Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing is an historic riverfront site in Louisville, Kentucky, situated in the far southwest corner of Jefferson County. Settled on a gentle hillside that overlooks the Ohio River, the circa 1837 Farnsley-Moremen House is the site’s centerpiece attraction. Since 1988, the property has provided visitors a glimpse of 19th century life on the Ohio River and the vital link it played in sustaining trade and agriculture throughout the area. Louisville Metro Parks Department commissioned Gresham Smith to update the master plan for the iconic 300-acre property, with a focus on development, preservation and the interpretation of historic farm life on the Ohio.

Client

Riverside Board of Directors

Location

Louisville, Kentucky

300

acre site

2

miles of contiguous riverfront

21st

century updates

Blazing a New Trail

Blazing a New Trail

Our master plan update started with an in-depth data collection phase followed by short- and long-term implementation strategies. These include new trail paths, improvements to the property entrance, upgrades to the Visitors Center, improvements to event spaces, a plan for the future of the historic Aydelott-Rosenberger House, signage and wayfinding improvements, and a new partnership with the Jefferson County Extension Service that will allow for more use of the property.
Making Riverside More Mainstream

Making Riverside More Mainstream

While the master plan update addresses a wide range of elements designed to enhance the visitor experience, it also explores ways to increase visitation itself. One area of focus is the Louisville Loop—a 100-mile multiuse trail system that traverses Jefferson County. Although the loop runs through the eastern portion of Riverside, very few pedestrians or cyclists access the park this way. The master plan update looks at ways in which signage and wayfinding improvements can help loop in the Loop to attract more visitors to the park, making it more of a main connection point.
On the Banks of the Ohio

On the Banks of the Ohio

Helping Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing pay homage to 200 years of history along the Ohio River, the updated master plan also includes a programmatic site concept that explores programmed versus unprogrammed spaces, the site’s connection to the Ohio River, and strategic landscape strategies that help organize space and improve the overall ecological functions of the historic site.

Gallery

Project Contact

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Louis R. Johnson, PLA, ASLA
Louis R. Johnson, PLA, ASLA
Executive Vice President, Land Planning