Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 531

P. Portland Wharf Park (38 ac.)
Managed by: Operations Division
In the northwestern corner of Jefferson County sits Portland Wharf Park. The park is
bordered by the K&I Railroad Bridge (maintained by Norfolk Southern Railroad) to the east,
Shawnee Golf Course to the west, and the Ohio River to the north. The park has nearly ½ mile
of riverfront, most of which is heavily forested with typical riparian tree species including River
Maple, Boxelder, Sycamore, and Eastern Cottonwood. Along this riverfront corridor the
Louisville Loop pathway was aligned but has been detoured away from the riverfront onto
Northwestern Parkway in 2012 due to improper trail alignment issues and riverbank sloughing
which destroyed much of the pathway. The USACE is working with Metro Parks and Recreation
and will be doing some major bank stabilization work in order to accommodate the Louisville
Loop in the future.
This small urban park is historically significant in that the community of Portland Wharf
was located in this area when the settlement of Louisville began. The street alignments are very
evident on aerial photography throughout the park. A large portion on the eastern side of the
park is regularly mowed and the old road alignments are marked with stones to commemorate
the old town.
The riparian woodlands are very important for protecting the Ohio River. Many listed
species, including Eel Grass, Onyx Rocksnail, Lake Sturgeon, Burbot, and mollusks are found
within the river. Significant stands of invasive plant species are found in the woodlands
throughout the park. Japanese Chaff-flower is dominating the understory in most areas. Metro
Parks and Recreation will need to investigate a management approach for this herbaceous
species which is a fairly new invasive problem. A typical assortment of woody invasive plant
species also need to be removed from most of the woodlands. The woodlands south of the
riparian buffer are in an earlier successional stage and therefore contain a dense assortment of
vines and other woody invasive plant species.
Portland Wharf Park has a large problem with off road vehicles/ATVs/dirt bikes
trespassing on the site and creating a high degree of disturbance to the soils on the site. As the
park is very undeveloped for public use, there is not a regular presence of maintenance staff and
positive recreational uses on the site which would help to squelch these negative uses.
The “Portland Wharf Park Master Plan”( 2002) should be used to help guide any land
management work within the park. The “West Louisville Outdoor Recreational Initiative”
(WLORI) calls for the development of a reserved camping area within the park. Its purpose is
focused on getting local residents involved with positive outdoor recreational experiences in
underutilized natural areas available to them in their own neighborhoods.
i. Desired future condition
The forested habitats should be clear of woody invasive plant species and protected from
off road vehicle trespass.
ii. Goals
1. Remove invasive plants and put into practice annual monitoring and follow up control
measures to prevent re-infestations.
iii. Standards
Foll ow proven management practices for invasive plant control.
iv. Concerns
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