These gorgeous, (albeit way too hot for May for my tastes,) days lately around Louisville have got my toddler and me seeking sunshine outdoors. Every day, first thing in the morning, the question is popped, “Can we go outside and play?” Standing in our unshaded driveway wears on me after a while though. We hop in our car and venture to a park, a playground, heck even with the highs teetering toward 90 degrees the past few days I’ve thought about heading to a local sprayground! Today we are heading to our favorite stomping ground of late: The Parklands of Floyds Fork.
Here, you and your toddler can get lost in the wilderness as you feel like you’re out in the middle of nowhere and yet you’re right between Taylorsville Road, Shelbyville Road, and the Gene Snyder Expressway. It’s almost like you’re inside a triangle of seclusion. It’s heavenly. The first time we ventured over onto a little path that runs along Floyds Creek, my toddler was listening for the sounds of nature and exclaimed that he was hearing woodpeckers, as they hammered their way into the tree trunks surrounding us. We walked down toward the banks of the creek and found logs with animal homes carved out, fallen tree trunks that resembled what he calls beaver dams, and butterflies, moths, and other insects taking flight through the canopy of trees all around us.
We pack a picnic lunch of toddler-approved proportions and eat at the numerous picnic tables that can be found throughout the grounds of the large park. If you haven’t made your way through this Louisville gem, you must go. Besides the ever popular Creekside playground and sprayground/splash area at Beckley Creek Park, there are worlds of smaller adventures to be found. The park boasts all kinds of walking paths, hidden trails, is biker-friendly, begs toddlers and their counterparts to fly kites over the Egg Lawn, and much more. The Louisville Loop runs through here and The Parklands is setting up some fantastic programs for the summer, including the first Creekside Jam in the Parklands event. They are also offering some outstanding summer camps for kids of all ages as well. Wednesday Wonders is for families with early learners (under age 7) from 2:30pm-3:30pm. We’re checking that out soon! Check their website for all kinds of information.
It’s obviously our favorite park to explore now, and is affectionately referred to by my toddler as “the beaver dam park.” Go see what you can discover. I love this graphic that The Parklands shared on their Facebook page the other day.
Click here to explore their interactive map. Get in touch with them via Facebook or Twitter-they have very active accounts and answer questions routinely.
Photos by Erin Nevitt; graphic courtesy of The Parklands via Children & Nature Network, Facebook
