Tyler Park Louisville Offers Bridge to Recreation, Relaxation
A historic limestone-block bridge that bisects Tyler Park Louisville serves as an enchanting neighborhood landmark and as an apt symbol for the park. Just as the century-old structure brought people together during the city’s turn-of-the-century growth to the east, Tyler Park Louisville now brings urbanites of all types together for rest and recreation.
At 13 acres, Tyler Park, located in Louisville’s Highlands neighborhood, is far from the largest green space in the park system designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted and sons. Still, it packs a lot into its limited space and even manages large tracks of open grassy space.
On either side of the bridge are the amenities that make the park a center of neighborhood recreation: tennis and basketball courts, a picnic shelter and tables, grills, separate playgrounds for small fry and older kids, a spray pool, volleyball court, restrooms and an oval walking path.
Located along Baxter Avenue just north of Eastern Parkway, the park property was acquired by the city in 1906 and is nestled in a tree-lined valley bordered by Baxter, Tyler Park Drive and Castlewood Avenue.
In the warm-weather months, the park is almost always in use. Activity slows down in the winter — unless Louisville gets a good snowfall. Then Tyler Park becomes prime territory for sledders, who take advantage of long, gently sloping hills for a fun-but-safe slide.
Particularly appealing for parents with younger children is a fenced-in playground on the east side of the bridge. The fence provides extra assurance that the little ones won’t slip away while your back is turned, and the play equipment is all just the right size for their smaller frames.
For footloose teens, it’s a short walk from Tyler Park to Mid-City Mall or bustling Bardstown Road.
The park was named for Louisville Mayor Henry S. Tyler, who died in 1896 while in office.
Posted on Feb 4, 2011 by Bill Wolfe
