Iroquois Park is a 725-acre (3.0 km2) municipal park in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Louisville's Cherokee Park and Shawnee Park, at what were then the edges of the city. Located south of downtown, Iroquois Park was promoted as "Louisville's Yellowstone". It is built on a large knob covered with old growth forest, and its most prominent feature are the scenic viewpoints atop the hill.
Iroquois Park
View of Downtown Louisville from the overlook atop Iroquois Park
The summit of Iroquois Park presents an all-at-once vista of the city of Louisville, seen from the south. A bronze plaque at the site demonstrates the plan of the city's park and parkway system as planned and executed by Olmsted's firm.
The park features an amphitheater, basketball courts, 18-hole golf course,[1] a disc golf course and a riding stable. Louisville Metro Parks and partner companies stage concerts, musicals, and other shows each summer at Iroquois Amphitheater.
Iroquois Park was one of the three major suburban parks created in the late 19th century in Louisville. In 1889, Mayor Charles Donald Jacob purchased Burnt Knob, a 313-acre (1.3 km2) tract of land 4 miles (6 km) south of the city, for $9,000, and was reimbursed by the city treasurer without approval from the city council or public referendum, meaning the original purchase was probably illegal. Jacob also negotiated with landowners between the city and the then-rural park to acquire the right of way for a 150-foot (46 m) wide "Grand Boulevard", today's Southern Parkway, which still leads to the park.[2]
The move was controversial at first and called "Jacob's Folly" by political opponents after early improvements were washed away by rain in the Spring of 1889. In 1890 control over the park, then called Jacob's Park, was given to the Board of Park Commissioners. Frederick Law Olmsted was invited to tour the park, and gave an influential speech at the Pendennis Club on May 20, 1891, and signed a contract to design the city's park system two days later. Work was soon underway on the park, by then renamed Iroquois, which Olmsted envisioned as "providing the grandeur of the forest depths in the dim seclusion of which you may wander musingly for hours".[3]
Images of Iroquois Park (Louisville, Ky.) in the University of Louisville Libraries Digital Collections
January 01, 1970
iroquois, park, acre, municipal, park, louisville, kentucky, united, states, designed, frederick, olmsted, also, designed, louisville, cherokee, park, shawnee, park, what, were, then, edges, city, located, south, downtown, promoted, louisville, yellowstone, bu. Iroquois Park is a 725 acre 3 0 km2 municipal park in Louisville Kentucky United States It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who also designed Louisville s Cherokee Park and Shawnee Park at what were then the edges of the city Located south of downtown Iroquois Park was promoted as Louisville s Yellowstone It is built on a large knob covered with old growth forest and its most prominent feature are the scenic viewpoints atop the hill Iroquois ParkView of Downtown Louisville from the overlook atop Iroquois ParkTypeUrban parkLocation5216 New Cut Road Louisville KentuckyCoordinates38 09 36 N 85 46 49 W 38 160006 N 85 780221 W 38 160006 85 780221Area725 acres 2 93 km2 Created1888Operated byLouisville Metro ParksStatusOpen The summit of Iroquois Park presents an all at once vista of the city of Louisville seen from the south A bronze plaque at the site demonstrates the plan of the city s park and parkway system as planned and executed by Olmsted s firm The park features an amphitheater basketball courts 18 hole golf course 1 a disc golf course and a riding stable Louisville Metro Parks and partner companies stage concerts musicals and other shows each summer at Iroquois Amphitheater Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory editIroquois Park was one of the three major suburban parks created in the late 19th century in Louisville In 1889 Mayor Charles Donald Jacob purchased Burnt Knob a 313 acre 1 3 km2 tract of land 4 miles 6 km south of the city for 9 000 and was reimbursed by the city treasurer without approval from the city council or public referendum meaning the original purchase was probably illegal Jacob also negotiated with landowners between the city and the then rural park to acquire the right of way for a 150 foot 46 m wide Grand Boulevard today s Southern Parkway which still leads to the park 2 The move was controversial at first and called Jacob s Folly by political opponents after early improvements were washed away by rain in the Spring of 1889 In 1890 control over the park then called Jacob s Park was given to the Board of Park Commissioners Frederick Law Olmsted was invited to tour the park and gave an influential speech at the Pendennis Club on May 20 1891 and signed a contract to design the city s park system two days later Work was soon underway on the park by then renamed Iroquois which Olmsted envisioned as providing the grandeur of the forest depths in the dim seclusion of which you may wander musingly for hours 3 See also editPerforming arts in Louisville Kentucky Iroquois Louisville Kenwood Hill Louisville Little Loomhouse Colonial Gardens City of Parks History of Louisville Kentucky List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area List of parks in the Louisville metropolitan areaReferences edit Iroquois Golf Course louisvilleky gov 2014 09 19 Retrieved February 20 2015 Kramer Carl 1988 Louisville s Olmsteadian Legacy p 7 Kramer Carl 1988 Louisville s Olmsteadian Legacy p 8 Further reading editBuzan Stefanie Rae Rosemary Hauck McCandless 2007 A View From the Top The Neighborhoods of Iroquois Park and Kenwood Hill Louisville Kentucky The Little Loomhouse ISBN 978 1 4276 1659 3 External links editOfficial website Iroquois Amphitheater Iroquois Park The Cultural Landscape Foundation Satellite image of Iroquois Park Images of Iroquois Park Louisville Ky in the University of Louisville Libraries Digital Collections Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Iroquois Park amp oldid 1215553975 History, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
