E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park
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A 554-acre oasis on the outskirts of Louisville, the rolling fields that were once farmland and the site of Old Central State Hospital are now the site of some of the finest indoor and outdoor recreation facilities in Kentucky. Stop by for a swim, play a round of tennis, or bring your pet to the dog park! Hours of Operation Park Grounds: Open all year. Park closes daily at 10 p.m. Park opens daily at dawn. Trails and some access points are subject to close daily at dusk.
- Test your skills at the only outdoor public archery range in Louisville.
- Take a dip in the largest public outdoor swimming pool and splash park in Louisville.
- Take a hike along the shaded Goose Creek Nature Trail.
- Ride on only 1 of 6 Supercross BMX tracks in the Nation.
- Join an interpreter for a guided hike or educational program.
Pool & Splash Pad - Open daily Memorial Day through July; subject to weekends only August through Labor Day.
For the safety and security of our patrons, children under the age of 18 must have a responsible, paid adult present at all times. Call the pool house for more information at 502-429-7270.
Credit and cash accepted
- Ages 18 & up: 2025 rates to be announced soon
- Ages 3-17: 2025 rates to be announced soon
- Ages 2 & under: FREE
Dog Park
Sawyer Dog Park was the first official off-leash dog park in our community. Sawyer Dog Park is located in the northeast corner of the park property across Freys Hill Road from the main park entrance. The park spans across approximately six acres and is divided into three two-acre areas: one for small dogs (dogs under 30 pounds) and two for all dogs. Membership to the Louisville Dog Run Association is required to enter the dog park. For more information on the Louisville Dog Run Association, please visit www.louisvilledogs.com.
Astronomy
The Louisville Astronomical Society (LAS), established in 1933, is dedicated to promoting astronomy to the people of Greater Louisville. LAS created an astronomy center right here at the park where they host free monthly Star Parties. You can gaze through their telescopes at the planets and stars or bring your own for a lesson. The facilities include a classroom where LAS conducts space programs for all ages. They are also available for group events. For Star Party dates and other information, visit their website, http://louisville-astro.org.
Orienteering
Orienteering is a sport in woods navigation where a person uses a map and compass to complete a course. It can be done by yourself or with your family. It is a great way to spend part of the day discovering new parts of the park! E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park offers a 4.2 km permanent orienteering course featuring 10 controls (checkpoints) in a mixed forest and park-like setting. Map: Intermediate Course (orienteeringlouisville.org)
Archery
The range has target distances of 10, 20, 30, and 40 yards and 10 and 15 meters. It is free and open to the public. Only field-tipped arrows are allowed to be used at the Archery Range. Group archery lessons are available for your scout troop, civic organization, or business. Lessons are offered in Spring & Fall. Our instructors are National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Certified. Call for information about leagues and tournaments! Contact the Recreation Department at 502-429-7270 for more information, pricing, and availability.
Badminton
The Activities Building has a large gym with four badminton/pickleball courts. The space is available for Badminton use Wednesday 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Participants need to bring their own equipment. Fee is $5.00/player cash only. For rental information, please contact the Recreation Office at 502-429-7270.
Basketball
We have a full-court outdoor basketball court across the road from the Activities Building open from dawn to dusk. Our gymnasium is available for rent starting at $75.00/hr. Call the Recreation Office at 502-429-7270 or email allison.burke@ky.gov for more information on basketball and gym rental opportunities.
Birding
Many of our year-round residents are easily found throughout the winter months, including chickadees, nuthatches, wrens, cardinals, sparrows, robins, and woodpeckers. The neotropical migrants are found in the park during the spring and summer. A special treat is to hear and possibly see the mating flights of the American Woodcock. Simply go out at dusk any evening in March near one of the brushy fields (by Hurstbourne parking lot is best) and you will start to hear the single raspy "peent" calls of the staging males. Suddenly, a male takes flight while giving a continuous series of chirps and twitters as it climbs in a large spiral to a height of several hundred feet. It will return in a series of swooping dives, still chirping away, to land within a few feet of where it started. This show will repeat for about half an hour after dusk. Some of the more common birds you will see are cardinals, tufted titmice, robins, chickadees, and Carolina wrens. Bring your list of birds or get a bird list from the Recreation Office.
BMX
The park features a BMX track that is considered one of the best in the country and hosts the National BMX Grand Championships every Labor Day Weekend. All riders must wear protective gear and comply with park and track rules. Derby City BMX holds races here Wednesdays and Saturdays from early spring through the fall months. The track is open from March 1 - October 31 and is open to the public when races are not being held. There is a fee for racing. Visit www.derbycitybmx.org.
Community Gardening
E.P. "Tom" Sawyer will resume the community garden program in 2025. Year-round plots are available for $50. Gardeners with plots are asked to email allison.burke@ky.gov to confirm their plot.
Hiking
The 1-mile fitness trail is a crushed limestone, level grade trail with 10 exercise stations. The 1.25-mile Goose Creek nature trail meanders through open meadow habitat to a semi-wooded area along Goose Creek. The loop trail is an easy grade trail. This trail is only open to hikers. Bicycles are not allowed on the trail. There is an additional trail near Shelter 3 which leads to the park's vernal pond. Please visit the Recreation Office for an informational guide to the vernal pond. All trails are open year-round. Please stay on the main trails to reduce erosion problems in the park.
Model Airplane Flying
The runway for the radio-controlled airfield (500 feet long x 50 feet wide) may be used by all pilot members of the River City Remote Controllers. Open 10 AM to dusk daily, except for dates reserved for contests. Open year-round. Membership is required before using the airfield. For more information call 502-438-8150 or visit rcrcky.com.
Pickleball
We 16 outdoor pickleball courts that are free and open to the public dawn to dusk daily, and courts can be reserved for a fee. Four indoor courts in the gym can be rented for $75/hr. Please contact the Recreation Office at 502-429-7270 or email eptompickleball@ky.gov for more information, pricing, leagues & availability.
Picnicking
There are three picnic shelters for public use. This area is on a first-come-first-serve basis unless marked as reserved. For more information on Picnic Shelter reservations call the Business Office at 502-429-3280. Food service for events is available through Fun Food Kitchen and Deli at funfoodkitchenanddeli@gmail.com.
- Shelter 1: Located near the main parking lot next to the playground. It has two attached restrooms, access to water, a grill, and space to accommodate 100 people.
- Shelter 2: Located near the main parking lot next to the Rec Building. It has a portable restroom and space to accommodate 100 people.
- Shelter 3: Located near the Sawyer Hayes Community Center on Lakeland Road, it has attached restrooms, a grill, and space to accommodate 50 people.
Playground
There are playgrounds near Shelter 1 and next to the Dog Run.
Soccer
The park has 14 soccer fields. Leagues and clinics are offered for various ages and levels of competition on these fields. Fall and Spring Leagues are run by the Sawyer Youth Soccer Association. For information regarding registration visit their website at http://www.sawyeryouthsoccer.com
Softball
For information on Softball field availability, please contact Derby City Sports on Facebook or call 502-639-7777.
Tennis
There are 6 outdoor tennis courts that are free and open to the public. Courts can be reserved for $10/court/hour. Please contact the Recreation Office at 502-429-7270 for more information on pricing and availability.