Franklin greenway could expand with land purchase
A 13.9-acre land purchase in Franklin could help expand the Little Tennessee River Greenway.
Mainspring Conservation Trust closed on the property — located off of Siler Road and bordering Southwestern Community College, Macon Early College and Macon County Public Library — April 26 and is now working to address its restoration needs. The tract includes 1,200 feet of Cartoogechaye Creek and was identified in the original greenway plan and recent “Bike Walk Franklin” plan as an important tract for bringing the greenway closer to the Macon County Recreation Park.
“This is one of those great projects that touches all three of our core initiatives: conserve the land, restore the water and connect people to nature,” said Executive Director Sharon Taylor.
Mainspring is now seeking grant money to restore the property’s stream bank and wetland portion, and to convey a conservation easement to the state.
“Like all of our projects, this one is going to take a lot of partners to make it happen,” said Jordan Smith, Mainspring’s land conservation manager. “But we know the backing for this is out there and I hope to see people show their support for the Greenway extension that has been talked about for some time.”
