Battlefield Preservation Task Force
The Battlefield Preservation Task Force is responsible for the implementation of recommendations from the City's Battlefield Preservation Plan which was adopted in 2005 and additional battlefield preservation activities implemented by the city. The body of the taskforce is made up of representatives from various historic sites and organizations committed to the interpretation of the Battle of Franklin. Some of the past accomplishments of the taskforce include the following:
- Battle of Franklin Commemorative Illumination
- Assault at The Cotton Gin Design (city park)
- Collins Farm Plan and Design (city park)
- Distribution of Replica Hospital Flags to Sites that Served as Hospitals During and After the Battle
- Design of City Parks Department Stack Stone Signs
Public Education
A key segment of the Historic Preservation Program is to provide information regarding the rehabilitation of historic properties. The City encourages local property owners along with planners, architects, and developers to become aware of local historic preservation issues by making classes, workshops, and publications on technical procedures for restoration of historic properties available to them. Some of the recent programs that the city sponsored included:
- Restoration of Historic Windows
- Franklin Design Review Procedures
- Historic Home Symposium
- Realtors and Historic Preservation
- Battlefield Symposium
- Overview of Historic Preservation
- Don Rypkema: Preservation and Sustainability
The City of Franklin has also published Historic Property Answer Book: Everything You Needed to Know & Never Knew Whom to Ask as an informational booklet that is a great resource for historic property owners, historic preservation advocates and the community as a whole. Copies are available for free at the Planning office in City Hall.
Eastern Flank Battlefield Park
A Master Plan has been completed by John Milner and Associates for the Eastern Flank. The plan includes the restoration of the landscape as close as possible to its 1864 appearance. Once completed, this will be the largest battlefield reclamation/restoration in the U.S. to date. The first phase of the project, which will begin the summer of 2008, will include the construction of a one-way entrance road based on the historic roadway into the property. Visit the City of Franklin Parks Department website for more information.
Bicentennial Park
Work will begin in 2008 on Bicentennial Park in the Downtown Franklin Historic District. Various pieces of Franklin's history will be interpreted in the new park, such as the industry that has occurred on the site and the interurban rail line which operated between Franklin and Nashville. The park will also help to showcase the river and provide recreation space in the heart of downtown. Visit the City of Franklin Parks Department website for more information.
National Park Service Special Resource Study
At the direction of Congress, the National Park Service (NPS) is in the process of preparing a Battle of Franklin Special Resource Study. The intent of the Special Resource Study is to evaluate Battle of Franklin related historic resources and present management alternatives for their long-term preservation. Potential alternatives may involve management by the National Park System, state and local governments, private sector organizations, or combinations thereof.
Visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov for more information.
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