Cox Park is clean with a decent, safe playground, easy parking and an awesome view of the river --…read morea solid park! My family and I visited yesterday for some mid-day playground fun. The equipment seemed a bit aged but in good, clean condition. There were play options for toddlers as well as older kiddos and several swings. There is also ample greenspace for the zoomies, which looks over the river. We watched a few barges float by while there. This would also be a great place for a quiet lunch by the river. There were not many people in this park when we were there. We will be back with the kids!

Carrie Gaulbert cox park is spacious park that's has a boat ramp onto the Ohio river one one end…read moreand a playground on the other. Naturally located on the river just off of river road in Louisville Kentucky. I'm not a boat person so I'll be reviewing the playground and walking riverside trails. The playground is pretty solid. It sits smack dab in the middle of a part of the park with no shade so on our visit in august it and the playground equipment was blazing hot. The park itself needs to be taken care of better by the parks and rec division of the city. Very dirty, poor lawn care and the sidewalk by the river was full of overgrown weeds and debris. Unfortunate that the park is in such bad shape. It has a ton of potential as not many areas in Lousiville lie as close to the Ohio river as this place does. Overall it's still a cool place to check out and grab nice views of the Ohio and I'm sure of I had a boat it be a nice place to dock as it is rather large and has a nice sized parking lot.

At one time, I was an avid scuba diver, logging double-digit dives every month. But then life…read morehappened, divorce, kids going to college, and flight lessons for those same kids. Diving had to take a back seat, and for more than a decade I missed the feeling of blowing bubbles underwater. Now that I'm finally able to focus on myself again, my wife encouraged me to get back into diving. While she'll never (unfortunately) get in the water with me, she happily supports my hobby. I visited Louisville Dive Center to see what they had to offer an old diver like me. The moment I walked into the shop, the familiar smell of chlorine mixed with neoprene brought back a flood of memories. I immediately felt like I was home. After learning they offered a refresher pool session for certified divers, I signed up. I paid my fee and impatiently counted down the days until it was time to get back in the water. When the day finally arrived, I gathered my fins, mask, and wetsuit, my other gear had been sold years ago to help pay college expenses, meh medical release from my Drs, a thing us old divers must get every year, and headed to the dive center. After checking in, I made my way to the pool. Muscle memory took over. Even after 11 years of not diving any deeper than my backyard pool, assembling the rental equipment felt completely natural. I checked my gauges, inflated my BCD, climbed into the pool, and slowly descended beneath the surface. I was home. I spent the next hour practicing my skills and eventually moved into the 35-foot section of the pool. My buoyancy control wasn't quite as effortless as I remembered, but after a few minutes it all came back. It's amazing how much your body remembers, even after all those years. Before I knew it, my air supply was getting low, and it was time to surface. That single hour underwater was one of the best experiences I've had in a very long time. The staff at Louisville Dive Center was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and encouraging. They treated this old diver with the same enthusiasm as someone earning a certification for the first time, even though I probably earned mine before many of them were born. As every diver knows, once the bug bites you again, there's no turning back. I'm already replacing my equipment and planning several dive trips. My wife will happily enjoy the beaches and shopping while I'm exactly where I belong, under the ocean, back home. If you've been away from diving for years and are thinking about getting back into it, Louisville Dive Center is the perfect place to start.

Beautiful new facility with an amazing 35 ft deep pool for scuba training. They also have amazing,…read morevery thorough instructors. I highly recommend checking them out!

Definitely a good trail to go through at Sawyer Park if you're feeling adventurous. It's 1.25 miles…read morelong, in and out of the woods so there's a lot to see. I loved getting to pass through some small creeks and experience the quite of nature while being in the woods. To be honest, it got a little terrifying in some areas where there are super narrow trails and trees/tall bushes hovering over you. There were also some areas that got a bit confusing as to where we were supposed to go next. Thank god for the signs though that were placed in some areas. Great trail to take to get some calories burning, though!

This is a decent little trail tucked away in Tom Sawyer Park, just off Hurstbourne Parkway, across…read morefrom Hounz Ln., Park. I've hiked the trail twice now. It's in the middle of the city, yet it's a truly wooded nature trail: abundant roots, packed down dirt, flowing creek, tall trees and geese flying over fairly regularly. (it is, after all, called "Goose Creek Trail") The paths are well-maintained, but not marked incredibly well. It looks like a Boy Scout Eagle project was to create benches and do some trail maintenance to avoid erosion. The trail is also sprinkled with nicely carved signs... But not at all of the turns. Perhaps some of the off-beaten-paths were not intentionally created by the Park, and thus, they are unofficial and unmarked. It's easy to get turned around on this short trail, but if you don't mind an extra walk, you'll eventually come upon a crossroads that you recognize. At some points, the path could lead you to the nearby airfield, where you'll see signs to watch out for aircraft! (Toy/radio Aircraft). You could also end up at the nearby Community Center just on the outskirts of Tom Sawyer. Or you could end up near the 1 mile fitness path on the main side of the Park near the tennis courts and playgrounds. Or.. if you're a part of the lucky few who truly do decide to venture off-the-beaten-path, you could end up crossing over into the property that is Central State Mental Hospital. If this happens, don't be alarmed, there is a small yellow sign letting you know that you are on the edge of the park property. There is, however, no sign letting you know that you're at Central State. How did I know? Well, handy Google maps showed me as a blue dot on in their territory. Takeaways: 1) This is a great park if you're looking for serene, relaxing nature and actual trails made of dirt. 2) Not a trail for hiking/walking while you play on your phone -- it is all too easy to trip over a root. 3) Pay attention to the trees, the signs, the intersections, etc. as you walk. You will need to know what is what if you plan to make it back to your car. 4) It feels safe here -- even if you are turned around in the woods with the slowly setting sun. Pro tip - if you hike near dusk-- don't be a dummy -- take a flashlight.

