Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC
Friends of Franklin Parks' president honored
as Darrell Waltrip Automotive Hometown Hero of January 2012
Darrell Waltrip Automotive has continued to make headway with the Hometown Heroes campaign, awarding their 10th hero this January, with the award going to Dr. Monty McInturff of Tennessee Equine Hospital and president of the Board of Governors of Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC.
The award was presented Friday, Jan. 27, in a ceremony with Darrell Waltrip.
Darrell Waltrip (center left) congratulates Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, President Dr. Monty McInturff (second from right) on being Darrell Waltrip Automotive Hometown Hero for January. On hand for the presentation Jan. 28 were (from left) Nancy Conway, president/CEO, Williamson County Franklin Chamber of Commerce; William Billington, Franklin Synergy Bank; Kathie Moore, president of Franklin Tomorrow, Inc.; Mindy Tate, executive director, Franklin Tomorrow & Friends of Franklin Parks; and Mike Binkley, a local attorney and friend of McInturff's.
McInturff is being awarded for his leadership role in the conservation of his community and for his selflessness while serving.
In April 2011, Franklin Tomorrow founded Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, in which Dr. McInturff serves as the founding President of the Board of Governors. Friends of Franklin Parks was created for private donors to make tax-deductible contributions to fund improvements of area recreational facilities and preserve the cultural and natural resources for future generations. McInturff has been a practicing equine veterinarian in our community for over 20-plus years and is also the co-owner of Tennessee Equine Hospital. His passion is to promote and preserve our area parks by focusing on our history and our community.
“Our goal this year is to focus our energy on Harlinsdale Farm and turn the barn into a local horse museum to showcase Franklin’s rich equine history. Most people don’t know that Franklin was one of the largest homes to Thoroughbreds and other breeds prior to the Civil War. Our parks are a showcase for our history,” said McInturff of Friends of Franklin’s Parks.
"When Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, was created by Franklin Tomorrow, Dr. Monty McInturff was the unanimous choice to lead this new non-profit because his passion for our community and its rich legacy in the equine industry runs deep,” said Executive Director of Franklin Tomorrow, Mindy Tate, who nominated McInturff for the award. “Since becoming president of the Board of Governors of Friends of Franklin Parks, Monty's dedication to all aspects of the city's park system has broadened and his enthusiasm and passion are contagious."
Tate included in her nomination that McInturff is actively involved in Williamson County Franklin Chamber of Commerce amidst many other community organizations and always puts others before himself. For his selflessness to serve and for his determination to make a positive change in his community, McInturff surely deserves the Hometown Hero award.
“We could have the best parks in the country. If we all do a little for our parks it won’t be a big deal. Everyone can make a difference,” said McInturff of his vision.
Darrell Waltrip Automotive’s Hometown Heroes is a monthly event honoring Middle Tennessee residents who have made a positive impact on their community. Nominate your hero at www.darrellwaltrip.com.
In April 2011, under the auspices of its existing 501(c)3 designation, Franklin Tomorrow formed a non-profit limited liability company, Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC.
The newly formed entity is directed by a board of governors. Our mission is to bridge the gap between the services and amenities offered by government funding and those that allow us to take full advantage of the incredible natural and historic resources of our community.
Board of Governors
Officers:
Dr. Monty McInturff, President
Adam Ballash, Vice President
Amy Cross Nance, Secretary
Mary L. Benson, Treasurer
Members:
Chad Dannenfelser, Russell Little, Fred Reynolds, David Landrum, Stacey Watson, Annie Pareigis, Rusty Womack
• Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, can accomplish this through working with individuals and other organizations to secure funding for land acquisition, park improvements and other recreation programs.
• Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, can also accept gifts of land or financial contributions for a specific park improvement, while providing a tax donor benefit to the donor.
• Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, can advocate for parks and outdoor recreation.
Great parks make great communities
Parks are an essential component of Franklin’s quality of life. The City of Franklin is fortunate to have over 700 acres of parklands divided into 16 parks including passive parks, active parks and historical parks.
Each park has its own character and amenities, from the scenic and historic Park at Harlinsdale Farm, which serves as a reminder of Franklin’s role in the birth of the Tennessee Walking Horse, to one of the city’s oldest parks, Jim Warren Park, where thousands flock every week for athletic pursuits.
Walking and fitness trails, playgrounds, picnic tables and shelter areas, sports fields, skateboarding, disc golf, tennis, basketball and fishing, are a few of the possible park features.
Of the city’s 16 parks, 56% of the parks are completed with the other 44% in varying stages of completion. While funding levels have decreased, citizens’ desire for park amenities and facilities has not dropped.
Franklin’s parks are comprised of four main components:
• Passive Parks which provide citizens with quality open space and free recreation opportunities.
• Active Parks which provide citizens and organizations with available sports fields and amenities.
• Historical Parks which provide important historic preservation and passive recreation opportunities.
• Greenways and trails which provide important park linkage and passive recreation opportunities.
Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, gains
personal support of Mayor, Aldermen
Pledges funds to repair damage
at Tinkerbell Playground caused by vandals
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.
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Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, Director Mindy Tate (center) accepts the first donations for the Friends from Mary Lankford Benson of Tennessee Commerce Bank and David Garrett, representing himself and his family.
Partner for the Parks
Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, works closely with the City of Franklin and its Parks Department to identify needs which exist in the park system, as well as future needs.
The opportunities presented by an organization like Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, to encourage and target needed improvements by mobilizing the resources of the community, will help the City respond to our citizens’ desire for access to these facilities.
But this is a partnership, with support needed from the public and private sectors, individuals and organizations. By working together, Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, hopes to bridge the gap between the services and amenities afforded by government funding and those that allow us to take full advantage of the incredible natural resources of our region.
Everyone can help. Gifts of land, financial contributions, corporate matching programs and donations of products and services all support Friends of Franklin Parks’ efforts to make ours a truly great community with great parks.
Donor levels:
Individual $25.00 annually
Family $100.00 annually
Contributor $250.00 annually
Partner $500.00 annually
Patron $1,000 annually