Trails and greenways are the No. 1 priority to emerge from the City of Franklin’s Parks Master Plan update, released June 23 at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen work session.
“(The) No. 1 priority clearly should be the greenway/trail network, including the riverwalk,” the report, compiled by Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon Inc. states.
Since 2011, Franklin Tomorrow and its partner, Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, have been advocating for a trails and greenways network serving the city. The report also says the Harpeth River is an underutilized resource which could meet the citizens’ demand for a riverwalk as well.
Additional recommendations of the plan over the next 10 years include:
Land Acquisition for new parks
Acquire 100+ acres for new parks
Land should be in east and southeastern portion
Acquire land for neighborhood parks in underserved areas
New parks
Carter’s Hill Battlefield Park
New East/Southeast Multi-Purpose Park
New neighborhood parks
Facilities/maintenance
A new recreation center in conjunction with the Williamson County Parks & Recreation Department to serve the east and southern portions of the city
Build two splash pads
Maintenance facilities
Historic cemetery repairs/improvements
Other miscellaneous improvements at existing parks, including mountain bike trails, new athletic facilities, and preservation of historic buildings and sites.