Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve

Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve is a 41 acre nature preserve in Louisville, Kentucky's Poplar Level neighborhood, in roughly the central portion of the city. It is named for Beargrass Creek, the south fork of which passes along the northern side of the preserve. The preserve is adjacent to Louisville's Joe Creason Park. Both are located adjacent to the Louisville Zoo. It is owned by the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission.

The preserve includes convert|2|mi|km of walking trails, which cross wetlands and ridge top. [cite news|title=New trails put nature lovers in center's loop|publisher="Courier-Journal"|date=2003-07-17|author=Stahl, Linda] There are also 180 species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers. It is managed by the Louisville Nature Center, which is located on the west side of the preserve in a building which opened in 1997. The center claims it is "one of the largest inner-city nature preserves" in the United States. [cite news|title=Art auction at Nature Center aids preserve|publisher="Courier-Journal"|date=2004-12-06|author=Smith, Scheri] The preserve and nature center run on about a $90,000 annual budget, and in May 2007 reported about $100,000 in operational debt. [cite news|title=Cash-strapped nature center needs $100,000 for expenses|publisher="Courier-Journal"|date-2007-05-02|author=Smith, Scheri]

ln 1982, the State Nature Preserves Commission purchased a 41-acre wooded tract that became the preserve. It was a port of the Collings estate (which became Joe Creason Park) that had been acquired by the Archdiocese of Louisville in 1960.cite news|title=History of Joe Creason Park|url=http://www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroParks/parks/creason/creason_history.htm|accessdate=2008-10-05|publisher=Louisville Metro Parks]

References

External links

* [http://www.louisvillenaturecenter.org/bcsnp.htm Official site]