Public Hearing on Environmental Issues

CBGS received some great news recently. From a press release issued by the City of Brentwood…

“..The City of Brentwood’s Environmental Quality Coordinating Committee is an ad-hoc committee appointed by the Board of Commissioners to oversee and coordinate efforts by the City of Brentwood to identify, facilitate and promote continuous improvement to the community’s environment. The Committee is charged with providing recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for priority actions by the City that will enhance and sustain the environmental quality of municipal operations and services, and the overall quality of life in Brentwood into the future. The Committee’s recommendations will be presented to the City Commission in December of 2009.

The Committee’s June 9th, 2009 meeting will be a public input session designed to gather input and ideas from Brentwood residents regarding environmental issues affecting the Brentwood community. “All citizens are invited to attend this public meeting where ideas and strategies will be discussed,” said Chairman Joe Herrud. “We hope people will come and contribute their ideas to help us shape a greener city!” In addition to the June 9th meeting, the Committee has created an online survey to provide an additional opportunity for residents to provide input to the Committee.”

The meeting starts at 6:00 pm and will be held at the Brentwood Municipal Center, 2nd Floor, located at 5211 Maryland Way.

This is a great time to let the City know just how important green space preservation is! All interested parties are encouraged to attend the meeting and take the survey located at:

www.brentwood-tn.org/greensurvey.

CBGS Honors Vance Little

Left to Right: Gil Hutchinson, President, Chuck Sherrill, Library Director, Bert Bosse, Treasurer

The Citizens for Brentwood Green Space recently announced a donation to the Brentwood Library for the T. Vance Little Room in the amount of $1,125.

“Vance Little was a treasured resource in Brentwood and a tremendous friend to our organization,” said Founder Stephen Prince. “Whether it was allowing us to use his facilities for meetings, or providing us with invaluable insights on ways of preserving green space, Vance was always there when we needed help. It’s an honor to be able to help preserve his legacy in the community.”

Formerly known as the Brentwood Room, the T. Vance Little Room is a place where visitors will be able to conduct research about Brentwood’s history on their own. “The donations we received for this new addition at the library were above and beyond what we expected or hoped for,” said President Gil Hutchinson. “We thank all those that donated in honor of Vance’s memory.”

Added Chuck Sherrill, Director of the Brentwood Library, “Vance Little was a great friend of the Brentwood Library, and the many contributions we have received in his memory show that he was a great friend to the whole community. The contribution of the Citizens for Brentwood Green Space is especially significant because Vance helped that group get started by providing them with meeting space. The T. Vance Little Room at the Brentwood Library will continue his tradition of providing an elegant setting for community activity. We are most grateful to the members of Green Space for making this generous gift to the library.”

Brentwood’s Green Space Continues to Grow

Green space defines Brentwood. Our scenic woods, rolling, tree-covered hills, open fields and sweeping vistas are what we love about our city. It's why we live here! Brentwood currently has nine parks and eight greenway/green spaces, covering over 575 acres of recreational land. Over 14 miles of multi-use trails stretch throughout the community. And there’s more to come!

Discussions with City Officials show that the City has a lot in the works in terms of adding more green space and trails:

“The 16+ acre parkland off of Pleasant Hill road has been accepted by the City. The Split Log road widening project which should begin by the end of the calendar year includes about a 1.2 mile extension of the Split Log road bikeway and the Concord Road widening will eventually include about a 3.8 mile bike/pedestrian trail from Green Hill Blvd to Nolensville Road. The first phase of Concord Road widening project (Edmondson Pike to Sunset) will hopefully begin this calendar year. The City will build the section of path between Green Hill Blvd and Edmondson to coincide with TDOT construction from Edmondson to Sunset – when complete, the section from Green Hill to Sunset will be approximately 1.7 miles.

As for future parkland, the 20+ acres associated with the Cooper tract in Maryland Farms is still pending. The proposed Shire at Owl Creek residential development between Owl Creek Park and Waller Road that included a proposed parkland dedication has been dropped by the developer due to the economy.”

Some funding is available in the City’s 6 year Capital Improvement Plan should additional opportunities present themselves.

Brentwood’s Parks

• Concord Park

1100 Knox Valley Drive - 40 acres including open practice area, walking paths/bikeways and home of Brentwood Library - 8:00 am - 10:00 p.m.

• Crockett Park

1500 Volunteer Parkway - 164 acres with bikeways/jogging/walking trails, the Brentwood community playground, eight multipurpose athletic fields (two lighted), eight lighted baseball/softball diamonds, concession/restroom buildings, shelter, amphitheater, seven court tennis complex, open meadows, and a historic area which includes Cool Springs House. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

• Deerwood Arboretum and Natural Area

320 Deerwood Lane - 27 acres, two lakes, nature trails/stations with bench seating, outdoor classroom, educational amphitheater. Dawn to dusk

• Granny White Park

610 Granny White Pike - 32 acres with .8 mile of walking/exercise trail, pavilion, all purpose field, tennis courts, softball fields, playground, sand volleyball and Bocce court. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

• Maryland Way Park

5055 Maryland Way - 7 acres with a .3 mile of paved jogging trail with 11 exercise stations 8:00 a.m. until sunset

• Owl Creek Park

9751 Concord Road - 21 acres with shelter, outdoor basketball courts, restrooms and walking trail. Park hours: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

• Primm Park

8331 Moores Lane - 31 acres with the historic Boiling Spring Academy and prehistoric Native American mound.

• River Park

1100 Knox Valley Drive - 46 acres with shelter, outdoor basketball court, restrooms, playground and a 2 mile bikeway/walking path along the Little Harpeth River connecting with Crockett Park. Dawn to dusk

• Tower Park

949 Heritage Way - 47 acres with walking/bikeway trails, multi-purpose fields, natural open spaces. 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Greenways are located in the following areas: Maryland Way, Moores Lane, Moores Lane East, Split Log and Wilson Pike. The City states that “Greenways are not for normal use and are not maintained for resident safety. They have been designed for protection from commercial development.”