Bells Bend Environmental Park Master Plan · Master Plan to guide the city’s park system into the second century. The mas-ter plan recommended improvements and investments totaling

BellsBendEnvironmentalPark

MasterPlan

August2003


MasterPlan

August2003


MasterPlan

August2003

Preparedfor:CityofNashville

MetropolitanParksandRecreation

Preparedby:

InassociationwithJordan,JonesandGoulding

TableofContents

BellsBendEnvironmentalPark TOC-1

ReportContents

Acknowledgements ........................................ i

ExecutiveSummary ................................ Ex-1

Chapter1:Introduction .................................... 1

Chapter2:ProjectSite .................................... 3

Chapter3:MasterPlan .................................... 10

Chapter4:DevelopmentProgram ........................ 14

Chapter5:CostEstimates ................................ 25

Chapter6:ImplementationStrategy ........................ 33

Chapter7:ParkMaintenanceandOperations ............ 37

Appendices: AppendixA:SummaryofPublicInput AppendixB:SummaryofAPAMayorsForum AppendixC:GlossaryofTermsUsedinReport

Acknowledgements

BellsBendEnvironmentalPark Ac-1

ThankYou!TheCityofNashvilleandtheMetropolitanParksandRecreationDepartmentwishestoextendasincerethankyoutothefollowingpersons,organizationsandagenciesthathaveplayedasignificantroleinthepreparationofthisMasterPlanforBellsBendEnvironmentalPark.WewouldliketoparticularlythanktheRayBellFamilyandtheUrbanLandInstitutefortheirgenerousfinancialcontributionsandsupportofthisproject.

CitizensoftheScottsboroCommunityTheHonorableBillPurcell,MayorTheBrendaGilmore,Member,MetroCouncilDistrict1

BellsBendParkTechnicalAdvisoryCommitteeDanielBoone,TSRABillCoble,NashvilleGreenwaysCommissionTroyEttel,TennesseeWildlifeResourcesAgencySueFerguson,USArmyCorpsofEngineersMargoFarnsworth,CumberlandRiverCOMPACTChrisKoster,Mayor’sOfficeLisaMorris,USArmyCorpsofEngineersRobertParrish,MetroParksAnnTidwell,NashvilleGreenwaysCommissionJeanNelson,TennesseeLandTrustJerryStrother,USArmyCorpsofEngineers

MetroParksandRecreationStaffCurtGarrigan,InterimDirectorTimNetsch,ParkPlannerAnnHammond,MetropolitianPlanningDepartmentShainDennison,GreenwaysCoordinatorBillTroup,MetropolitianGreenwaysDepartmentBobParrish,WarnerParksNatureCenterSandyBivens,WarnerParksNatureCenter

ProjectConsultants:GreenwaysIncorporatedCharlesA.Flink,ASLA,PrincipalandProjectManagerHaleyBlakeman,ProjectDesignerMattHayes,GISSpecialistDaveJosephus,ProjectDesigner

Jordan,JonesandGouldingKarenHarrison,PE,ProjectEngineer

ExecutiveSummary

BellsBendEnvironmentalPark Ex-1

MasterPlanSummaryTheCityofNashvilleproposestotransforman808-acreparceloflandsituatedalongthenorthwestcorridoroftheCumberlandRiver,intheBellsBendarea,asanEnvironmentalPark.Originallyidentifiedasapossiblesolidwastelandfillintheearly1990’s,MayorBillPurcellchosetopreservethisundevelopedpropertyalongtheCumberlandRiverinfall2001andpermanentlytransferittotheMetroParksDepartment.Shortlyafterpropos-ingtheareaasparkland,theMayorexplainedtheeconomicimpactandbenefitofthelandinacasestudytotheAmericanPlanningAssociationCityParksForum(CPF),whichresultedina$35,000grantaward.NashvillewasoneoffourcitiesinthenationlastyeartoreceivetheCPFCatalystGrantforresearchandplanningthedesignandrevitalizationofurbanparksandopenspaces.Thisgrantwasthenmatchedbyalocalresident,RayBell,by$50,000.

Whenfullydeveloped,theBellsBendEnvironmentalParkwillbecomethefourthlargestgreenspaceinMetro’sparksystem.Theparkwillbecomeascenic,naturallandscapethatsupportshabitatforplants,migratorybirdsandotherwildlife.Themasterplanforthepark,definedinthisreport,pro-videsablueprintforthepreservationofnaturalopenspace,solvesques-tionsofaccessandprogramming,andcontainsguidelinesandstrategiesforintegratingthisrural,isolatedriversidepropertyintothecity’soverallparks,greenways,andopenspace.In2002,MayorPurcellappropriated$750,000tobeginimmediateimplementationoftheplanonceitiscompleted.

“Aclearintentoftheprojectistoeducatethepublicaboutthevalueofgreenspacewithinanincreasinglyurbanandcontinuallydevelopingcity,”explainedInterimMetroParkDirectorCurtGarrigan“TheMayor’sCaseStudyonBell’sBend,whichhepresentedtotheCityParksForum,identifiedthemajorchallengesthelandpresentedwhichtheMayorfeltcouldbead-dressedinamasterplan.”

TheBell’sBendEnvironmentalParkMasterPlan: • IdentifiesadiverseprogramofParkusesthatiscompatiblewiththe

property,sensitivetothesite’snaturalandculturalresources,andcapitalizesontheuniquecharacteristicsofBellBend.KeyelementsofthemasterplanincludeanEnvironmentalEducationCenter,20milesofhiking,bicyclingandequestriantrails,interpretiveprogramsthatrevealtheuniquenaturallandscapesandculturalheritageofthesite,anew10-acrelaketosupportintroductoryboatingandfishingandaprimitivegroupcampingfacility.

