The landscape architecture and planning firm MKSK is collaborating with Olson Kundig on a strategic masterplan for Jefferson Memorial Forest in Louisville, Kentucky. MKSK is the lead planner, and Olson Kundig is designing a “collection of lodgings” in the forest, the Seattle office shared in a statement.
Jefferson Memorial Forest was founded in 1945 and today is the largest municipally owned forest in the U.S. The 7,500-acre forest has almost 60 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, and protects 275 species of trees, shrubs, and ferns, and myriad migratory bird species.
Louisville Parks and Recreation’s Natural Areas Division, which is based in the forest, unveiled the strategic masterplan by MKSK on April 20. This new masterplan builds on another masterplan that was released for Jefferson Memorial Forest in 2009.
In short the strategic masterplan by MKSK breaks the 7,500-acre forest, about 15 miles from downtown Louisville, into six distinct zones for hosting various programming.
Noticeable changes will include a new canopy walk and suspension bridge that allows visitors to experience the forest above its tree line.
There will also be new hubs for ecological exploration and environmental education in the form of a new learning center. A new observation tower will provide panoramic views of the stunning setting.
A series of event pavilions and “tree-house style lodgings” for visitors will also abound in a zone called Moreman’s Hill. The lodgings will offer overnight stay opportunities and be connected to a tiered biking trail network.
Improved wayfinding and signage systems will likewise contribute to an overall better visitor experience.
The Horine Pavilion designed by Olson Kundig will host events, leisure, and performance activities. This structure will be adjacent to a new Environmental Education Center, also by Olson Kundig. The structures are designed to echo the verdant surroundings and will be clad with “durable, natural materials.”
“Jefferson Memorial Forest is the largest city park in the country, offering many opportunities to learn about the region’s unique natural world. Its scale is part of what makes it special, but it also makes it challenging to define its boundaries,” Olson Kundig principal and owner Kevin M. Kudo-King said.
“The masterplan defines the park’s identity, while the architecture creates special ways to experience the forest—announcing key moments of arrival, exploration, and elevated perches within the trees,” Kudo-King continued.
A construction timeline wasn’t announced.