The Elizabethtown Greenbelt is a series of walking trails and mini-parks around Freeman Lake, Buffalo Lake, Fisherman's Lake and along the streams that flow to and from them. There are over 18 miles of trails and two parks open to the public. These trails and parks provide places for passive enjoyment of natural areas. They are meant to preserve the natural attributes of the numerous local waterways, making Elizabethtown, Kentucky a pleasant place in which to live.
Greenspace, Inc., a non-profit organization, works with the City of Elizabethtown to promote and maintain the trails and parks. It has a completely volunteer Board of Directors. The members work on Trail, Publicity, Finance and Land Acquisition Committees. A small headquarters building is located on Freeman Lake. Greenspace has one employee, Jim Hoge, who works as Trail Supervisor. Public Walks and Events are held on the second Sunday of each month at 2:00 PM.
The Basic Objectives of Greenspace, Inc. are as follows:
To preserve our communities' natural watercourses, streams, and their accompanying riparian areas
To employ wise ecological stewardship of our community streams and rivers, providing activities of recreational, educational and historical value
To develop and maintain hiking, bicycling and walking trails providing passive aesthetic recreation
Greenspace, Inc. makes the following trail use suggestions:
Special Needs Hikers and Families with Small Children: Use paved trails. They are located at the North End of Freeman Lake, at the beginning of the John Helm Trail at Helmwood Plaza Shopping Center, or on the downtown Wintersmith Trail. The play area at the Rotary Scout Loop Shelter is also popular.
Birders and Wildflower Lovers: Pirtle Nature Trail Loop, John Helm Trail or the Buffalo Lake Trail.
Geocachers: You will find many of the trails full of everchanging caches. Enjoy!
Avid Hikers: If you would like a varied, 4-mile loop hike, park at Pritchard Community Center, walk under the US 62 bridge and along the Wintersmith, Haycraft and Cave Spring Trails to the dam at Buffalo Lake. After a rugged 2-mile hike around the perimeter of Buffalo Lake, it is a 1-mile hike back to the starting point.
Individual trail and hard copy maps are available at the Elizabethtown Tourism Bureau, Pritchard Recreation Dept., Freeman Lake Park Barn building, or by calling O. Arnold at 270-765-4677 or City Hall at 270-765-6121.
Funding Appeal: Thousands of people constantly use Greenspace Trails in a myriad of ways -- making Elizabethtown a pleasant place in which to live. If everyone who uses and enjoys the walking trails would contribute just $10 per year (the cost of a single Greenspace membership), trails and equipment could be better maintained, thus reducing the burden on "just a few". If you appreciate our work toward enhancing our community and preservation of our natural waterways, please consider becoming a Greenspace Supporter. Download the Contribution Form ( 59kb PDF), or just send $10 to the contact address listed above.
As of the year 2006, there are approximately 18 miles of hiking and walking trails in the Elizabethtown/Hardin County area. These are as follows:
This new, very beautiful, walking trail was completed in 2005 by Boy Scout Troops 233 and 221, who both cleared the trail and built several bridges. The path parallels the edge of a field along the City ByPass, and is shaded by numerous black walnut trees that grow along Shaw Creek. To access the trailhead, parking is available at the City Tennis Court parking lot across St. John Road. This trail is particularly popular with Geocachers.
Billy Creek Trail - 3/4 mile
As of early 2008, the Billy Creek Trail is about one and one-half miles long, with the City Field of Dreams Baseball facility being mid-point. Parking is available here. The trail runs one-half mile north of St. John Road to a bridge built by Boy Scouts. This will eventually lead eastward. Walking from the Baseball field along the beautiful creek southward will lead to the Mike Carroll Soccer Complex. Parking and access to the trail are available here also.
History: Who was Billy? There doesn't seem to be an accurate answer. Literary reference is made to Jacob Vanmeter, Senior, who built a pioneer fort and mill on the banks of "Billy's Creek". Here he resided with his large family until his death in 1798.
Buffalo Lake Trail - 2 miles
This narrow, somewhat rugged, 2-mile city trail circles Buffalo Lake and has been declared a Wildlife Preserve. It contains a variety of geographic features such as cliffs, rock formations, creekside vegetation, trees of all ages, springs, gullies and flat land. In season, birds, native wildflowers, trees and shrubs can be appreciated. The trail can be accessed at the trail-head along Commerce Drive, at the 1.2 M. trail point from the end of Commerce Drive, and at the 0.95 M. marker at the top of the dam by walking up the Cave Spring Trail and Haycraft Trail from downtown Elizabethtown.
History: Buffalo Creek stream was known by this name as early as 1802. Early settlers made bricks on the northwestern banks. Remnants can still be seen. Buffalo lake is an impoundment of the waters of Buffalo Creek. This name was used by the earliest settlers probably because it was used as a watering place by herds of buffalo that once roamed over this entire area.