ExecutiveSummary

Ex-2 BellsBendEnvironmentalPark

•Resultsinstrategiesandsolutionsforaccessingtheproperty,includ-ingpedestrian,vehicular,andmarineaccess,aswellascompliancewithAmericanswithDisabilityActguidelines;

•Developsdesignsolutionsthataddresstheadjacentwastewatertreat-mentfacility,andeffectivelyintegrateaestheticsandtherecommend-edprogramuseswhilepreservingtheruralcharacterofthearea;

•Definesthebufferingandotherdesigndevelopmentactionsneces-sarytoassurepreservationoftheopenspaceandcompatibleadja-centpropertyuses;

•Servestoeducatethecommunityaboutthesignificanceofpreservinggreenspaceandencouragingtheexplorationofnaturalenvironmentsinarapidlygrowingurbanarea.

TheBell’sBendinitiativeispartofMayorPurcell’sParksandGreenwaysMasterPlantoguidethecity’sparksystemintothesecondcentury.Themas-terplanrecommendedimprovementsandinvestmentstotaling$262mil-lionoverthenexttenyears.Thefirstyear’sfundingin2002of$35milliontoimproveparksandgreenwayswasthelargestsingleappropriationinthehistoryofMetro’sParksDepartment.Thefunding,allocatedbyMayorPurcellandadoptedbyMetroCouncil,representsthefirststepincreatingaworld-classparksystemthatwillhaveasignificantimpactonthewayweuseourparksnowandinthefuture.

TheconsultantfortheprojectisGreenwaysIncorporatedfromDurham,NorthCarolinainassociationwithJordan,JonesandGouldingofNashville,TN.GreenwaysIncorporatedisamultidisciplinaryenvironmentalplan-ningandlandscapearchitecturefirmthatspecializesinprovidingconsult-ingservicestogovernmentagencies,for-profitcorporationsandnonprofitorganizations.Thefirmspecializesingreenways,alternativetransportation,rail-to-trails,openspaceandparkplanning,design,developmentandman-agement.TheyhaveprovidedservicestoCanada,JapanandVenezuelaandmorethan100communitiesin27states.

TheCityParksForumisaprogramoftheAmericanPlanningAssocia-tion,whosemissionistoadvancetheartandscienceofurban,ruralandregionalland-useplanning.Formoreinformation,visitAPA’swebsiteatwww.planning.org.TheCityParksForumismadepossiblebytheWallace-Reader’sDigestFundsandtheDorisDukeCharitableFoundation.

BellsBendEnvironmentalParkMasterPlan

ChapterOne:Introduction

ChapterOne-Introduction

BellsBendEnvironmentalPark 1

ProjectOverviewBell’sBendParkisan808-acretractoflandlocatedalongthenorthwestcor-ridoroftheCumberlandRiver.Identifiedasapossiblelandfillintheearly1990’s,MayorBillPurcellchoseinsteadtopreservetheundevelopedprop-ertyalongtheCumberlandRiverinfall2001asafuturepark.

ThepurposeofthisMasterPlanistoprovidetheCityofNashvillewithaframeworkandactionplannecessarytodeveloptheBellsBendEnviron-mentalPark.Towardthisend,theMasterPlandefinesadevelopmentpro-gramfortheparkthatwillservethefuturerecreationneedsofthecitizensofNashville.TheMasterPlanoffersavisionforcompletingthedevelopmentprograminphases,andanimmediateactionplanforconstructingparkfa-cilitieswithinthenexttwoyears.

ThisplandescribesandillustrateshowpublicservicesoftheParkwillbephysically,fiscallyandoperationallyaccommodatedwithintheprojectsite.Theshort-termactionplanprovidesthecitywithworktasksthatrequireimmediateactionsothattheParkcanbegintoservepublicpurposes.Thisshort-termprograminvolvestheconstructionoftrails,entryroads,publicparking,andsignatureentrywaysintothePark.

ThisMasterPlanwaspreparedbyGreenwaysIncorporatedofDur-ham,NorthCarolina,anenvironmentalplanningandlandscapearchi-tecturefirmthatspe-cializesinopenspace,greenway,multi-usetrailandparkfacilityplan-ning,designanddevel-opment.GreenwaysInc.

BellsBendProjectSite

ChapterOne-Introduction

2 BellsBendEnvironmentalPark

teamedwithJordan,JonesandGouldingofNashville,TNtopreparethisMasterPlan.Theconsultant’seffortsweresupplementedbythevision,goalsandeffortsofMayorPurcell,MetroParksstaff,atechnicaladvisorycommit-tee,andthepublicinputofinterestedresidentsfromNashvilleandDavid-sonCounty.

InordertoprepareadevelopmentprogramforthePark,thecarryingcapac-ityoftheprojectsitewasassessedandmatchedwiththefutureimplicationsofdesignrecommendations.Theconsultantmadeeveryefforttobecomeknowledgeablewiththephysical,ecologicalhistoricalandculturalparam-etersoftheland.Buildingonthisbackgroundinformation,theconsultantmetonseveraloccasionswiththeMetroParksstaff,technicaladvisorycom-mitteeandcitizensinopenpublicmeetingstodefinethedesiredfacilitiesforthePark.AsaresultofthesemeetingsitwasdeterminedthattheprimaryobjectivesofthisMasterPlanaretoprovidearealisticstrategyanddevelop-mentprogramforanenvironmentalparktobalanceecologicalsustainabil-ity,promotelandstewardshipandofferaccesstoarangeofdiverseoutdooractivitiestomeetfuturecommunityneeds.

