We attended the Work Session on June 27, 2017 in order to hear a report
from a citizens committee concerning trails and connectivity along the Harpeth
River Walk. The committee is made up of
organizations such as the Heritage foundation and primarily the focus of
Friends Franklin Parks. The report was
submitted by Julian Bibb.
June 24, 2017....from Alderman Ann Petersen:
The Work Session at 5:00 Tuesday, (June 27, 2017) will have a presentation from the “Trail/Connectivity work group” . It is item #2 on the agenda. No preview is available. The purpose is stated as follows:
Over the past year, a work group of citizens including members of the Heritage Foundation, Friends of Franklin Parks, and various City staff have met to explore various opportunities to enhance the community through trails, multi-use paths, and overall improved connectivity. This group would like to give the Board of Mayor and Aldermen an update regarding their work and focus going forward. They are also seeking feedback from the Board.
The following is from the Harpeth Meadows contact, Martin Dunn. His thoughts make different suggestions for the proposed river walk.
February 17, 2017
The most important part as it affects residents of
Ewingville is that they do not propose the building of any trails in any
neighborhoods that do not want trails.
Mr. Bibb presented plans concerning connectivity relating to the
Chestnut Bend Trail crossing over into Harlingsdale. He also talked about plans to clean up and
utilize property formerly occupied scrap metal and city dump facilities behind
the old, old jail.
In a private conversation with Mr. Bibb he reiterated to
us that they were, in deed, interested in honoring the wishes of neighborhoods
that do not wish to have any trails. He
recognized that our stance has never been in opposition to trails in general
but trails in our neighborhood. This
committee works closely with the parks department and the city of Franklin. The roll of this committee is in an
advisory capacity and the city board will ultimately decide where the trails
are funded and constructed.
We have established direct communication with this
committee. Ewingville will be kept informed.
************
June 24, 2017....from Alderman Ann Petersen:
The Work Session at 5:00 Tuesday, (June 27, 2017) will have a presentation from the “Trail/Connectivity work group” . It is item #2 on the agenda. No preview is available. The purpose is stated as follows:
Over the past year, a work group of citizens including members of the Heritage Foundation, Friends of Franklin Parks, and various City staff have met to explore various opportunities to enhance the community through trails, multi-use paths, and overall improved connectivity. This group would like to give the Board of Mayor and Aldermen an update regarding their work and focus going forward. They are also seeking feedback from the Board.
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February 25, 2017The following is from the Harpeth Meadows contact, Martin Dunn. His thoughts make different suggestions for the proposed river walk.
TAKE ONE
Consider a better location for the walk-way
when
completing the survey
•
A walkway on
the town side (South) river bank will be cheaper to build, less likely to
flood, more accessible and pass near historic sites.
A
walkway on the town side riverbank would be accessible to visitors in town from
any point along it's length.
It
would pass beside the site of the Lillie Mill, Earl's Fruit Stand, Old Jails,
Gene's Auto Shop and foundation of the old Franklin&Nashville bridge. None of these can be seen from the proposed
walkway location.
The
builders of the Harpeth Square Hotel are required to build a walkway from their
hotel to Bicentennial Park. Therefore
the city will only need to pay for the walkway from Pendleton Park to 1st
Ave and Bridge St.
Since
there will not be a need to cross the river, the bridge from the proposed trail
to Bicentennial Park will be unnecessary, saving the city at least $300,000.
•
Problems with
a North bank walkway
The
North bank is lower than the town side bank, in places as much as 20 feet. Since the Harpeth water level is not dam
regulated, even a moderate rain raises the level above the walkway and damages
or destroys signs, benches or other structures along the trail.
The
proposed walkway is in the Harpeth River Flood-Way and FEMA severely
regulates anything built above surface level.
Some of the railings, lights, benches etc may not meet Federal approval.
Since
the North side trail is near river level, there will be mosquitoes and snakes
to contend with.
The
cost estimate for proposed trail is $6,789,811 and for a Multi-Use trail along
1st Ave, project #ST16023, is $1,470,00. Both eliminated.
CONSIDER THIS OPTION WHEN COMPLETING THE SURVEY
February 17, 2017
Neighbors,
This letter needs your
attention concerning the proposed River Walk.
The letter to you is
also on our Ewingville News Blog, http://ewingvillenews.blogspot.com/ on the TAB River Walk Proposals 2017.
Parks will be having
presentations about connections between Pinkerton Park and Bicentennial
Park. This does not affect Ewingville..YET ..but this could set some
precedents. Now is the time for us to be aware and in attendance.
Don’t access the city site until you have
read this entire letter.
On February 27, 2017
there will be a display at City Hall with people from the city and parks there
to answer questions. The times to go
are 11:30 until 1:00 PM and 4:30 until 7:00 PM.
Our alderman at large, Ann Petersen, will be there both times.
Below is a link to a
survey about how you’d like or not like the trails to look. It is very easy to
follow with pictures of choices. There
are two places you may express yourself.
Be
cautious in doing this survey in that I started doing it and marked some of the answers
and then decided to read the entire survey.
I did not click done but apparently my E mail was tagged as having done
the entire survey and it will not let me back in to complete the survey.
I called Annette
Whitehurst, survey contact with the city, 615-550-6743, and the IT department
says that if you go to the city site and log out of the survey it registers
your E mail address and you cannot return.
She is mailing me a paper copy of the survey. It comes with all of the picture answer
choices. You have to call and ask for a
paper copy of the survey. Survey copies
will be handed out on Feb. 27, 2017 when the display and help is there.