Cave Spring Trail - 1/4 mile
This 1/4 mile trail connects Buffalo Lake Trail Dam to Haycraft Trail and Elizabethtown. Along Buffalo Creek is the historic Cave Spring from which the water supply was critical to the historic early town settlement. This spring also supplied water to the pioneer Haycraft Fort, and later to the Civil War Camp Haycraft. The Spring still flows!
Emerald Cathedral Trail Merge Area - (encompasses a one-acre area)
At the junctures of Freeman Lake Trail, Pirtle Trail, General Braddock Creek and the Prairie Grass Meadow Trail lies a beautiful, restful area entitle the Emerald Cathedral; so named for the trees arching above and forming a cathedral-like canopy. The old Patterson Quarry provides a natural chancel wall to the east, allowing seating for seasonal concerts held here.
History: General Braddock Creek - "General" Braddock, an African-American slave to the estate of Abraham Vanmeter, was emancipated on March 19, 1796. His fascinating personal story is available in several of the local history books.
Fisherman's Park - 1/4 mile
This small, grassed park area, owned by Greenspace, is located at the end of J Severns Lake/Valley Creek Reservoir No.8 on Valley Creek Lane. To drive there, take Rt.31W South from the Court House. Turn Left at the light at the end of New Glendale Rd, and then turn immediately Right onto Hawkins Drive. Turn left onto Rt. 567 (Valley Creek Road). At 0.6 mi. past the RR crossing, turn left onto Valley Creek Lane. The Park Entrance sign is 0.5 mi. on the left. This popular park is heavily used by fishermen.
History: This popular fishing area lies at the end of John Severn's Trail and forms Valley Creek Lake. Historical facts are detailed under John Severn's Trail.
Freeman Lake Trail - 4.9 miles
The wide Freeman Lake Trail is a city-owned right-of-way, which forms a walkable beltway around the entire lake. Trail markers identify each 0.2 mile interval. There are many ways to access the trail. At the North end of the lake, there is a parking lot off Ring Road. The Bill Halfacre paved trailhead is located at point 0.0 mile marker. There is also an information kiosk with maps and Greenspace news. Additional accesses exist from both the East and the West, and are shown on the Elizabethtown Greenbelt main map. Access from the South would involve taking the John Helm Trail and the Claysville Loop from the Helmwood Shopping Mall.
The Freeman Lake Trail is heavily used, and offers a great variety of scenery. Freeman Lake Park encompasses the western side and contain open, mowed grass. Featured are a one-room schoolhouse, and the Lincoln Heritage House that Thomas Lincoln helped to build. The North and East trail areas are mostly wooded. Items of special interest exist at all areas of the trail. Allow a minimum of one hour to traverse the entire five mile circumference.
The three loop trails leading off the main Freeman Lake Trail are as follows:
This 3/4 mile loop trail encompasses 10 acres. It is accessed by a parking lot on Pear Orchard Road, and by the Freeman Lake Trail at the Emerald Cathedral on Gen. Braddock Creek at mile marker 1.4. Along the trail are nine marked stations to help make you aware and appreciate specific items. Wildflowers are particularly enjoyable in the springtime.
History: John Cox Pirtle was one of the foremost advocates of education in this entire area. During his lifetime (1866-1947), he attended, taught at, administered and founded schools in Elizabethtown, Howevalley, Covington, Buffalo, Hodgenville, Upton, and other local areas. Graduate work was done at Princeton, and he lived in a number of different places. However, the great-grandson of early settlers, he was born and died in the same house on the family farm in the Howevalley section of Hardin County.
2. Rotary Scout Trail Loop - 1 mile
This wide one-mile loop extends through the Park off the Freeman Lake Trail at the Rotary Shelter at mile marker 4.4. It was developed in the 1980's by the Elizabethtown Rotary Club and several Boy Scout troops. The play area at the Shelter is very popular with small children and their parents.
History: This wide, gentle loop trail begins and ends at the Rotary Shelter and childrens' play area on mile 4.4 of the Freeman Lake Trail. It was developed in the 1980's by the Elizabethtown Rotary Club and several boy scout troops.
3. Claysville Trail Loop - 1/2 mile
This one-half mile loop extends from the ends of Freeman Lake Dam at mile markers 2.8 or 3.2, connecting to the John Helm Trail and then back again. It circumvents the Water Treatment Plant.
History: This loop trail on the southern end of Freeman Lake Dam was once a small settlement on what was the north edge of Elizabethtown. Here were once located a toll-gate across the Louisville/Nashville Turnpike, a sulphur well, a blacksmith shop and several residences.
