E. P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park

E. P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park is a 550-acre (220 ha)[2] Kentucky state park located in the Freys Hill area of Louisville, Kentucky, on former land of Kentucky's Central State Hospital. When opened in 1974, it was named in honor of Republican Jefferson County Judge/Executive Erbon Powers "Tom" Sawyer who was killed in a car accident on Louisville's Interstate 64 in 1969 while still in office. Sawyer was the father of journalist Diane Sawyer.

E. P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park
A walking path in E.P. Sawyer State Park
Location in Kentucky
Location in United States
TypeKentucky state park
LocationLouisville, Kentucky
Coordinates38°16′39″N 85°33′31″W
Area550 acres (220 ha)
Elevation679 feet (207 m)[1]
Opened1974
Operated byKentucky Department of Parks
OpenYear-round
WebsiteOfficial website

Activities and amenities

The park's amenities include an activities center with a gymnasium that has indoor courts for badminton, basketball, and volleyball as well as an Olympic-sized swimming pool and weight room. The park also has 12 tennis courts (which used to be lighted but the lights have been removed), 14 soccer fields, 3 lighted softball fields, a mile-long fitness trail, a 1¼ mile nature trail, a permanent BMX track, a model aircraft airfield, a dog park, playgrounds, and picnic facilities.[2] The park is also the site of the Louisville Astronomical Society's "Urban Astronomy Center."

In the news

In 2004, Louisville officials suggested that Otter Creek Park, a 2,600-acre (1,100 ha) city-operated park lying outside of Louisville's city limits, become a state park in an exchange for E. P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park becoming a city park.[3] In 2010, the state took over Otter Creek Park in a separate deal and it reopened in 2011 as an outdoor recreation area operated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.[4]

  • E.P. Sawyer's main lawn
  • Soccer fields at E.P. Sawyer

See also

Further reading
  • Kleber, John E., et al. (editor) (2000). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2100-0.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)

References
  1. "E P Tom Sawyer State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "E. P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park". Kentucky Department of Parks. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  3. "Around the Nation: Kentucky: Louisville". The Washington Times. Washington, D.C. April 26, 2004. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  4. "Otter Creek Park to Reopen in 2011" (Press release). Louisville Metro Government. June 16, 2010. Archived from the original on June 2, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
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