Franklin, School District Could Team Up on Parks

FRANKLIN, TN — They aren't making any more land, as the old saw says, so growing cities, like Franklin, have to think outside the box when the need for more park space becomes apparent.

According to the Franklin Home Page, the City of Franklin and the Franklin Special School District are considering a joint agreement under which unused FSSD would be used to expand city parks, particularly Jim Warren Park, which is heavily used and has no room for additional ball fields within its current confines.

FSSD identified 50 acres that could be utilized for parks and, at a Tuesday evening work session, Franklin alderman will discuss contracting with the consultancy Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon to develop a framework for expansion using that acreage, according to the newspaper.

Jim Warren Park is used by 16 schools for athletics and other school activities, in large part because of its proximity to so many campuses.

Mary Vavra, a planner with BWS&C, told the Home Page that partnerships like the one being discussed in Franklin are becoming increasingly popular across Tennessee.

“It will be a framework to move forward,” Vavra said. “We are seeing a lot of support for joint agreements across the state. There’s about 50 agreements with schools and parks. It’s an economical way to expand park systems. We are excited about being a part of this process.”

Agreeing to the BWS&C contract — it will cost $34,998 for the consulting — is just the first step. Once a concept has been developed, both the city and school district have to agree on it and then hammer out a plan to pay for the expansion.

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