Haycraft Mill Park - (small patio park)
The Haycraft Mill Park has a paved patio with benches. It straddles Valley Creek in downtown Elizabethtown. It is accessed by stone stairs off East Dixie Highway across from the new Justice Center. There is a small parking lot across the railroad tracks. This mini-park contains an artistic mural painted on a building wall. A large millstone reminds us of the many water mills that dotted the local streams in earlier days. Trail users may go North onto the Haycraft Trail or use the sidewalk under the Bridge to access the Wintersmith paved trail.
Haycraft Trail - 3/4 mile
This trail follows Valley Creek generally north and south from Haycraft Mill Park. The northeast trail-head is at a small parking lot beside the CSX Railroad and Rt. 31W (Dixie Hwy.). The trail crosses Valley Creek on the John Severns Bridge. It continues along the wooded Valley and Buffalo Creeks, and climbs a hill to pass historic sites and provide a view of the Buffalo Creek valley. At the 0.66 mile point, it becomes the Cave Spring Trail, which continues to a 0.9 mile marker on the top of the Buffalo Lake dam and trail. This historic trail passes sites of the Old Pioneer Haycraft Fort and entrenchments from the Civil War.
Jacob Vanmeter Trail and Arboretum - 1/2 mile
This 1/2 mile gentle walking trail is located behind the Elizabethtown Pritchard Community Center on South Mulberry Street. It runs generally from the South Mulberry Street bridge to the City By-Pass. The trail winds through an Arboretum on newly contoured land developed by the "Lets Spruce Up" organization. A great variety of trees, shrubs and flowers are located here, and can be appreciated during all seasons. By passing under the US62 bridge, walkers may continue up the paved Wintersmith Trail.
John Helm Trail - 3/4 mile
This partially-paved trail extends from the Helmwood Shopping Center on Dixie Hwy., across Diecks Drive, and on to the Water Treatment Plant and dam at the Southern end of Freeman Lake. The paved area makes aerobic walking easier and more accessible to elderly and handicapped. Care should be taken while crossing traffic-laden Diecks Drive. Be sure to enjoy the many wildflowers planted in this area.
History: John LaRue Helm (1802-1867) - Born on Independence Day, the first child of George and Rebecca Helm. He married Lucinda Barbour Hardin, the daughter of the eminent Bardstown attorney Benjamin Hardin, on August 10, 1830. The first of their 13 children, Benjamin Hardin was born on June 2, 1831. John Helm served in both houses of the state legislature from 1824 to 1848. He became the 18th Governor of the Commonwealth on July 31, 1850. Helm became second President of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company on October 3, 1854 and oversaw the completion of the main stem on October 27, 1859. Helm became the 24th Governor of the Commonwealth on September 3, 1867 and the only governor ever inaugurated outside of Frankfort. He died 5 days later at Helm Place in Elizabethtown.
John Severns Trail - 1/2 mile
The John Severns Trail follows along Valley Creek from its junction with Buffalo Creek to Springfield Road. This land was donated to Greenspace by a Developer. This is an excellent place to see local varieties of snakes.
History: John Severn's Trail follows Valley Creek and forms Valley Creek Lake. John Severns came to KY in 1775 with family members and took up residence in Harrod's Fort. From here, he explored and surveyed the waters of what is now Hardin County. He is considered one of the very first settlers in "The Valley", building cabins with others during the summer of 1779.
Wildflower/Prairie Grass Meadow Trail - 1/4 mile
This trail is located on property owned by the Presbyterian Church on Pear Orchard Road. It is a continuation of the Pirtle Interpretive Trail and General Braddock Creek Loop. The planning and planting of prairie grasses and wildflowers was a thoughtful and generous donation by a local physician, who is a valued supporter of Greenspace's objectives.
History: This recently reseeded prairie lies near the remnants of the Patterson family fresh-water spring and quarry. A rocky wall and two wonderful remnants of very large sugar maple trees are the only evidence of the spring at Pirtle Trail Station 8. The limestone quarry was a commercial venture from 1912 to 1920, and it's remains may be observed in the Emerald Cathedral trail merge area at the base of Pirtle Trail at Trail Station 5.
Wintersmith Trail - 2/3 mile
This partially paved trail starts at the new Justice Center on Dixie Hwy. and continues along Valley Creek to the South Mulberry Street bridge. Featured along the way are the Noel Patio, the Sprague Fountain and the Embry Lay Thicket. A picnic shelter has been constructed along the trail behind Dairy Queen. This popular trail is enjoyed by the employees at the Justice Center and is host to many public events. A paved floodplain side trail exists from the Noel Patio to the Sprague Fountain. Paved sidewalks extend the trail at both ends, continuing under bridges at US 62 and 31W highways.
History: Wintersmith was a name prominent in the social, political and religious circles of Elizabethtown and Hardin County for many years. The first mayor of Elizabethtown was Robert L. Wintersmith, Jr.. Some of his slaves, bearing his name, became outstanding members of the community. The Wintersmith family was the only Elizabethtown family to receive government patronage during the Lincoln presidential administration.
