LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s hard to believe looking at and enjoying it today, but Louisville’s Waterfront Park didn’t begin to truly take shape until 1992.


What You Need To Know

  •  Waterfront Park is nominated in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

  •  For the third consecutive year, it is nominated for Best Riverwalk

  •  In 2022, Waterfront Park came in fourth place

Thirty-one years later and for the third consecutive year, Waterfront Park is nominated as Best Riverwalk in USA Today’s 2023 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

In 2022, Waterfront Park came in fourth in the national competition behind Detroit, Cincinnati and Wilmington, North Carolina.

Deborah Bilitski, president and executive director of Waterfront Park, said, “We are thrilled to once again be nominated by the editors of 10Best as one of America’s top 20 riverwalks.”

The park hopes to claim the No. 1 spot but needs help from the community and the state.

Bilitski added, “We are asking for help from everyone who shares a sense of pride in our beautiful waterfront to help us finally claim our rightful place as the #1 Best Riverwalk in the United States.” 

Fans at Forecaste Festival in 2022. The festival is taking a hiatus in 2023 (Spectrum News 1/Erin Wilson)

Fans of the downtown entertainment space can vote once a day starting Monday, Jan. 9 through Monday, Feb. 6. Just go to this website to vote for Waterfront Park and other categories.

According to Waterfront Park, the space is downtown Louisville’s most visited destination—attracting 2.2 million visitors a year. It hosts some of the most recognized and beloved events, such as Thunder Over Louisville, Forecastle Festival and countless others.