Whenfullydeveloped,BellsBendEnvironmentalParkwillbecomethefourthlargestparkfacilitywithinthemetropolitanparksystem.Itwillofferresidentsaccesstoauniquearrayofrecreationandeducationactivities.


ChapterTwo:ProjectSite

ChapterTwo-ProjectSite


BellsBendParkSiteFeaturesNaturalFeaturesThepropertyisabeautiful,biologicallyuniqueandsceniclandscapealongtheCumberlandRiver.Characterizedbygentlyrollinghills,patchytreecover,andscenicviewsacrossopenagriculturalfields,itisatraditionalsouthernAmericanlandscapewhichretainsmuchofitshistoricalcharacter.ThewestsideofthepropertyabutstheCumberlandRiverandtheeastsidebordersOldHickoryBoulevard.Severalfarmpondsdottheproperty,andonenaturalsurfaceroadmeandersthroughthepropertyfromOldHickoryBoule-vardsouthtotheCumberlandfloodplainandreturnstoHickoryBlvd.neartheproperty’swesternedge.Thepropertycanbedescribedingreaterdetailbyexaminingseveralcomponentparts.

LandMorphologyRecenthistoryindicatesthatthelandformhaslargelybeenunchangedbyhumankindorhumanactions.Thegentlyrollinghillswerecreatedbytheerosionfromthesurroundingsmallmountainsjusteastofthesiteandmove-mentoftheCumberlandRiver.Despite150yearsofagriculturalpracticesandintensivemanagementofuplandareas,mostofthelandformcontinuestoevolveatthewillofnature,ratherthanatthehandofhumans.Thefarm-landhasoccurredonthehills,avoidingthesteepervalleys.

ThemajorlandformfeatureistheCumberlandRiver,thevalleysformedbythehydrologyflowingintotheriver,andpredominantlygentleslopinghills.Thesiteischaracterizedbytwomajorravineswithafewplateaus.ThesecreekravinesmaketheirwaytotheCumberlandRiver.Gentlyslopinglandsgivewaytothefloodplainandbottomlandsalongtheriver.

Elevationsthroughoutthepropertyrangefromahighpointof154mabovesealevelneartheintersectionofthepropertylooproadandOldHickoryBlvd,to117mabovesealevelattheCumberlandRiver,onthewesternedgeoftheproperty.Thetopography’sdirectionissomewhatvariable,withthemajorityoftheslopesfacingtheWest.Althoughmostlygentle,thesteepest





slopesarefoundinthesoutheasternportionofthesiteabovethefloodplainandalongthepredominantsoutheasternstreamchannel.Thesoilsconsistofarangeofdeep,welldrainedsiltyloams.Arringtonseriesisfoundalongtheriverformedfromsiltyalluvium.Thesesoilsarefloodedforbriefperiods,havemoderatepermeability,andmediumtoslowsurfacerunoff.Lindellseriesisfoundinthefloodplainareaformedinloamyalluviumandhasmoderatepermeabilityandslowrunoff.Armourandmimosasoilsdominatethehigherelevationsofthesitesalonggentleslopesandstreamterraces.Theyhavemoderatepermeabilityandmediumrunoffpotential.

Mostsoilatthissiteisclassifiedasslightlyerodible.Thus,vegetativecoverisimportanttoensureprotectionofthesoillayer,andlandusepracticesonsideslopescouldthreatentheecologicalstabilityofthepropertyandmustbetakenintoconsideration.

HydrologyAspreviouslystated,theCumberlandRiveristhemajorrivercorridoratthewesternedgeoftheproperty.About30%ofthepropertyisinthefloodplainandfloodwayoftheCumberland.

Thesiteiscomprisedoftwoperennialstreams,threeintermittentstreams,andthreewetlandareas.ThetwoperennialsthatflowacrossthenorthernendofthepropertyareMcCordHol-lowCreekandPoplarHollowCreek.McCordHollowCreekflowsintothenorthwestendofthepropertyandis15feetwide,increasingto25feetwidebeforefeedingintotheCumber-land.PoplarHollowCreekmeandersacrosstheentirepropertyfromOldHickoryBoulevardandalsowidensto25feetanddeepensasitenterstheCumberland.Thesecreeksaresitu-atedinnarrowravinesthataresurroundedby

gentleslopes.Thereisanothersignificantravinerunningnorthtosouthonthesouthernendoftheproperty,forminganunnamed,intermittentcreekthatisapproximately5feetwide,increasingto15feetwidejustbeforeenteringtheCumberlandRiver.Theelevationdropofthistributarystreamissteepenoughtoencourageswiftlyflowingwaterduringrainstorms.Incombinationwithslightlyerodiblesoils,thenatureandcharacterofthesestreamsrepresentfragileandvulnerablecomponentsofthehydrology,and





shouldbeprotectedfromdegradationbyalandusemanagementplan.

Thewetlandareasencompassatotalofapproximately2.8acres.ThelargewetlandfoundalongtheMcCordHollowCreekis2.53acres.TwosmallerwetlandareasalongthePoplarHollowCreekareapproximately0.11acreand0.16acrerespectively.

ThefloodplainsofbothperennialstreamsandtheintermittentravinearefairlynarrowbutdoextendhalfwayacrossthesitefromtheCumberlandRivertoOldHickoryBlvd.Thelackofawidefloodplainreducestheabilityofborderingriparianlands,tomitigatetheimpactsoffrequentflooding,andabsorbtoxicchemicalsandsedimentsthatflowfromuplandareas.

Severalsmallpondsthatwerebuiltforagriculturalpurposesarescatteredthroughouttheproperty.Thesepondsmayserveseveralhydrologicfunc-tionsbytrappinguplandsediment,surfacerunoffanddebris.Inaddition,thepondssupportotherformsofaquaticwildlifenotfoundinthecreeksandstreams.Someofthepondswerestockedwithbassandbluegills.

