People who haven’t visited W.J. Freeman Park recently are in for a surprise this weekend when they step into the lively world of the Bartlett Festival. The park is in the early stages of developing 54 acres.
Only 34 of the park’s 100 acres have ever been developed, although it is the city’s busiest park and one of its oldest, according to Parks and Recreation Director Shan Criswell. Input from citizens led to the decision to add more multipurpose fields and much more.
“We are really going to have something that they can look at and say, ‘We are proud we live here, because look at what we can come to. We’ve got everything here.’”
The survey done for the park’s master plan showed that much of the land is on the 100-year flood plain, making it unsuitable for big structure. But it’s perfect for more fields and other grounds development.
“If you’ve ever driven by the soccer complex on a Saturday, it’s jam packed – you can’t hardly get out,” Criswell said. “… We just need more space for kids to play.”
As she described the multi-phase project, Criswell also explained the funding. A large chunk of this project will be funded by a $1 million budget that arose from a $500,000 Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) grant from the State of Tennessee. With help from Susan Scott, administrative clerk for the department, Criswell wrote the grant, and the city won it. The city will be paying another $500,000 because it is a matching grant. The funds are reserved exclusively for W.J. Freeman Park, according to the terms of the grant.
Criswell said she hopes to wrap up all phases of the park’s improvements within the next seven to eight years, depending on funding.
Phase 1 is wrapping up with the completion of the brand-new park entrance on Bartlett Boulevard across from Ivanhoe Road. (For the festival, it will be open only to event participants who need to enter from this direction, such as the car show participants.) This new entrance also ties into nearby Veterans Park, accessible from Bartlett Road. Counting Freeman Park’s original entrance off Bartlett Boulevard, this new construction will give the city three points of access to the city’s largest park. Phase 1 also includes the addition a small parking lot.
Phase 2 will add two multipurpose fields near the existing cricket field (the only one in Shelby County) and add a large parking area. Bids are due back to the city in October. The two new fields will be irrigated, and lights will be added eventually.
Phase 3 will add another multipurpose field and then a large pavilion with restrooms. The pavilion will have the capacity to shelter the Farmers’ Market and give it more visibility.
The Pavilion Steering Committee is raising funds exclusively for use at Bartlett parks and has set up the Parks Foundation Fund (501c3) through the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. The current capital campaign is to raise more money for the new pavilion area. There will be a booth at this weekend’s Bartlett Festival where citizens can make donations. Donors also can visit cityofbartlett.org/1233/Bartlett-Parks-Foundation-Fund.
Criswell said she may be able to apply for another grant by the time she gets to Phase 3, as well.
Phase 4 will include a tiered grass amphitheater built into a hill behind the area currently used for Movies in the Park. The amphitheater will have a stage to be used for concerts, movies and other public events. This phase will also include more walking trails.
Phase 5 includes the public’s most-requested park feature: Disc golf. It will be in the currently undeveloped southwest corner of the park, accessible on foot via Magnolia Woods Drive. Disc golf will include an 18-hole course, an adventure playground, a restroom and another parking area. An adventure playground, such as the one at Shelby Farms, is a rustic play area for children.
“It’s going to be a really nice, nice, nice park – something Bartlett will be proud of forever,” Criswell said. “I’m really excited about it. It’s fun. It’s fun watching something come together.”
CAROLYN BAHM is the editor of The Bartlett Express. Contact her at (901) 433-9138 or via email to carolyn.bahm@journalinc.com.
