Franklin accepts 12.49-acre donation to expand Blue Heron Park

The Franklin City Park Board voted May 15 to accept a donation of about 12.49 acres of land adjacent to Blue Heron Park, a move staff said would expand the park to roughly 100 acres and preserve green space that otherwise might be developed.

Parks staff said the parcel is largely wooded, was previously farmland that has grown into mature trees, and is adjacent to an existing back loop of Blue Heron Park. Staff described limited access to the parcel: it dead-ends behind a subdivision road and cannot be accessed directly from the existing park without traversing terrain.

“The developer wants to donate this 12 it's about 12 and a half acres to us,” the Parks and Recreation Director said, adding that the parcel is adjacent to Blue Heron Park. Staff said the city does not plan to develop the land during the current board’s tenure and noted the primary near-term benefit would be preserved open space; accepting the parcel would give the city control over how the land is used and managed.

Board members raised questions about liability and maintenance; staff said the city would not plan to mow or actively maintain the parcel immediately and that accepting it could provide the city the option to manage unauthorized camping or other uses.

Staff noted prior park expansions involving adjacent parcels used by Franklin College for biology classes and earlier purchases that secured trail rights near the creek. The board voted by voice to approve pursuing and accepting the donation; Chair (unnamed) moved the motion and a board member seconded.

Staff will pursue the transfer process and return to the board in the next one or two meetings with details about how the donation will be conveyed and any conditions associated with it.