Thorntons Makes Additional $1 Million Donation To The Parklands Of Floyds Fork Project

Oct. 2, 2012 - PRLog -- Thorntons is proud to announce a pledge of an additional $1 million dollar donation to 21st Century Parks, earmarked for The Parklands of Floyds Fork project. 21st Century Parks is the Louisville nonprofit organization responsible for fundraising, land acquisition, construction, operations and long-term maintenance of The Parklands of Floyds Fork, a nearly 4,000-acre public parks system under development along the Floyds Fork watershed in eastern and southeastern Louisville.

In 2010, Thorntons Inc., a locally based and owned company in Louisville, KY, donated their first $1 million to the project. Thorntons has been a long-standing supporter and provider for this community. “We are thrilled to lend our ongoing support to The Parklands Project for revitalization of Floyds Fork. The park will become an amazing space the community will continue to enjoy for generations to come,” states Matt Thornton.

The Parklands of Floyds Fork is one of the largest and most ambitious metropolitan park projects in the nation, now almost fully funded thanks to the generous support of donors like Thorntons. Comprised of four parks, The Parklands are linked by a park drive, 20-miles of the Louisville Loop, a world-class urban trail system and remarkable water trail—all tracing Floyds Fork, a classic Kentucky stream. The award winning master plan not only includes numerous community spaces but also preserves 80% of the land in natural habitat; building and maintaining acres of forest, meadows, wetlands, and wildlife habitat.  Phase III of major construction is underway and the nearly 4,000 acres of The Parklands are all planned to be complete and open to the public in 2015.

In Beckley Creek Park, the northernmost of the four park system, Thornton Bridge stretches across Floyds Fork to connect the Creekside Center to what will be the Humana Grand Allee.   Thornton Bridge was made possible in part by Thorntons’ initial $1 million donation.  Beckley Creek Park is home to the popular Playground and Sprayground, which has been open since last June. The Parklands’ fishing lakes, first trail and portions of the Louisville Loop will open before the end of the year. Additional amenities such as an event and meeting facility, education center and more trails are scheduled to open in 2013.

Dan Jones, Chairman and CEO for 21st Century Parks said, “Thorntons’ second major donation to the project truly demonstrates not only their immense generosity, but also their confidence that this project will serve as a real asset to the community in which they operate. Thanks to their support, and the support of many others, we look forward to bringing a new world-class park system to Louisville.”

About Thorntons:
Founded by Kentucky native James H. Thornton in 1971, Thorntons Inc. is one of the leading independent gasoline and convenience chain retailers in the U.S., currently operating throughout the Midwest under the brand name Thorntons.  With over $2.3 billion in revenue, Thorntons is the largest privately held corporation in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Thorntons operates 166 gasoline and convenience stores, car washes and travel plazas in five states:  Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee.  Thorntons distributes its petroleum products through its wholly owned Thornton Transportation Company and operates a river bulk storage terminal in Louisville.  For more information visit www.thorntonsinc.com and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thorntonsinc and Twitter at www.twitter.com/thorntonsinc.

About The Parklands of Floyds Fork:
The Parklands of Floyds Fork is a nearly 4,000-acre public parks system under development along the Floyds Fork watershed in eastern and southeastern Louisville.  One of the largest and most ambitious metropolitan park projects in the nation, The Parklands is a dream realized by 21st Century Parks, a nonprofit organization established to create and preserve new unexcelled parks that serve as city-shaping infrastructure.  21st Century Parks is responsible for fundraising, land acquisition, construction, and long-term operations and maintenance of the new parks system. For more information, visit www.theparklands.org.