Department of Parks
E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park to Be Buzzing with Activity in October

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park will celebrate fall harvest time, stage a blood drive, host a program on Native Americans living in Kentucky thousands of years ago and hold a fall festival -- all in October.

The Harvest Sampler will be held Saturday Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sawyer Community Gardens.  This free program will celebrate the Harvest with informational booths on gardening and related topics.  Help to judge the second annual Gardeners Taste Test competition as they strive to have their name placed on the Golden Gourd. For more information contact Park Naturalist Jessica Evans at 502-429-7270 or email her at jessicar.evans@ky.gov .

On Friday Oct. 16  from 4-8 p.m. the American Red Cross will station its Blood Bus at Shelter #1 for the public to donate blood. The Blood Bus will be staffed with trained medical professionals, while State Park staff will be hosting a bake sale and crafts for kids.  For more information please contact Laura Rissler at 502-429-7270 or email her at laura.rissler@ky.gov.

On Saturday Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., we explore how people were living in Kentucky nearly 11,000 years before Europeans discovered the Americas. We will examine the First Americans’ technology and how it has changed through time.  There will be several informational displays and crafts for the entire family.  There will be a $5 parking charge to get into all Fall Fest events, and this program will be held in the park gymnasium.  For more information contact Jessica Evans at 502-429-7270 or email her at jessicar.evans@ky.gov.

Also on Oct. 17, Sawyer will present its Fall Fest from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Main Parking Lot and Activities Building.  Once you’ve paid $5 parking per car, all activities are free. Activities presented throughout the day include Art Shows, Farmers Market, Hayrides, Face-Painting, Crafts, Scavenger Hunts, Geocaching, Guided Nature Walks, Street Dance with Moonlight Big Band, Children’s Activities, Vendors, and much more!  For more information, please contact the Park at 502-429-7270 or email at TomSawyer@ky.gov.  For information on the Tom Sawyer State Park Foundation, please visit www.sawyerparkfoundation.org.

E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park is a 570-acre day use park located in northeastern Jefferson County just off the Gene Snyder Freeway. The park was once a farm worked by the former, much larger Central State Hospital. Many remnants, such as barns and cemeteries, still remain on park property. Dedicated in 1971, the park opened its recreation building and pool in 1975. The park also has hiking and fitness trails, an outdoor pool, indoor gym, lacrosse and soccer fields, softball fields, archery range, and BMX track. 

To visit E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park, take the Gene Snyder (Interstate 265) to Exit 32.  Go west on Westport Road to Freys Hill Road.  Take Freys Hill Road into the park. 
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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov.