Louisville Parks and Recreation was established in 1968, combining the Louisville City Parks Department (founded in 1888) and the Jefferson County Parks Department (founded in the mid-1940s). The agency became a department of Louisville Metro Government when the City of Louisville and Jefferson County governments merged on January 6, 2003. Louisville Parks and Recreation, a nationally accredited parks and recreation agency, manages 120 parks and six parkways on more than 13,000 acres of land and operates recreation programs for area residents of all ages and abilities.