|
The Downtown Division of the City of Frankfort's Department of Parks and Recreation is made up of the following parks. The city's Curator of Historic Sites oversees operations of the division.
Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill - With over 120 acres of forest located on a hill overlooking downtown Frankfort, Leslie Morris Park offers both serene natural settings and remainders of the nation's bloodiest conflict. The park preserves two Civil War earthwork forts and the site of an 1864 skirmish. A system of trails carries visitors through the parks historic area, which is explained with handouts, guided tours, living history programs, and wayside panels. The dramatic view of Frankfort's historic district from atop Fort Hill is popular with both tourists and the town's citizens. In 2002, the park's new visitor center opened in an early 19th century log house recently moved onto the site and renovated for this purpose. The park offers a series of annual special events, including Civil War Summer Camp for Students, Skirmish Day in June, the Ghosts of Frankfort, tour in October, and Christmas 1864 in December. A hiking trail from behind the Capital Plaza Tower connects the park with downtown Frankfort. By car or tour bus, it can be reached in season by way of Holmes Street and Clifton Avenue.
Kentucky River View Park - Opened in 1997, Kentucky River View Park was a cooperative project of the Kentucky River Authority, the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet, the City of Frankfort, Franklin County Fiscal Court, The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Kentucky Finance Cabinet. The City of Frankfort’s Parks, Recreation, and Historic Sites maintains the park. The park runs along both banks of the Kentucky River at the west end of Broadway in downtown Frankfort. This park reminds its visitors of the capital city's connections with the beautiful Kentucky River. A circular hiking trail with interpretive wayside markers carries walkers over a series of historic bridges - a century-old iron bridge across the mouth of Benson Creek, an arching modern highway, and a massive railroad/highway bridge. A monument commemorates the junction point of Kentucky's three original counties. Picnic grounds, a public boat ramp and a dock provide easy access to the river. Perhap the park’s most popular attraction is the Farmers’ Market Pavilion, where shoppers can purchase fresh produce and other goods during spring, summer, and autumn. Kentucky River View Park is the site of Frankfort’s Independence Day observances and fireworks. It also provides space for demonstrations of agricultural and river-related skills as well as musical performance stages during the Kentucky Historical Society’s perodic Folklife Festivals.
St. Clair - Both a street and pedestrian mall, St. Clair is paved in brick and lined with attractive commercial buildings. It is closed to vehicular traffic between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM from April through October and for special events. With fine indoor restaurants, outdoor grills and perfect view of the historic Old State Capitol, this is a pleasant place for meals and shopping in the middle of downtown Frankfort.
Dolly Graham South Frankfort Park - A broad swatch of green space on the bank of the Kentucky River, this is a neighborhood park for South Frankfort. Popular with neighborhood children and adults, the park offers a picnic shelter, playground and sports facilities.
 |
Picture courtesy of Farmers Bank
Tour
FRANKFORT
Kentucky's History Capital
|