Itiscriticaltounderstandthetopographyandhydrologyintheoverallplan-ninganddesignofthesite.Thesedeterminetheflowofnutrientsandwaterandthushabitatsacrossthesite.Poorlandusemanagementcouldseverelydamagetheecologicalbalanceofthesite,thusreducingenvironmentalca-pabilitiesanddestroyingimportanthabitatforaquaticandterrestrialwildlife.

VegetationThemajorityofthesiteiscomposedofagriculturalfieldswithpatchytreecover.Themajorityofthesiteisacombinationofcultivated,fallow,aban-doned,andpasturedagriculturalfields.Thesefieldsarethebyproductsofagriculturalpracticesthathavebeeninoperationforyears.Currently,soybeansarethemaincropgrownonthesite,alongwithsomecorn.Inadditiontotheplant-edpasturegrasses,corn,andsoybean,theup-landfarmfieldscontainbuttercup,wildgarlic,andcocklebur.

Smallwoodedareasarelocatedalongdrain-ageways,streams,andonsteeperslopes.Theexistingtreecoverisprimarilyclimaxforest.AthinlineoftreesalsorunsalongtheCumber-landRiver.Thescattereduplandwoodedareasaredominatedbynorthernredoak,chinquapin





oak,Japanesehoneysuckle,chervil,andsessiletrillium.Thewetlandandcreekspeciesincludetheboxelder,hackberry,andsedges.

WildlifeSeveraltypesofanimalsinhabitthesite.Amongtheseareturkey,deer,coy-ote,beaver,bobcat,eagles,andfox.Yellow-belliedwoodpecker,sapsucker,peregrinefalcon,sandhillcranes,Americanpipits,woodpeckers,hornedlarks,redbreastednuthatchandwrenshavealsobeenobservedontheproj-ectsite.Thehabitatfortheseanimalsshouldbeprotectedwhendesigningthenaturepark.

ClimateLocatedinthetemperatezone,thisareahasagenerallymildclimateyearround,butstillexperiencesfourseasons.Theaveragehightemperatureinwinterisnear50degreesFahrenheitandaveragelowisnear30degreesFahrenheit.Theaverageannualsnowfallisaboutafoot.Springtempera-turesrangefrom55to75degreesFahrenheit.Summersbringwarmweatherandhighhumiditywithaveragehighscloseto90degreesFahrenheitwithaveragelowsnear70degreesFahrenheit.RainfalliswelldistributedthroughouttheyearwithpeaksinMarchandMayandloweramountsinthefall.

BuiltFeaturesSomebuildingsarestillstandingonthesite.Themajorityofbuildingsare

foundintwogroups,oneonthenorthendatthemiddleentryroadandanotheratthesouthendentryroad,withinviewofOldHickoryBlvd.

TheJohnBellHome,isthelargeyellowhouseonthesouthend.Thehousewasbuiltinsever-alsections.Theoldestsectionistheloghouse,whichwasbuiltaroundthe1840’s.AsmallbuildingintherearoftheBellHomehousedprisonersduringtheCivilWar.TwobarnsareassociatedwiththeBellHouse.Theoneonthesouthernsideofthehouseisthelargestbarnon

thesiteanditisinmoderatecondition.Theotherbarnisinpoorcondition.

Thesmalleryellowhouseatthemiddleentryroadisinmoderatecondi-tion.Thehistoryofthishouseisunknown.Awhitehousethatcanbefound





alongPoplarHollowCreekisinpoorcondition,thoughthesmallbarnad-jacenttothehouseisinmoderatecondition.Nohistoryisknowforeitherofthesebuildings.

Scatteredabandonedbarnsandresidentialstructuresarealsofoundthrough-outthesite.MostarewithinviewingdistanceofOldHickoryRoad.Theyareallinpoorcondition.

SignificantArcheologicalSitesThereareapproximately30recordedarchaeologicalsitesontheproperty,includingavillageandthreecemeteries.Severalofthecemeterysitesareasrecentasthe1900’s.OtherscontainartifactsfromNativeAmericans.TheseNativeAmericanopen-habitation,vil-lage,andburialsiteshavebeenfoundtodatefromthePaleo-Archaic,Archaic,Woodland,andMississippianperiods(10,000B.C.-1,700A.D.).DuringthePaleo-ArchaicandArchaicPeriods(10,000B.C.-1,000B.C.),thefirstpeo-plewerepredominantlyhunter-gather-ersandbegantobuildsemi-permanentandpermanentvillagesastheIceAgecametoanend.TheWoodlandPeriod(1,000B.C.-900A.D.)sawtheadvanceofagriculturalpracticesandanincreaseinpermanentvillages.TheMississip-pianPeriod(900A.D.-1700A.D.)rep-resentedthehighpointofAmerindiancivilizationsascities,temples,buildings,canals,trade,andadvancedagri-cultureandaquacultureweredeveloped.TheCherokeeTribeinhabitedthisareaduringtheMississippianperiodbeforeEuropeancolonization.

Therearemanyaspectstotheimportanceandconsiderationofarchaeologi-calremainsintheplanninganddevelopmentofthissite.Earlydiscussion,understanding,andappropriatemanagementofarchaeologicalresourcesarethereforeessentialtoensurethatinformed,proper,andeffectivedecisionsaremade.Sensiblesolutionstothetreatmentofthissitereducetheareasofpotentialconflictbetweendevelopmentandpreservation.Archaeologicalremainsareanirreplaceable,finite,andnon-renewableresource,andirre-placeableevidenceofthepastdevelopmentofcivilizations.





