Recreation
Franklin Tomorrow Goals and Strategies for Recreation as identified in 2011 Vision Fair process:
GOAL: Regionally integrated recreation and open space system that serves as a national model
Strategies:
1. Implement the Greenway and Open Space Master Plan and Streetscape
2. Increase available land for public recreation per capita with an initial goal of doubling current park land acreage by 2020
3. Create a Parks Foundation to steward public/private partnership for the expansion, enhancement and maintenance of existing and future parks
4. Preserve cultural assets and natural resources for the public’s benefit and/or public access
5. Develop a regional plan for open space and recreation connectivity
Horses to return for the day to Park at Harlinsdale Farm
Oct. 22 as part of city's Family Day
Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, will join in the fun of the City of Franklin’s Family Day Oct. 22, bringing an array of horses to the Park at Harlinsdale Farm for demonstrations.
Dr. Monty McInturff, president of FoFP and co-owner of Tennessee Equine Hospital, said demonstrations featuring various breeds of horses will be given from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in an area to the side of the Historic Barn at the park, located on Franklin Road just north of Liberty Pike.
Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, was formed earlier this year by Franklin Tomorrow to provide a mechanism for individuals and companies to provide tax-deductible donations for improvements and expansion at the city’s existing 16 parks. The organization 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.”
The demonstrations will include breeds such as a Tennessee Walking Horse, European Warmblood horses, American Quarter horses, and Thoroughbreds, with riders showing Western and English styles.
“Given the rich history of Harlinsdale Farm, it is exciting to participate in bringing the horse back to Harlinsdale, even if just for this day,” McInturff said. “Restoration of the facilities at Harlinsdale, such as the Historic Barn and the Hayes’ Farmhouse, is important not only for the history of Franklin, but also for keeping a piece of Middle Tennessee history in place.”
The Park at Harlinsdale Farm was created in 2004 from the former Harlinsdale Farm, which has been called the most significant historic farm associated with the modern Tennessee Walking Horse industry.
In 1933, W.W. Harlin established the farm on the northern outskirts of great renown in the fledging Tennessee Walking Horse industry. As famous as the farm itself is its prize stallion Midnight Sun. This famous horse became the first repeat World Grand Champion. The success of Midnight Sun in the ring and as a sire has never been matched by any other Tennessee Walking Horse. Even today, most champion Walking Horses trace their lineage to Midnight Sun.
From the 1940s until the early 21st century, the farm served mainly as a breeding operation, run by the Harlin Family. The 200-acre farm is being developed as a passive park while maintaining and protecting the Horse history. The City of Franklin began an extensive public planning process to design the master plan that would reflect the history of the farm, while including the wants and needs of the public.
The City opened the park’s first phase for the Community’s enjoyment on Sept. 22, 2007. All activities at the park are limited to passive activities such as walking and picnicking on 60 acres of parkland.
Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, sees the restoration of the Historic Barn and the Hayes Home on the site as priorities in its work, according to McInturff, who spent several summers working on the farm as a young man. FoFP is currently working with other organizations, such as the Heritage Foundation and Historic Zoning Commission, on the roofing at the Hayes Home, which is the oldest structure on the Park at Harlinsdale Farm property.
Donations may be made to Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, by contacting Executive Director Mindy Tate at 794-0998 or mindy@franklintomorrow.org. A Web site is under development for the Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, as well.
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Board of Mayor and Aldermen vote to replace roof
on Hayes home at Harlinsdale
Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, Heritage Foundation working to stabilize home
The Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen Tuesday, Sept. 27, voted unanimously in favor of a proposal to place a roof and new gutter system on the Harlin Hayes Home at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm in an effort to save the home from further deterioration.
The city owns the 200-acre former Walking Horse farm on Franklin Road and Franklin Tomorrow recently founded Friends of Franklin Parks LLC as a non-profit entity designed to allow private donations for park improvements at park facilities throughout the city and county. The Hayes Home has been cited as a priority by the city's Parks Department because of the context it gives to the property as a working farm, as well as the early 20th-century architecture featured on the clapboard house.
Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, 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. It has met with Heritage Foundation officials and is closely watching the work of the City of Franklin's Historic Zoning Commission to supervise stabilization of the house.
Read more about the Board of Mayor and Aldermen's vote by following this link.
The City of Franklin will hold Family Day on Oct. 22 at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, will have a presence at the event, presenting horse demonstrations and discussing the work needed on the Historic Barn and Hayes Home with the public. Family Day is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., while the horse demonstrations will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in an area near the Historic Barn.
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Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, elects officers
for newly formed non-profit entity
The Board of Governors of the Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, met for the first time July 26 and elected officers for the organization, which was created to promote and improve park facilities by allowing individuals and businesses to contribute to improvements and facilities in a tax-deductible manner.
Dr. Monty McInturff of Tennessee Equine Hospital was elected President of the Board of Governors, while Adam Ballash of Boyle Investment Company was elected by his fellow board members as Vice President. Rounding out the slate of officers is Amy Cross Nance, a local attorney, who will serve as secretary, and Mary Lankford Benson, who will serve as treasurer.
“I am honored to be asked to serve as the initial president of Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC,” McInturff said. “I have a deep love and respect for the unbelievable natural and historic resources in our community and it will be the mission of Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, to provide a mechanism to allow for continued development of these resources through private and corporate donations.”
Other members of the Board of Governors of Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, are David Landrum, David Landrum Stables; Stacey Watson, Director of Community Development for Stites & Harbison; Fred Reynolds, Vice President, Rock City Construction Co. Inc, representing the Heritage Foundation; Williamson County Commissioner Mary Brockman; Chad Dannenfelser, Johnson & Johnson Sales; Russell Little, Partner, Dan Stephen & Associates; Rusty Womack, Local Contractor, Member of the Franklin Historic Zoning Commission; and Annie Pareigis, The Drury Group and a Franklin Tomorrow Board member.
Franklin has more than 700 acres of parkland 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.
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 Parks Department Director Lisa Clayton and members of her staff briefed the group on the master plans currently in place for the Bicentennial Park, Eastern Flank Battlefield Park, Franklin Greenways & Open Space Master Plan, the Park at Harlinsdale Farm, and Liberty Park.
Friends of Franklin Parks, LLC, was formed in April 2011 by Franklin Tomorrow, Inc., which is marking 10 years in 2011 as the community’s visioning organization. Franklin Tomorrow was founded in 2001 by a group of community leaders for the purpose of initiating and implementing a broad-based, community driven vision for Franklin’s future.
For more information, contact Mindy Tate at 794-0998 or mindy@franklintomorrow.org.