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Jefferson Memorial Forest
The Jefferson Memorial Forest is a forest located in southwest Louisville, Kentucky, in the Knobs region of Kentucky. At 6,676 acres (27.02 km2), it is one of the largest municipal urban forests in the United States.
The forest was established as a tribute to area war dead but ultimately this was extended to all U.S. veterans. It is operated as a city park by Louisville Metro Government.
In 1975, the forest was designated a National Audubon Society Wildlife Refuge.
The forest offers nearly 60 miles (97 km) of hiking and equestrian trails, including several which offer views of downtown Louisville.[citation needed] Several discrete usage areas are featured, including the Tom Wallace Recreation Area, with the 7-acre (28,000 m2) Tom Wallace Lake; the Paul Yost Recreation Area, and the Horine Conference Center. Camping and fishing are both permitted. Tom Wallace Lake is stocked with trout and catfish twice a year. Tom Wallace Recreation Area features various handicapped-accessible facilities, including a fishing dock and a 1,560-foot-long (480 m) natural trail, the Tulip Tree Trail. The Horine Conference Center is a popular field trip destination for Louisville schools.[additional citation(s) needed]
A hiking trail, the Siltstone Trail, traverses much of the forest from east to west. There are several local hiking trails, in addition. Horine also features many hiking trails and both the Paul Yost and Tom Wallace Recreation Areas have horse trails. No mountain biking is permitted in the forest at this time, but the low traffic roads and hilly terrain afford road cyclists many challenging routes through the forest and surrounding areas.[citation needed]
Beginning in August 1945, Jefferson County, Kentucky, undertook to establish a forest preserve in the southwestern part of the county. Dedicated October 10, 1948, the Jefferson County Memorial Forest was named as a memorial to the area's World War II dead. Since then, the forest has been redesignated to remember all who served in the armed forces.
The original land purchases were guided by Paul Yost, who was appointed as the county forester. 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) were secured by the time of dedication, and through 1954, an additional 400 acres (1.6 km2) were acquired. The next significant acquisitions occurred from 1979 through the end of the 1980s, when the forest expanded to 5,000 acres (20 km2). During this period, due to the efforts of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, then the Jefferson County Judge/Executive (1977–1984), the forest doubled in size. Since the 1980s, acquisition has proceeded slowly.
On October 4, 1975, Elvis Stahr, president of the National Audubon Society, officially declared the forest a National Audubon Wildlife Refuge. At the time, then-Louisville mayor Harvey I. Sloane contrasted the serenity of the forest with the bustle of the nearby city and continued: "This is a tremendous asset for the city and county ... and the cooperation here of federal government, the society and local government is unique."
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Jefferson Memorial Forest
The Jefferson Memorial Forest is a forest located in southwest Louisville, Kentucky, in the Knobs region of Kentucky. At 6,676 acres (27.02 km2), it is one of the largest municipal urban forests in the United States.
The forest was established as a tribute to area war dead but ultimately this was extended to all U.S. veterans. It is operated as a city park by Louisville Metro Government.
In 1975, the forest was designated a National Audubon Society Wildlife Refuge.
The forest offers nearly 60 miles (97 km) of hiking and equestrian trails, including several which offer views of downtown Louisville.[citation needed] Several discrete usage areas are featured, including the Tom Wallace Recreation Area, with the 7-acre (28,000 m2) Tom Wallace Lake; the Paul Yost Recreation Area, and the Horine Conference Center. Camping and fishing are both permitted. Tom Wallace Lake is stocked with trout and catfish twice a year. Tom Wallace Recreation Area features various handicapped-accessible facilities, including a fishing dock and a 1,560-foot-long (480 m) natural trail, the Tulip Tree Trail. The Horine Conference Center is a popular field trip destination for Louisville schools.[additional citation(s) needed]
A hiking trail, the Siltstone Trail, traverses much of the forest from east to west. There are several local hiking trails, in addition. Horine also features many hiking trails and both the Paul Yost and Tom Wallace Recreation Areas have horse trails. No mountain biking is permitted in the forest at this time, but the low traffic roads and hilly terrain afford road cyclists many challenging routes through the forest and surrounding areas.[citation needed]
Beginning in August 1945, Jefferson County, Kentucky, undertook to establish a forest preserve in the southwestern part of the county. Dedicated October 10, 1948, the Jefferson County Memorial Forest was named as a memorial to the area's World War II dead. Since then, the forest has been redesignated to remember all who served in the armed forces.
The original land purchases were guided by Paul Yost, who was appointed as the county forester. 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) were secured by the time of dedication, and through 1954, an additional 400 acres (1.6 km2) were acquired. The next significant acquisitions occurred from 1979 through the end of the 1980s, when the forest expanded to 5,000 acres (20 km2). During this period, due to the efforts of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, then the Jefferson County Judge/Executive (1977–1984), the forest doubled in size. Since the 1980s, acquisition has proceeded slowly.
On October 4, 1975, Elvis Stahr, president of the National Audubon Society, officially declared the forest a National Audubon Wildlife Refuge. At the time, then-Louisville mayor Harvey I. Sloane contrasted the serenity of the forest with the bustle of the nearby city and continued: "This is a tremendous asset for the city and county ... and the cooperation here of federal government, the society and local government is unique."