Archaeologicalsitesthatcontainburialsareconsideredcemeteriesunderlawandmustbetreatedassuch.ItisalsoimportanttodirectlyconsultwithCherokeedescendantsofthearea.Forexample,theCherokeehaverecentlysupportedthecoveringofarchaeologicalsites,includingburialgrounds,with3-4feetminimumfillsoilbeforeallowingactivities.Thefillwouldhavetobeplacedontheexistingsurfacewithoutremovingthetopsoil,assomeofthegravesarewithin6inchesofthesurface.Nostructureswouldbeallowedontopofthisfill,thoughlimitedrecreationalactivitiescouldbepermitted.

BellsBendEuropeanHistoryThepeoplesettlingthisregionweremostlyScots-Irish,AfricanAmerican,German,andItalian.Ingeneral,theGermanstookbettercareoftheirlandandhadsmallerfarms.TheScots-Irishweremorerestlessandmovedaroundclearingnewland.TheItaliansstartedvineyardsandhadwinecel-lars.TheAfricanAmericanfamilieswereemployedonthelargeproductivefarmsneartheCumberlandRiver.Allwereexcellentfarmers,anduntilthelate1920’s,theareawasalmostentirelyagricultural,withsmallfamilyfarmsthroughouttheregionandlargerfarmsadjacenttotheCumberland.Over-all,thepeopleoftheareawereconservativeintheirthinkingandpoliticswithemphasisontradition,religiousworship,characterbuilding,andfam-ily.

InDecember1864,theCivilWarBattleofBellsMillwasfoughtashortdis-tancefromCleesFerry,locatedatthepresentdayterminusofOldHickory

Boulevard.Thefightinglastedfortwoweeks.LargeconfederategunswerestationedonthesouthsideoftheCumberlandRiver.Groundtroopsengagedeachotheronbothsidesoftheriver.

Theprohibitionperiodofthe1920’swasanexcitingandembarrassingtimeforthepeopleofthisarea.Theregionhadover40%ofthewhiskeystillsinthecounty.Racketeersandadventurerscametothisnaturalenvironmenttotakeachanceatbecomingwealthythroughthemanufacturingofillegalmoonshine.Dur-

ingtheprohibitionperiod,lawenforcementofficialsweresurprisedatthenumberofwhiskeystills.InonespotcheckofonesquaremileoftheBellsBendarea,tenstillswerefound.





Neighborsandfriendshelpedeachotherintimesofdisasterorillness.TheworserecordedfloodoftheCumberlandRiveroccurredin1926-1927.RobertG.Buchanan’s600acrefarmnearCleesFerrywascompletelyunderwater.Familiesworkeddayandnighthelpingneighborsmovetheirbelong-ings,includinglivestocktohigherground.Familiessharedstaplegroceries,helpedeachotherfeedmaroonedlivestock,anddividedmedicinesuntilthewaterreceded.In1929,thestockmarketcrashledtothedramaticfallinfarmproductprices.Barelyrecoveredfromtheflood,thefarmersalongtheCumberlandRiverstruggledandmanyhadtheirfarmsmortgaged.Entirefamiliesworkedsidebysidetokeepfromlosingtheirfarms.Manydifferentformsofrecreationoccurredinthearea.Raccoonhuntingwasverypopularandprofitableovertheyears,andrabbit,squirrelandquailhuntershavebeenplentifulsincetheCivilWar.Agreatdealoffoxhunt-ingoccurredaroundWorldWarI.Manyboysintheareaenjoyedfightingbumblebeesforsport.Armedwithapaddleineachhand,boyswouldat-tackthecolonyandoftenbeforcedtoretreat.AnothersportenjoyedatthetimewasridingthewavesbehindtheCumberlandsteamboats.Boyswouldmaneuvertheircanoesbehindthebigwheeltocrossthewaves.




ChapterThree:MasterPlan

ChapterThree-MasterPlan


ParkDevelopmentFrameworkThelandthatcomprisestheBell’sBendEnvironmentalParkisbothbeau-tifulandauniquepartofthegeographyoftheNashvilleandDavidsonCountymetroarea.Futureparkdevelopmentwillrespectthesequalitiesofthelandscapeandwillalsoservetoenhancethesefeaturesthroughfutureconstructionandoperationalactivities.Thischapterofthemasterplandescribesthephilosophythathasbeenusedtoplanforparkfacilitiesandactivities,andprovideaframeworkforfutureparkdevelopment.Thisframe-workwillbeusedtoguidedecisionmakingandshapetheday-to-dayaccessandmanagementprogramsofthepark.

DesignwithNatureOneofthemostimportantprincipalsofparkdesignanddevelopmentwillbetorespecttheinherentbeautyandfunctionalcharacteristicsofthenativeparklandscape.“DesignwithNature”wasfirstintroducedbythelateIanMcHarg,apioneerinenvironmentalplanningandlandscapearchitecture.Thedesignwithnatureprocessstressestheimportanceofunderstandingnaturallandscapesandtheirecosystems,andworkingwiththisunderstand-ingtomaximizeecologicalsustainabilityaswellashumanuseandenjoy-ment.

AprincipalfeatureofBell’sBendEnviron-mentalParkisitslocationontheCum-berlandRiver.ThegeomorphologyoftheCumberlandhasbeenthemostinfluentialforceonthelandforthousandsofyears.NativeAmericansunderstoodthebountyandseverityoftheriveranduseditsfertilefloodplainforagricultureandcommunitylife.Today,thelandofBell’sBendcon-tinuestobeheavilyinfluencedbytheriver.TheParksiteisanimportantcompo-nentoftheMetroParksSystemandisalsoakeywesternlandscapefortheMetroGreenwaySystem.

