more suitable location, while disc golfers have expressed a desire that more
public facilities be developed. Because of limited land and financial resources, the LMPRD
cannot accommodate all special uses, particularly considering the relatively small number of
residents who may engage in such activities. Requests by special interest groups to site facilities
on public parkland should be evaluated on a case by case basis. Factors to be considered in this
evaluation include:
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whether the proposed facility can be accommodated without adversely impacting
environmental or cultural resources;
whether the proposed facility is compatible with adjacent park and neighborhood uses;
and
whether an appropriate balance can be achieved between the public costs and benefits
of the proposed facility. Ideally, the user group should assume a substantial part or all of
the cost of developing and maintaining the facility.
IV. PARK AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY NEEDS ANALYSIS | October 2016 Update