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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.
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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