Thepresentdaylandscapeistheproductofmorethan100yearsofagricul-turalactivity.Withoutthisactivity,thelandscapewouldreturntoitsnativehabitat,whichwouldconsistofforestandmeadowlandscapes.Thedesignprogramfortheparkwillrespectthisriver-influencedlandscapeandwillseektoorientvisitorstothewealthofnaturalresourcesthatexistandcanreemergeovertime.





InterpretingLandandCultureThelandscapeofBell’sBendEnvironmentalParkalsotellsauniquestoryofhumanoccupation,settlementandactivity.ThereareancientNative

Americanburialgrounds,thehistorichomesiteofJohnBell,forwhomBell’sBendisnamed,andaseriesofagriculturalbuildingsthroughouttheparklandscape.Theparkdesignprogramwillseektopreserveandprotectthisheritage.Futureparkdevelopmentwillofferinterpretationprogramsandfacilitiessothatvisitorswillhaveanopportunitytolearnaboutthediversityofusesthathaveoccurredontheland-scape.

Bell’sBendEnvironmentalParkwillalsobecomepartofalargerenvironmentalandculturalinterpretationprogramsponsoredbyMetroParks.Throughthiscommunity-wideprogram,NashvilleresidentshaveanopportunitytovisitavarietyofMetroParksandlearnaboutthenaturalenviron-mentandculturalheritageoftheregion.Learningopportu-nitiesareavailableforallagesandservetoenrichthelives

ofNashvilleresidentseachandeveryday.

LowImpactDevelopmentStrategyFutureparkdevelopmentshouldalsoshowcaselowimpactdesignandconstructiontechniques.Theparkprogramshould“treadlightly”onthelandandseektopreservethenativelandforms,vegetation,hydrologicsystemsandecologyofthesite.Itmustbeunderstoodthat100yearsofagriculturalpursuitshavealteredthesenaturalfeatures.Majorlandformmodificationhasnotoccurredandmanyofthenaturalfeaturesnecessarytorecreatena-tiveecologicallandscapesarestillpresent.

Thedesignprogramfortheparkshouldstressminimumintru-sionandlowimpactfacilities.Buildingsshouldhavesmallfootprintswherepossible.Roads,parkinglotsandpavedtrailsshouldbeconstructedwithporousmaterialstoencour-agedrainage.Greywaterdischargeshouldbetreatedpriortobeingreleasedontotheland.Theseandothersimilarlowimpactdevelopmentpursuitswillensurethattheparkbe-comesamodelofecologicallysustainablelanddevelopment.

Withalocationthatis20minutesdrivingtimefromdown-townNashville,theparkoffersauniqueopportunitytoserve





theinterestsofvisitorsbyreplicating,tothemaximumdegreepossible,thenativelandscapesoftheregion.Thiswillenableparkvisitorsto“stepbackintime”andexperiencethelandscapesoftheCumberlandRiverasNativeAmericansmighthaveknownthemthousandsofyearsearlier.

AlternativeEnergySourcesTotheextentpractical,theparkshouldmakeuseofalternativeenergysourcestopowerparkprogramsandoperations.Theuseofbothsolarandwindpowershouldbeconsideredwhereitispracti-calandfunctionaltotheoperationofparkfacilities.Bothofthesealternativeenergysourcesareecologicallysus-tainableandenvironmentallyfriendly.Solarpowercanprovideelectricityforbathrooms,emergencyphonesandinterpretivedisplays.Windmillscanpowernighttimelightingforparkinglotsandbuildings.Opportunitiesexisttoutilizetheseenergysourcestoen-hancetheenvironmentalthemeoftheparkandcreateamodelforotherparkdevelopmentprojectsthroughouttheMetroParkssystem.

AParkforFamiliesBell’sBendEnvironmentalParkwillbedesignedasaparkforfamilies.Theactivitieswithintheparkwillbedevelopedtosuittheneedsoffamilieswithchildrenandpersonswhomightbeexperiencingaformofoutdoorrecre-ationfortheveryfirsttime.Thisthemewasemphasizedthroughseveralmeet-ingswithresidentsofthecommunitywhoexpressedtheneedofhavingaparktovisitthatoffersfamilyorientedactivities.

SomethingforEveryoneTheproposedparkwillhostavarietyofpassiveandenvironmentallyorientedrecreationactivitiesincludinghiking,



cycling,primitivecamping,canoeingandboating,lakeandriverfishing,horsebackriding,naturestudies,picnicking,mountainbicycling,NativeAmericaninterpretation,andbirding.

ADayofActivitiesMostactivitieswithintheparkwillofferintroductorylevelopportunitiesforvisitors.Trailhikesandrideswillbeshortandoccupyvisitorsforaboutahalfday.Canoeingandboatingfacilitieswillofferintroductoryleveltrain-ingfornovicewatercraftuse.Primitivecampingwillprovideanintroduc-tiontoovernightoutdooruse.Environmentaleducationandinterpretationwillfocusonshortprograms.Theparkwillprovidediverseactivitiesandopportunitiesforfamiliestovisitforadayandleavewithabetterunder-standingandappreciationforthenativeenvironmentalandculturalheritageoftheregion.

EducationandStewardshipOneofthebestfeaturesofthefutureparkwillbeitsabilitytoprovideadi-verseeducationalprogramtovisitors.Environmentaleducationisthemostapparentopportunity,boththroughprogrammingandinterpretation.ForsomeNashvilleresidents,avisittotheparkmayprovidetheirfirstexperi-enceofcampingovernight,orlearningtofishandtocanoeonalakeorriv-er.Additionally,stewardshipofnaturalresourcescanalsobeanemphasisofparkuseandenjoyment.Visitorscanparticipateinenvironmentalsteward-

shipactivitiessponsoredbyMetroParks,andcanlearnaboutstewardshipbyparticipatinginnor-malprogrammingandparkactivities.Instillinganenvironmentalethicoflandandwaterstew-ardshipshouldbeagoaloftheparkandcanbeachievedthroughparkdesign,developmentandprogramming.


