Greenways Foundation
 

Franklin Historic Greenway Trail
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Local Trail Network


 

 

Status: Open

County: Johnson

City: Franklin

Endpoints:
West - Custer Baker Intermediate School, Blue Heron wetlands
East - Needham Elementary

Trailheads:
-parking at Province Park
-parking at Blue Heron Park and wetlands

Connections:

Activities:
walking
biking
rollerblading

Surface:
asphalt

Length: 3.7 miles

Descrption:
This trail is an excellent example of a community effort to patch together many parcels of parkland, donated land, existing sidewalks, creek routes and other rights-of-way to create a modern multi-use trail with a diverse, interesting route connecting many of a city's parks and points of interest. The abandoned railroad through Franklin is not used but is visible near Greenlawn Cemetery.

On its west end, the trail begins at the Blue Heron Park & Wetland area west of US31 between the Franklin Lakes neighborhood and Young's Creek, where several spurs take the trail into adjacent residential areas.  One spur leads northward and westward about 1 mile along Hospital Road to Custer Baker Middle School.  The area offers a mix of attractions including several acres of wildflowers, a boardwalk over the wetland, a playground and a picnic shelter.

Continuing eastward, the trail winds safely under US31 and toward the Greenlawn Cemetery, where it uses part of the gardens for its route. From there the route follows Young's Creek to Main Street, where the majestic courthouse stands in full view just to the north. Trail users can easily access the city square here via sidewalks. East of Main Street the trail enters into scenic Province Park, where it begins to follow Hurricane Creek. Northeast from Province Park the trail follows a sidewalk briefly, intersects the active railroad, passes Franklin College, crosses SR44, passes Community Park and Morgan Park, and finally ends at the campus of Needham Elementary School.

Manager: Franklin Parks & Rec
Franklin Trails Map (PDF, 2.9 MB)
Franklin Trails 2011 Master Plan (PDF, 4.1 MB)

Future Plans: The next phase will acquire and develop .8 miles of trail, beginning at Needham Elementary and extending to CR 400 East, ending near Paris Estates

Map:



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