Franklin Residents Voice Their Concerns About Revised Parks Plan

Pinkerton Park

Emotions ran high for Franklin citizens at the Board of Mayor and Alderman’s (BOMA) Work Session last week.

The revised version of the Franklin Parks Comprehensive Master Plan was presented with several corrections, including the removal of two trails. One of these trails was a Lancaster Drive connection and an area along the east side of the Harpeth River, between Pinkerton Park and the Eastern Flank Park.

The new route will run along Harpeth River from Pinkerton Park, to Collins Farm Park, then to the Eastern Flank, off of Lewisburg Pike with a connecting path alongside Thompson Alley. This section would also include an elevated boardwalk between the river and railroad for walkers to avoid the steep terrain

revised master parks plan

Eight members of the community came forward to raise their concerns, and to give the Franklin Parks Department thanks for working toward the central connectivity of the city.

A few locals living close to the proposed public trails, said they were never made aware of the Parks Department’s decision to map out trails next to their property.

Leonard Jones, a resident of Thompson Alley believes the public trails will bring crime to his community. He urged BOMA to reconsider placing the trails so close to his home. “I would hate very much for anything to happen,” Jones said. “But think of the community’s children, and yours. We don’t want this, it’s not necessary to invite strangers into our community.”

However, Franklin Parks Department Director Lisa Clayton reminded the work session that public trails were very important to the community, when they first began writing the master plan.

Others were supportive of the walkways running throughout the city. Another Franklin resident, Stacy Perry, said that she is a proponent for the river walks and would like to see as many trails as possible. “It saddens me that this is getting thrown out,” Perry said. “People should not throw out the idea of these trails just because of a fear mentality. Franklin Tomorrow has done research on other towns, and trails do not increase crime – they raise property value.”

Perry also gave the example of the trails in Chestnut Bend. She said many of her friends have specifically moved to that particular neighborhood because of the trails connecting to Downtown Franklin. Perry also said she also spoke to police officers in the area, and they have assured her that there has not been any kind of crime reported in the neighborhood due to the walking trails.

Others mentioned they couldn’t wait for their city to have these trails so their family will have more opportunities to go outside, enjoy nature and to have a new connectivity to Franklin.

Mindy Tate, Executive Director of Franklin Tomorrow, reminded the board that the most important thing to do now is to simply adopt a plan and move forward. “It’s discouraging to see these trails deleted because since 1997, the development of trails is among the top priority,” she said. “Anything that would be approved as part of the plan would have to come back to BOMA and undergo great scrutiny, but it’s important to go ahead. The trails would also be by my house, and I’m not afraid – I want to see this happen. But I know we need to move forward after a year and a half.

Alderman Member At-Large, Ann Petersen supports the deletion of the two trails. She also did not approve of the alternative trail being recommended, as it goes directly through private property. “Privacy is a positive aspect in this area,” Peterson said.

June Crowell of Franklin said she appreciates that the two trail segments were removed from the plan. “As a property owner I appreciate the respect for our personal property rights,” she said. “I’m in favor of connectivity and the trails by new developments, but I don’t think it’s right to put these trails by existing homeowners without their input.”

Mayor Ken Moore says this plan would have to take more consideration, and the resolution will be referred to the BOMA meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 9.