ChapterFour:DevelopmentProgram

ChapterFour-DevelopmentPlan


ParkDevelopmentThedevelopmentprogramforBellsBendEnvironmentalParkmeetstheobjectivesoutlinedinChapter3andprovidesforanintegratedstrategyforbuildingadiverserangeoffacilities.AttheheartoftheparkwillbeanEnvironmentalEducationalCenter.Theparkwillalsohostmilesofhik-ing,equestrian,mountainbikingandinterpretivetrails.Anewlakeatthenorthwestcorneroftheparkwillofferopportunityforboatingandfishing.Aprimitivecampingfacilitywillbebuiltnearthelake.Atthesoutheasterncornerofthepark,aequestrianfacilitywillbeinstalled.AdjacenttothisfacilitythehistoricJohnBellhousewillberestoredtoserveasthefuturehomeofaparkranger.Thesefacilitiesaredescribedingreaterdepthonthefollowingpages.

EnvironmentalEducationCenterAkeycomponentoftheBellsBendEnvironmentalParkwillbeanenviron-mentaleducationcenterlocatedononeofthehighestelevationswithinthepark.Facilitieswithintheenvironmentaleducationcentercouldincludesmallclassrooms,exhibitrooms,aninformalmulti-mediatheater,smallmeetingrooms,andscientificlaboratories.Thesefacilitieswouldbesupplementedwithoutdoorfacilitiesincludinganoutdoorclassroomandaninterpretivetrailssystem.Fieldtripswithintheparkcanexploretheuniquebiologicaldiver-sitypresentwithinvariousecologicalsettings,aswellastheuniqueculturalsiteswithintheparkincludingNativeAmeri-canburialsites.

ThebuildingthatisconstructedtohousethecentershouldbedesignedtoreflecttheheritageofBellsBend.A“dairybarn”typestruc-turewouldbestsymbolizetheagricul-turalheritageoftheregionallandscape.Otherarchitecturalstylescouldbeappropriateaswell.Oneconceptthatcouldbeconsideredwouldbetocon-ducta“barnraising”eventastheCen-teriscompleted.Abarnraisingeventcouldattractprivatesectorsupportfortheparkandcreateanopportunitytoin-volveabroadcrosssectionofthemetrocommunityinbuildingportionsoftheparkenvironment.





EducationprogramsforchildrencouldbecoordinatedwiththeNashvilleMetroschoolsystemtoensurethattheycomplementandenrichexistingcurriculums.

AdultenvironmentaleducationcanbemadeavailabletoarearesidentsthroughactivitiesheldattheCenter.Theseprogramscouldincludehouse-holdrecycling,householdtoxicwastehandlinganddisposal,waterusemanagementtechniquesforthehome,effectivewaterlesslandscaping(xeri-scaping)forthehome,andotherinnovativeprogramsthatcommunicateanenvironmentallylow-impactlifestyletocommunityresidents.

Signagesystemsforenvironmentaleducationwouldbeveryimportantinordertoaddressthefullrangeofactivitiesavailablewithinthepark.Sig-nageforenvironmentaleducationwouldbeinadditiontorecreationaltrailsignage.It’sprimaryfunctionwouldbetoillustrateanimportantscientificfactaboutauniqueecologicalconditionortoinformavisitoraboutanexperimentthatiscurrentlybeingconductedaspartoftheenvironmentaleducationprogram.

ShorthikingtripsfromtheCentercanleadvisitorstohistoricsiteswithinthepark.AMetroParksinterpretercouldconductabriefprogramthatdescribesthesignificanceofahistoricsiteorlandscapefeature.

AerialViewofEnvironmentalEducationCenter





Camping,BoatingandFishingCenterCamping,boatingandfishingarethreeactivitiesproposedforthepark.Campingintheparkwillbelimitedtoaprimitivestyle,forsingletentusers.Fishingwillbeofferedatanewlyconstructedlakewithinthepark,whichwillbeappropriatelystockedwithgamefish,andinstreamswithintheparkandalongtheCumberlandRiver.Thenewlakewillalsoprovidevisitorswithaccesstocanoe,kayakandboatrentals.

RenovationofTenantHouseTheexistingyellowtenanthousewillbemovedfromitscurrentlocationonOldHickoryBoulevardandwillberenovatedtoserveastheparkCamping,FishingandBoatingCenter.Thereno-vatedhousewillbewhereparkvisitorsregisterforcamping,fishingandboatingactivitiesandwillbeabletoobtainin-formationaboutthepark.Renovationstothehouseshouldincludereworkingthefrontentryway,enlargingexistingbathrooms,installingacentralaircon-ditioningsystem,andinstallinganewroof.

PrimitiveGroupCampSitesAprimitive,groupcampingareawillbedevelopedwithinthenorthwestcorneroftheparkjustnorthofthesiteforanewlake.Tentsiteswillbeaminimumof16squarefeet,andleveltoslightlyslopedforproperdrainage.Eachtentsitewillneedtobegrubbedoftreestumps,treerootsandrocks.Camperswillneedtomakeareser-vationthroughtheparkonafirst-come-first-servebasis.Thereservationsystemisthebestpolicyandprovidesgreatercontrolandsafetyofthecampsites.Asmalldepositforcampsiteswillalsoensureproperusebyappropriatecampers.