This was a blast. My oldest daughter and I got on this adventure river and we went around at four…read moreor five good times. It was so much fun it shoot you off quick do you have to be a certain height which is what my youngest daughter couldn't go and we just went around this big circle and ran in swam and played in the running to other people it's just a Lotta good fun. It is not a lazy river at all this is an adventure river like it says. It was a lot of fun and one of my favorite things at the park

Cherokee Park is a 2.3 mile scenic loop. Knowing that - or even checking out the basic Louisville…read moreMetro website - does not describe how you will experience the park. It's one of a kind and gorgeous, and provides joy for a variety of people. Walking Running trails Biking Picnics Frisbee golf Dog socializing Rentals of the pavilion Playgrounds and More You could visit Cherokee multiple times and it wouldn't feel repetitive. It can be lazy or provide an intense workout.

Cherokee is a gem in East Louisville. It has a winding road that is bike and pedestrian friendly…read more They've carved out half the road for cars and the other half for walkers, runners, and bikers. The full loop is 2-4 miles with lots of trail cut throughs in the woods that are both bike and walker or runner friendly. There are two big hills, each with restrooms, playgrounds, and water fountains. There are gazebos for picnics. The Hogans fountain area has a better playground and a splash pad, basketball court, and a wide open, flat field. Dog Hill is rolling on top of the hill. The hill itself is great for sledding in the winter. On the last Sunday of each month, the park is fully closed to cars, which is great for kids, adults, and pets. The crew that maintains the park does an excellent job keeping it clean, the trails clear, and combating invasive plants. You'll see lots of wildlife - deer, fox, hawks, turtles, etc.

Very cool park. I've lived in Lousiville all my life and never knew this place existed. So many…read moretrails to explore. Very secluded and tranquil. Trash cans are needed badly as trash is tossed all around. Great place to fish, hike, bike and explore.

I am on a mission to make a trip to all those over-looked little parks and hiking spaces in the…read moreMetro area. Last weekend was a first trip to Loop Island Wetlands, a short trip over the 64 bridge into New Albany and right down East Main Street till it ends. Loop Island Wetlands is a mid-sized park at 47 acres and is a natural wetlands with a lake border by the Ohio River and Silver Creek. This is not a park for playing sports, for picnics, for small children to play on the playground. This is a park for bird watching and animal sightings and a quiet nature hike in thick woods. Paths add up to maybe a bit over a mile of walking. It was very quiet as far as birds go on my visit here, but I expect that during the migratory season it is thick with birds as the water and trees are very suitable. Silver Creek was very low water this week, it would likely add some interest to the area if it was flowing more freely. I was surprised that there were few mosquitoes but it is definitely a damp place so they may be an issue depending on the recent rains or lack of. Long pants and bug repellent are probably a good idea. There are no real facilities here, just a trash can and a couple benches at the entrance by the flood wall. It is also fairly isolated, with the entrance hidden behind a defunct leather tannery that is falling into interesting (but dangerous to enter) ruins and some sort of ill-maintained shipping warehouse. I don't think I would feel comfortable there alone due to its location but its also not something that would stop me from visiting with a friend and my dogs. For bird watchers, this is a park to put on your list for the right season. For someone just looking for exercise or a stroll, there are better options.

I know the primary use of this park is for horseback riding, with hiking as a secondary use, and…read moretrail running probably not even on the minds of the people who created and maintain this property. Nevertheless, I went for a trail run here and had a blast! There are some very technical sections, and some challenging hills (a couple of which I had to walk up), mixed in with easier, flatter non-technical stretches. Some really fun creek crossings, and on Trail 7 the creek *is* the trail for a while. Trail 9 (Snipe Trail section) is almost completely overgrown making it fun to try to follow, especially while running. There are a few small logs to leap over. Yes, occasionally there are big divots and mudpuddles where the horses trod through the mud, but that's part of the fun, IMO. My only small gripe is the signage. It looks like the signage was great when originally installed, but has not been well maintained. Much of it was severely faded, and occasionally confusing. Got pretty lost at the end of my run before I finally made my way back to the parking lot.

I took my nephew and his kids there, they had never ridden before. The ladies there were wonderful…read moreto the kids. They allowed for many photos, played games with the kids on the horse and completely settle all there nerves! The horses were all very gentle. I would definitely recommend this place.

Rocks, ruts and roots for ups and downs. Nice park in the middle of nowhere but close to La…read moreGrange. Lots of treed acreage Look for the many white signs with blue borders. Although some are missing, it was easy to follow. Primary loop was the largest loop without arrows. The ups and downs were STEEP at times. We were able to hike 6000 steps but could've added more.

Good place to go for a hike. Leave your valuables at home. Last year someone broke into my car…read morewhile my family and I were there for a Mother's Day hike.