Floyd's Fork
In consultation with Louisville Metro Parks and the Cornerstone 2020 Comprehensive plan, which identified park needs in the Louisville community, Dan Jones looked at several possible park locations -- deciding that the Floyd's Fork corridor clearly had enough land to replicate and build on the Olmsted model. Through land acquisition and partnerships with former Lt. Governor Steve Henry's visionary non-profit group The Future Fund, Inc. and Louisville Metro Parks, 21st Century Parks was able to assemble over 3000 acres of property to remold as new public parklands.
Dan Church of Bravura, an urban planning and design firm, was hired to conduct a feasibility study and in December 2003, Church delivered a detailed and exciting report, "Floyd's Fork Parks and Open Space Inventory and Analysis." Not only did the report indicate that a major parks project was feasible, but that it would greatly enhance the area's quality of life.
Dan Jones shared the report with his father who urged that the project continue to move forward. In discussions with Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, it became clear that there was mutual agreement with the 21st Century Parks vision of combining Louisville's already available and unique Olmsted Parks' plan with a world-class parks project along the Floyd's Fork corridor. In February 2005, the "City of Parks" initiative was announced. The initiative includes: The Fork, "The Louisville Loop, which is the city's 100-mile perimeter trail, and improvements to existing parks and parkways. 21st Century Parks and The Fork would be a leader in an enthusiastic partnership moving forward the realization of a true "City of Parks".