Challenge
The Tom Wallace Park project, located within Louisville's Jefferson Memorial Forest, presented both functional and construction challenges. The primary challenge was improving accessibility for a wider range of visitors, as the park's existing dirt trail provided an option best suited for more experienced hikers. Muddy, uneven terrain in specific areas of the park made it difficult to form a more direct, stable path to Tom Wallace Lake.
The goal was to create a boardwalk system that all visitors would enjoy, while addressing logistical issues, to create a hub for exercise and recreation.
Designers ran into additional challenges during installation, as the soft soil required a change in foundation plans.
Solution
PermaTrak worked closely with landscape architects to design six boardwalks along key sections of the new asphalt trail. While some boardwalks were installed on cast-in-place foundations, others were installed on micro piles to accommodate soft soil conditions in some areas of the park. The path stretches from the Welcome Center at the entrance of the park all the way to Tom Wallace Lake, uniquely located at the top of the hill. The longest boardwalk spans across a damp stretch of land at the neck of the lake, opposite to the dam. This path provides a reliable and scenic route to the top of the hill.
The thoughtful curvature of the design and alignment of the trail allows residents to enjoy a wider area of the park while creating an enhanced route for people of all ages. These easy-to-navigate additions to the park were designed to improve connectivity and ensure that the park will grow as a destination for exercise, relaxation, and family outings.
