History
In 1946, Jefferson County, Kentucky, undertook to establish a working forest preserve in the southern part of the county. The Jefferson County Memorial Forest was originally envisioned to be 10,000 acres (40 km2) and was named as a memorial to the area's dead of World War II. Since then, the forest has been redesignated to remember all who served in the armed forces. The original purchases were guided by Paul Yost, who was appointed as the county forester. Through 1954, some 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) were purchased. No further properties were purchased until a single tract was acquired in 1965. The next acquisition was not until 1979, and from then until the mid 1980s, the forest was expanded to about 5,000 acres (20 km2). Since then, acquisition has proceeded again slowly.
In the late 1990s, the old ranger station, a former country schoolhouse, was renovated as a visitor and welcome center.
On May 30, 2004 parts of the park were ravaged by a tornado, which caused several trails to be temporarily closed.
Read more about this topic: Jefferson Memorial Forest
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