The Tom Sawyer Start Park in Louisville Kentucky is one attraction that you do not want to miss on a Kentucky vacation. Named after Erbon Powers “Tom” Sawyer who is the father of Diane Sawyer and a leader in Louisville, the park is devoted to all things recreational. Louisville residents and out of town visitors view EP Tom Sawyer State Park as a wonderful way to stay active and spend time with friends and family.

You won’t have to look hard to find something to do in the Louisville Park. Tom Sawyer Park is located on 396 acres and features a BMX bike track, an Olympic-sized pool, tennis courts, and picnic areas. If the weather at Tom Sawyer State Park doesn’t permit you to engage in outdoor activities, head over to the indoor gym to lift some weights or play racquetball.

First time visitors to the EP Tom Sawyer State Park often comment on the pristine cleanliness of the Louisville Park. Stroll along the network of marked Kentucky hiking trails and observe the different species of plants and trees that make the park so unique. Children will love hopping across tiny streams of Goose Creek or flying a kite. Parts of the trail are wheelchair accessible.

Kentucky Map

The Tom Sawyer State Park is also the perfect place to bring your dogs for a walk. The Tom Sawyer Park has teamed up with the Louisville Dog Run Association to open up the only dog park in the entire city. If you are the proud owner of a new puppy, there is a special two acre area designed specifically for small dogs that weigh less than thirty pounds. Dog owners feel that the Louisville Park provides their pets with a stimulating way to socialize with other animals while getting some exercise.

Teenagers and people of all ages love the BMX bike track at the Louisville Park. Even if you haven’t ridden a bike for years, head to the bike track during Labor Day weekend to watch the National BMX Championships. You can also see smaller Kentucky racing events during the summer. The bike track at Tom Sawyer Park is free and open to the public, although you will need some protective gear and have some sort of experience in riding BMX bikes to participate.

Tom Sawyer State Park is the ideal gathering spot for soccer and baseball leagues. There are fourteen soccer fields, three softball fields, five lacrosse fields, and one rugby field. If you want to organize your own sporting game with friends and family, there are many “community” athletic fields where you can do just that.

The EP Tom Sawyer State Park is located in the outskirts of Louisville, around ten miles from popular attractions such as the Louisville Zoo, Six Flags Kentucky, and the Thomas Edison House. As you tour Kentucky, be sure to visit the nearby Kentucky Derby Museum to learn about the thoroughbred horses that compete in the Kentucky Derby each year.