Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 526

N. McNeely Lake Park (MLP) (740.9 ac.)
Managed by: Operations Division, Natural Areas Division
McNeely Lake Park, in southern Jefferson County, is a multipurpose park with soccer
fields, golf course, fishing and boating lake, horse trails, and hiking/biking trails. It is also a park
that is being steadily caged in by suburban and exurban growth due largely in part to the
displacement caused by the expansion of the Louisville International Airport.
MLP is located in the Limestone Belt physiographic region and is home to both a rare
ecosystem (dolomitic glades) and a federally listed threatened plant, Kentucky Gladecress
(Leavenworthia exigua var. laciniata). Beginning in 2013 initial work to restore some critical
glade habitat for Kentucky Gladecress was carried out by the Natural Areas Division with
support from the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. This was a grant funded project
funded by the US Department of Fish and Wildlife. Positive results have been seen to date for
helping Kentucky Gladecress to multiply and expand its hold on the test sites. Plans are being
prepared to carry out additional work throughout the park wherever these glade remnants can be
found. An additional plant of concern found within these glade habitats is Eggleston’s Violet
(Viola septemloba var. egglestonii) which is state listed as special concern. Tree canopy
represents around 423 acres of MLP, most of which is south of the lake. A good amount of this
forest in the southernmost parts of MLP are early successional and contain a dense assortment of
non-native invasive woody plant species which are encroaching on the dolomite glade habitats.
There could be around ten acres of glade/barren grasslands within the southern sections of MLP.
Riparian woodlands exist along Pennsylvania Run and these undoubtedly are home to a
diverse assortment of plants and animals, especially salamanders. A few caves are also found in
MLP and research should be done to identify rare bats and other cave fauna. The lake shorelines
should be surveyed for Grassleaf Arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea) a state listed threatened
aquatic plant.
In 2015, several nesting pairs of Henslow’s Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii) were
found to be nesting in the tall grass areas around the flying field. This species is listed as a
special concern on both state and federal listings. This is the only know nesting population of
the species within the area of Jefferson County (Brainard Palmer-Ball, personal communication).
When Metro Parks and Recreation was first alerted to their presence, arrangements were quickly
secured with the maintenance district to prevent mowing these areas until the end of the breeding
season. Metro Parks and Recreation will arrange for a similar mowing regime in the future.
MLP has seen significant disturbance to the forests over the last few years from sewer
easements along the southwest boundary. The Natural Areas Division will be tasked with
carrying out some woodland restoration of a recent MSD sewer installation on the southwest side
of MLP. Additionally, the Natural Areas Division is planning to carry out the construction of a
new trail system on the south side of MLP.
The “McNeely Lake Park Master Plan Report” (August 2013) addresses many of the
resource management concerns of the park and should help to guide future land management
practices.
i. Desired future condition
As McNeely Lake is home to rare and/or endangered plants and ecosystems, it is
imperative for the dolomitic glades to be protected. The existing forest, cave, and riparian
ecosystems must also be protected and improved.
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