The Eastern Flank Battlefield Park and Event Facility has won the Four Star Award from the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association for excellence in Parks and Recreation-Renovated Facility. This achievement was recognized during the association’s 63rd Annual Conference in Nashville in late November. The Four Star Awards recognize excellence in programming, marketing, renovated and new facility design, as well as individual service and benefactor awards for community partners.
As the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Battle of Franklin was fast approaching the community preservation groups and the city were fortunate to receive a grant of $500,000 in 2011 from the State of Tennessee and Governor Haslam, and TDOT Commissioner John Shroer. The City matched the funds to work with TDOT in following the Park Master Plan to install the loop road replicating the original farm road for a total price of over $1.3 million. This added an entrance and exit, exclusive to the park. Previously the only way in to the park was through a neighborhood. The addition of a new shared parking lot (pervious concrete) to service the Fleming Center and Carnton Mansion for tourism, buses and general park users. As part of the TDOT contract and grant, the construction included the addition of the stone entry sign and new trees.
It took nearly a year of construction and planning but the loop road was installed by TDOT and opened for use with a dedication ceremony November 7, 2013. Once the road was completed the Parks Department had one year to prepare the facility for not only the Sesquicentennial programs and tourism but to present it to the public for use. Most of the following projects were completed by parks department staff from maintenance, grounds and landscape, facilities, arborist and programming.
- 1500 feet of civil war split rail fencing added to the entire front of the park and the property line between Carnton and Eastern Flank.
- Completely renovated the clubhouse catering kitchen with flooring, new drywall, repainted walls, installed sinks, equipment, grease trap, prep tables, lighting, racks, cabinets, freezer and refrigerator. Removed all old equipment including a cooking hood and walk in cooler. New electrical and plumbing installed.
- Planted 38 apple trees to replicate the original apple orchard and 47 canopy/understory trees –arborist
- Decorated the interior of the clubhouse to make it attractive to users.
- Removed 5,750 feet of concrete trails/cart paths that were not useful or led to nowhere and formed a new walking trail with three different interpreted loops for visitors.
- Filled in the old trails with dirt to eliminate the path or quarter down crushed gravel for the parts of the paths or connections to preferred walking loop interpretive trails.
- Installed a large kiosk/shelter with six interpreted signs and cement pad that acts as a trail head and leads to the other trails and interpretation stops. Installed a triple sign kiosk and single sign and a 4 benches, doggie pots and trash cans.
- 20 interpreted sign throughout the park- Supplied through the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area through a $250,000 grant for interpretive signage for a variety of areas in town. The cost of the installed signs were $50,000. Media day and Ceremony dedicating the signage was held on April 3, 2014.
- Franklin’s Charge funded the triple, single and 6 sided kiosk signs, 4 benches, structures and concrete at a cost of $35000. The park staff installed each structure and signs.
- Park Day sponsored by the Civil War Trust was conducted April 5, 2014 and local preservationists, Alderman, City Administrator and students all came in to help spread gravel along the trails and connectors where the concrete was removed. They also removed vegetation.
- Began creating the meadow natural area in the middle of the park to illustrate the farm crops that would have been present on the farm. This includes educational signage.
- Began removal of non- native trees, hazard trees and started trimming up the trees for visibility.
- Currently contracting to put cable and Wi-Fi in the Event Facility for use by users.
The facility is a focal point for Heritage Tourism, preservationist, history and military buffs across the world.
