Floyds Fork is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data
The National Map
, accessed May 13, 2011

tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drai ...

of the Salt River in

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...

, directly south and east of

Louisville Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border. ...

. It begins in Henry County, near Smithfield Kentucky, flows through eastern Jefferson County and flows into the Salt River near Shepherdsville in Bullitt County. It runs for about through Jefferson County and drains approximately , making it the largest watershed in the county. It is also the least environmentally compromised watershed in the county, according to the Metropolitan Sewer District, as large-scale development in the southeastern portions of Jefferson County is still relatively sparse. To preserve its rural character, much of Floyds Fork south of

I-64 Interstate 64 (I-64) is an east–west Interstate Highway in the Eastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. Route 40 (US 40), and US 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchang ...

was zoned rural residential in 1993. At

Mount Washington Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at and the most topographically prominent mountain east of the Mississippi River. The mountain is notorious for its erratic weather. On the afternoon of April 12, 1934 ...

, Floyds Fork has a discharge of approximately 387 cubic feet per second. The proposed City of Parks initiative by Louisville would purchase of land along the river and establish three to four parks, as well as hiking and other recreational trails. Floyds Fork is named for John Floyd, an early surveyor of the area. During the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

and

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

forces skirmished on Floyds Fork and what is now

US 60 U.S. Route 60 is a major east–west United States highway, traveling from southwestern Arizona to the Atlantic Ocean coast in Virginia. The highway's eastern terminus is in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where it is known as Pacific Avenue, in the ...

(Shelbyville Road, locally) on October 1, 1862.

The Parklands of Floyds Fork

In August 2010, Louisville's newest public parks system was named according to the waterways, the one unifying feature that ties the four primary parks together, and that runs through and unites the nearly of park system being created in the eastern and southeastern part of the county; * Beckley Creek Park – , encompassing the existing Miles Park at Shelbyville Rd. and stretching to South English Station and Echo Trail. A major highlight of the park is the 22-acre great-lawn, that is encircled by a walking path and park drive, and named the "Egg Lawn", which gets its name from its shape. It has excellent wooded and groomed trails for running and biking. A picturesque setting for any family outing as well. * Pope Lick Park – , just south of Beckley Creek Park, stretching south approximately to near Thurman Rd., and incorporating the existing Floyds Fork Park off Taylorsville Rd. * Turkey Run Park – , stretching from Seatonville Road to Broad Run Rd. * Broad Run Park – , south of Turkey Run Park and stretching south to Bardstown Rd. A narrow strip of connecting land between Pope Lick Park and Turkey Run Park, called "The Strand", will encompass another . Turkey Run will be the city's second-largest park, behind the

Jefferson Memorial Forest The Jefferson Memorial Forest is a forest located in southwest Louisville, Kentucky, in the Knobs region of Kentucky. At , it is the largest municipal urban forest in the United States. The forest was established as a tribute to Kentucky's vet ...

. The Parklands of Floyds Fork are operated by Louisville nonprofit, 21st Century Parks. The new park system relies on donor-support, memberships, and an endowment for annual operations. In recent years, the area surrounding Floyds Fork has been subject to new property development. In order to protect the tributary from developers, the Future Fund has purchased 115 acres of land, which were otherwise going to become a subdivision. The aim of this organisation is to preserve the creek by making sure it is only being used for recreation, reducing private development to a minimum.

The Parklands of Floyds Fork

See also

References

External links