Franklin Mayor Dr. Ken Moore and his wife Linda recently donated $1,000 to Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, as a leadership gift and then Mayor Moore took it one step further.
He challenged the city’s eight Aldermen to also lend their financial support — in whatever amount they felt appropriate — to Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, and all have agreed to make a pledge.
Fundraising has just begun for Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, which exists to cultivate stewardship within our community to preserve our cultural and natural resources, enhance the park experience and expand its legacy for future generations.
Dr. Monty McInturff of Tennessee Equine Hospital serves as president of FoFP Board of Governors and Tennessee Equine Hospital has also made a $1,000 donation to Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC.
Meeting earlier this week, the Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, Board made a motion to spend up to $500 to repair brick pavers outside Tinkerbell Playground in Pinkerton Park which were damaged by vandals.
“We are incensed to think that vandals would damage such a special area,” McInturff said, referring to the Robert Leathers-designed playground built in memory of the daughter of Greg and Hilary Boucher. Some of the damaged bricks bore the names of families who supported the original project and Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, will have those duplicated as well as replace blank pavers.
Over the past week several cases of vandalism, ranging from graffiti to stolen signs intended to warn others of danger, have been reported. The affected locations include Fort Granger Park, Jim Warren Park, and Pinkerton Park. Franklin Police have increased regular patrols, paying special attention to the two most recently vandalized parks, Pinkerton and Jim Warren.
Franklin’s 16 parks offer a wide variety of amenities, all for free. They are intended to be a place of leisure for families, not a playground for vandals, and with your help Franklin Police plan on holding these vandals accountable. Anyone with information that helps lead to an arrest in these cases can earn up to $1,000 with a simple call to Crime Stoppers, (615) 794-4000.
For more information on Friends of Franklin Parks, visit our www.franklintomorrow.org and follow the link to Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC. Donations may be made to Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, by contacting Executive Director Mindy Tate at 794-0998 ormindy@franklintomorrow.org.
Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, Executive Director Mindy Tate (right) presents Franklin Mayor Dr. Ken Moore a print by local artist John Cannon of the weather vane on the historic Harlinsdale Barn at the Park at Harlinsdale Park as a token of appreciation for his recent gift to FoFP. The prints were provided in conjunction with the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County.