DATE: August 11, 2016
TO: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
FROM: Eric Stuckey, City Administrator
Vernon Gerth, ACA Community & Economic Development
Joe York, Streets Director
Lisa Clayton, Parks Director
SUBJECT:
tThe Park at Harlinsdale Farm Northside Improvements and Additions Onsite Overview of Pending Projects
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Purpose
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) concerning the current and future improvements to the north side of the Park at Harlinsdale Farm.
Background
In 2006, the 50-year Master Plan for the Park at Harlinsdale Farm was adopted by the Board of Mayor and Alderman. From the 1940’s until the purchase of the farm by the City of Franklin, the operation consisted of equine breeding operations, farming, and served as a homestead and training ground for individuals who influence a variety of genres of the equine industry. The topography of the 200-acres gently rolls from Franklin Road along the east property line, down to the Harpeth River, which forms the west property line, and to Spencer Creek, which runs along the northern boundary.
On April 12, 2010, the K-9 Korral opened at the park with great response from the canine community. This was the first dog park constructed and operated by the City of Franklin Parks Department. K-9 Korral is located near the old power house of Franklin located south of the main barn. The K-9 Korral was the vision of repurposing an abandoned vacant walking horse paddock to a dog friendly space for unleashed canine exercise and play. As a result of the success of the K-9 Park, the City partnered with Mars Petcare (Nutro) for a five year contract of $50,000 toward the improvements of the facility along with a 2nd dog park at Liberty Park (Freedom Run).
Since the opening in 2010, the park has been a great success but cannot withstand the overwhelming amount of use it has received. Therefore, in conjunction with constructing the multi-purpose arena onsite and implementation of equestrian trails throughout the entire property, a new site was identified for the K-9 Korral on the north side of the park. The new site will house three paddocks for canines while always operating two at one time and having an alternative site for turf recovery. Mars Petcare employees have assisted the Parks Team to design and identify best practices for the new site. A parking area adjacent to the site makes for convenient travel and provides ADA accessibility for the new dog park (see attachment A).
By spring of 2017, the Park at Harlinsdale will accommodate equestrian riders on multiple days. Through the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant of $120,000, the City is constructing over three miles of equestrian trails on the property mainly on the north side of the park. The grant allowed for a canoe launch, water taps, interpretative signage, and multiple trailheads, fencing and surfacing. The North entrance to the park will allow for park visitors to enter with horse trailers and park in the northern parking areas. The Parks Department is currently drafting days of operations and rules for general public equestrian use. The site will also allow for contracting horseback riding in certain seasons of the year (see attachment B).
As part of the northern operations and throughout the park, the Parks Department approached the Streets Department to inquire about the possibility of leaf composting onsite. The Parks Department has participated yearly with the composting program for a variety of uses, such as the Community Learning Garden at Harlinsdale near the main entrance parking; topdressing natural trails systems with a sand mixture for the 3-miles of existing walking trails; top dressing common spaces; all landscaped areas, tree farm operations; dog park turf restoration and the list continues. Due to the limited space, the Parks Department shared with the Streets Department that in the conservation easement for the Park at Harlinsdale Farm specifically allows for a variety of agricultural uses on the property and specifically composting.
The proposed compost site would be roughly five acres in size with the possibility of expanding on the property. The site identified is completely enclosed by natural mature tree coverage. The site would house leaf composting and not brown bag recycled materials. The brown bags will be recycled as part of the City’s existing yard waste compost operation located on Incinerator Road. The proposed composting site would be surrounded by green or black vinyl coded chain-link fencing which would be wrapped in screening similar to what is used on tennis courts. However, for educational purposes, interpretation of how the operation and uses on the property will be printed onto the privacy screening to allow for this worthwhile information to be shared. The site would be accessible to the general public and the Parks Departments who would utilize the compost throughout the 200-acre farm.
On July 21, 2016, the State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Division of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) issued a letter stating the proposed site at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm was preliminarily assessed. The staff of DSWM found no statutory or regulatory reason that would prevent the City from qualifying for a Permit-By-Rule Composting operation (see attachment C).
Due to the growth on the Northside of Harlinsdale, the Parks Department has included in the Capital Improvement Plan to repurpose of the "hay barn" on the north side of the property. It is the perfect setting for repurposing the original structure into an open air pavilion, restroom facility and small office space for composting operations. Adjacent to existing parking areas, the barn would be renovated as an open air pavilion with picnic tables, water and electricity. The area would be open to the general public but also an affordable space for family reunions, birthday parties and private events. The barn is approximately 32' width x 48' length. The proposed restroom would be located on either end of the pavilion once designed and open year-round.
Financial Impact
The financial impact for the improvements and additions to the Northside of the Park at Harlinsdale Farm are as follow:
• Dog Park Relocation: $25,000
• Equestrian Trails Construction & Canoe Launch Project: ($120,000 (80-20 match)
• Composting Site Construction: Budget TBD
• Hay Barn Repurpose Project: $252,500
Recommendation
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Staff seeks initial endorsement from the Board of Mayor and Alderman to commence public engagement and additional planning needed to proceed with implementing these discussed improvements.