Picnic, corn hole, chess? New Franklin park at Thompson Alley offers food, games, fun

Gabrielle Chenault , Nashville Tennessean
·1 min read
City Officials cut the ribbon and opened the second neighborhood park to be built on the Franklin flood plain
City Officials cut the ribbon and opened the second neighborhood park to be built on the Franklin flood plain

The Thompson Alley neighborhood in Franklin recently celebrated the grand opening of a new park.

A previously open field along the Harpeth River was transformed into an ADA-accessible picnic area. The project was approved in 2019, and a construction contract was awarded in 2023.

“Parks are important to communities and this small pocket park will bring quality of life to the neighbors living nearby,” Franklin Parks Director Lisa Clayton said.

The new park is unique, city officials note. It is the second time the city has acquired land that is located on the Franklin flood plain. Instead of allowing these green spaces to lay bare, the parks department has taken to creating parks for the community, officials said.

With more than 18 public parks, many of them along the Harpeth River, Franklin has no shortages of green spaces, but city leaders are continuing to eye locations for future sites. Many organizations, including Friends of Franklin Parks, are helping to make this happen by holding fundraisers park projects, including playground construction.

The new park features barbecue grills, corn hole, ping pong, water fountains and a chess table. The facility is built to be flood resistant and cost the city just under $500,000.

“This project was a labor of love for our staff, and we hope this community will enjoy this park for years to come,” Clayton said.

The park can be found at 1140 Thompson Alley.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: New Franklin park at Thompson Alley offers grills, ping pong, more