Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department opened Phase 4 of the Murfreesboro Greenway System in October.
Phase 4, which is approximately three miles, connects the Cason Trailhead to Barfield Crescent Park. With the new addition, the greenway now connects two of the three largest city parks along with Cannonsburgh Village, two dog parks and the Stones River National Battlefield.
The portion from Old Fort Park to Barfield Crescent Park, known as the Stones River Greenway extension, follows the West Fork of the Stones River.
“The greenway provides a venue for active lifestyles as well as connecting the community with an alternative transportation option,” said Rachel Singer, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department assistant director. “The trail also serves as a vital corridor along the river for wildlife to safely use while moving from place to place, which is important in our fast-growing, fragmented community.”
View full scale PDF of the map here.
The initial design process included public meetings to receive input from the residents affected, and the original design was revised several times. Keeping the river in view was a challenge, but it remained a priority in the design of the trail. An old road bridge was incorporated as a scenic river crossing, and using an existing neighborhood as a trailhead provides greater accessibility.
Three river crossings with two steel bridges and three new trailheads easily accessed by nearby neighborhoods accompany this section. Each trailhead offers parking, trash receptacles, map and rules kiosk. Visitors can find interpretive panels about the local fauna and flora at two of the trailheads.
Mature trees, native wildflowers and rock outcrops dot the landscape to make an enjoyable corridor through multiple habitats, including limestone bottom river and tributaries, hardwood forest and cedar glade-like environments. Wildlife such as great-horned owls, bobcats, and deer are observable along the meandering asphalt trail.
Greenway trailheads open at daylight and close one-half hour before sunset.
For more information about the Murfreesboro Greenway System, visit murfreesboroparks.com or call Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department at 615-890-5333.
