As we continue to explore the Franklin Parks Master Plan Draft, we will explore proposed parks for Franklin as well as improvements to existing parks.
The City’s current inventory of parks and recreation facilities includes 18 parks totaling 709.6 acres. The City currently classifies parks as Active, Passive and Historic. Of the 18 parks, 3 are Active, 7 are Passive, and 8 are Historic. A weighted scoring system was used to determine the priorities for parks and recreation facilities and trails.
The City asked for community input on what residents want in their parks. Answers ranged from indoor fitness and exercise facilities to a dog park and Disc Golf course and more. Below is a list of the residents’ top 5 priorities, followed by a list, ranking 19 items residents said they’d like to see in parks, in order of importance.
Top Five Facility Priorities to Residents
1. fitness/exercise facilities (indoor)
2. spray park (above ground water play)
3.fishing areas (lakes, ponds, river access)
4. outdoor staging area or amphitheater
5. playgrounds
Recommendations for New Parks & Additions
The Franklin Parks Master Draft Plan proposes the following land acquisition and new parks.
- Acquire a minimum of 100 acres over the planning period for new parks. The first acquisition should be a minimum of 50 acres. The land should be in the east and southeast portion of the city, within the urban growth boundary.
- Due to the lack of Neighborhood parks, opportunities for acquiring (through Park Land Dedication or acquisition) land for neighborhood parks in underserved areas should also be a priority over the planning period.
New Parks Proposed
- Develop the 18-acre Carter’s Hill Battlefield Park and make initial improvements.
- Develop a new East/Southeast Multi-Purpose Park on the minimum of 50 acres recommended to be acquired in the east or southeast portion of the city.
- The park would include a minimum of 8 lighted multi-purpose rectangular sports fields that could be used for football, lacrosse, rugby, and soccer.
- The Franklin Cowboys football program would move from Jim Warren Park to this new park when completed. This park should have a range of passive uses as well to serve as a Community Park for neighborhoods in this area. A master plan should be developed for the park once the property is acquired to guide phased development of the site.
Proposed Miscellaneous Park improvements
The following improvements are recommended at locations to be determined by the City of Franklin Parks staff.
- Improved play structures, addition of outdoor fitness equipment and addition of basketball and tennis courts.
- Improved restrooms at Harlinsdale, Eastern Flank and Winstead Hill.
- Addition of WiFi in highly used parks.
- Addition of public art.
Splash Pads
• Build two splash pads over the planning period, either one in the new East/Southeast Multi-Purpose Park and one in an existing park, or both in existing parks.
Nature Interpretive Displays
• Nature interpretive displays should be added at existing parks. The first should be installed at the Eastern Flank Battlefield Events Center.
Historic Cemetery Repairs and Improvements
• Seed funding should be included in this plan for matching grants and incentives for private groups to assist in repairs and improvements to the cemeteries.
Facilities
• The City should approach Williamson County to explore a partnership to identify a site and build a new indoor facility in Franklin. Based on the Level of Service Standard, the facility should be approximately 74,000 square feet, but a detailed needs assessment and program should be developed for the facility during the planning period.
Check back tomorrow as we take a look at proposed improvements for each park in Franklin. Read Also: What Franklin Residents Want in Parks
