McNeely Lake Park

McNeely Lake Park is one of the largest parks in the Louisville Metro Parks system, spanning 746 acres in Louisville, Kentucky. The centerpiece of the park is a scenic 46-acre lake that provides ample opportunities for fishing and boating activities. The park was established in the early 1950s when four local families donated farmland to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife for the purpose of creating a recreational lake.

The lake was named after Louis P. McNeely, a local sports editor for the Louisville Times and avid outdoorsman, who died in a car accident in 1945. It was officially opened in 1955, with Alice Bostic, Louis P. McNeely's widow, casting the first line into the water during the dedication ceremony. Initially a haven for anglers, the park expanded its offerings in the 1970s when the J. Graham Brown Foundation donated one million dollars to transform it into one of the largest full-service parks in the metro area.

McNeely Lake Park offers a diverse range of recreational activities. Visitors can enjoy hiking and horseback riding on the park's trail system, which winds through various habitats including dense underbrush, pioneer forest, and open glades. The park also features an airfield for remote-controlled planes, operated by the Louisville Remote Control Club, providing a unique attraction for hobbyists and spectators alike.

In addition to its natural features, the park includes several historical and commemorative elements. A Korean War Memorial, built by Muldoon Memorial with a seal designed by Stacy Freibert, was dedicated on November 7, 1993, adding a place of reflection and remembrance to the park's landscape.

The park is open to the public from dawn to dusk, offering visitors extended opportunities to enjoy its facilities and natural beauty. As part of ongoing development efforts, McNeely Lake Park is slated to be incorporated into the Louisville Loop Project, which aims to connect it with other parks in the area, further enhancing its accessibility and integration into the broader Louisville parks system.