Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 66

the design of the parks and open space system to provide for compatible forms of recreation in
areas protected for their natural habitat value.
8.
Many existing parks have historic value or special features with historic or
archaeological significance which should be preserved and restored where needed. The
development of appropriate interpretive facilities at publicly owned historic properties (e.g., the
Farnsley Moremen House and Locust Grove) can foster an understanding and awareness of
Louisville’s cultural heritage.
9.
Agriculture is an important part of Louisville’s cultural heritage which is rapidly
disappearing. The Floyds Fork Drainage Area is the last remaining part of Louisville where
farming remains somewhat viable but is under increasing development pressure. The 1995 Plan
recommended the protection of some remaining farmlands and some of the best agricultural
soils (e.g., along Floyds Fork) to preserve visual quality, to maintain a link to Louisville’s rural
past, and to provide for the possibility of future sustainable farming operations serving the
Louisville metropolitan region. The agricultural landscape of fields defined by linear hedgerows
or meandering stream corridors can also serve as a model for design of parks and open spaces.
Some of the land acquired by the Parklands of Floyds Fork has supported this recommendation
by preserving former agricultural land, historic sites and scenic views.
10.
Urban and suburban development has significantly affected the visual character of
Louisville’s landscape. Remaining important resources such as the Ohio River, Knob Hills, and
the Floyds Fork area should be targeted for protection in order to maintain the distinctive
landscape qualities which contribute greatly to the livability of the community. A carefully
designed parks and open space system can help preserve and enhance visual quality by
protecting important viewsheds and providing greenway corridors and nodes of open space in
developed areas.
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III. CONTEXT AND COMMUNITY INVENTORY | October 2016 Update