WaterandBathroomFacilities





Thecampgroundwillprovidebothwaterandbathroomfacilitiesforcamp-ers.Potablewaterwillbeprovidedthroughaspigotfromalocalwell.ToiletscanbeassimpleasClivusMultrum(selfcompostingtoilets)orcanbehookedtoasepticdrainfield.

FirePitsandSolidWasteDisposalCamperswillbeprovidedwithplaceswheretheycanbuildfires.Firewoodisacommodityandshouldbesoldtocampers.Thesaleoffirewoodalsopreventscampersfromscavengingfortheirownandpreventsunwanteddestructionoflivingvegetation.Theburningoffiresshouldbelimitedtofirepitslocatedateachcampsite.

Solidwastedisposalisalwaysaproblemincampgrounds.Thiscanbeman-agedbetterifMetroParksencouragescampersto“pack-outwhatyoubringin.”Evenwiththisformalruleofcamping,strategicallylocatedsolidwastetrashbinsshouldbeprovidedforthosecamperswhodon’tfollowtherules.Solidwastelittercollectionwillalsoneedtobeincorporatedintothecamp-groundmanagementplan.

SignageandLightingSystemCampsitesshouldbenumberedforeaseoflocation.Attheentrancetothecampground,adirectionalboardshoulddisplayallcampsitesandde-notewhicharecurrentlyoccupied.Thedirectionalsystemshouldbeeasyenoughtofollowduringthedayandafternightfall.Lowlevelfootlightsshouldbeinstalledsothatcampersareabletofindbathroomsandpotablewaterstationsafternightfall.

LakeDevelopment





Anewrecreationallakeisproposedforconstructionwithintheparkwhichcanserveasafuturefishingandboatingsite.This10to50-acrelakeispro-posedforconstructioninthenortheastcornerofthepark.Thislakewillbeopentothepublicforfishing,stockedwithgamefish,andwillsupportboat-ingaswell.Thelakeneedstobecarefullyconstructedtosupportadiversityofaquaticlife,includingplantsandanimals.Specificfishhabitatshouldalsobecreatedinordertoallowforthesurvivalofgamefish.ThelakewillbehydraulicallyconnectedtotheCumberlandRiverutilizinganexistingstreamchannelthatflowsintotheriver.Thiswillal-lowboaterstocomefromtheriverintothelaketoseekrefugeandtovisitthepark.Onepos-siblerouteofriverboatingwouldbeforparkuserstodrivetotheCleesFerryaccessattheendofOldHickoryBoulevardandcanoeandkayaktherivertothelakewithinthepark.

BoatandFishingRentalCenterTherenovatedtenanthousecouldserveasarentalfacilityforboatsandfishingequipment.Visitorswillbeabletorentcanoes,kayaksandflatbottomboatsforfishingonthelake.Instructorsincanoeing,kayakingandboatingwillalsobehousedatthisfacilityandwillbeabletoworkwithindividualsandgroupstoteachboatingandboatsafety.ItisalsoenvisionedthatthecenterwillserveasaplacewhereboaterscangetinstructionpriortocanoeingorkayakingontheCumberlandRiver.

BoardwalkandFishingPierAboardwalkandfishingpierwillbeinstalledalongthenorthernedgeofthe10-acrelaketoallowvisitorstowalkalongthelakeedgeandfishfromtheboardwalkandpier.Thiswillbea12-footwideboardwalk,wideenoughtofacili-tatetwowaytravelandstandinguse.

TrailsCampgroundtrailsshouldbedevelopedasbareearthfoot-paths.Careshouldbetakentoremoveroots,treestumpsandrocksfromthetreadsurface.Trailsshouldbeprovidedthatconnectcampsites,andthemainhikingandhorsebackridingtrails.Fishingtrailsshouldbedevelopedtoprovideaccesstotheproposedlake,streamsandCumberlandRiver.Thesealsoshouldbeprimitivefootpathsthatprovidealim-itednumberofaccesspointstothewatersedge.

RecreationalTrails





Therecreationaltrailsystemistheoneelementinthedevelopmentpro-gramthatservestotieallotherstogether.Becauseofthis,thesystemmustprovideaccessforawidevarietyoftrailusersandaccommodatearangeofuses.Thetrailsystemisdividedintofourprimarysubparts:hikingtrails,multi-usetrails,horsebackridingtrails,andmountainbicyclingtrails.

HikingTrailsHikingtrailsaretobeconstructedasanaturalsurface,supplementedinspecificareaswithappropriatedrainage,trailtreadstabilizationandfoot-bridges.Hikingtrailsshouldbeaminimumof4to6feetwidefortwo-wayuse.Theclearingheightaboveforestfloorshouldbe8feet.Anadditional

2footclearzoneoneithersideofthetrailisoptionalforareaswherepoisonivyisencounteredorroughterraindictates.

Trailconstructionisfairlysimple,involvingtheremovalofvegetationfromthepathoftravelandgrubbinganddisposalofstumps,treerootsandrockstoensureasmoothandlevelwalkingsurface.Maintenancealsotendstobefairlysimple.Theworstproblemsencoun-teredwithhikingtrailsareusuallypoordrainageandsoftsoils,whicharetypicallycorrectedonanas-neededbasis.

Woodenfootbridgesareanecessityformosthikingtrails,andwithintheparkthereareseverallocationswherefootbridgeswillberequired.Theeasiesttypeoffootbridgetoinstallisthelogfootbridge,whichconsistsoftwoorthreestraightlogpoleslaidhorizontallyacrossthestreamorriverandsecuredateitherendofthecross-

ingwithrope,wireoronaconcretefooting.Woodplanksarenailedper-pendiculartothepoles,andawoodhandrailisinstalledonatleastonesideofthebridge.

Multi-useTrailsMulti-usetrailsaredesignedandbuilttoaccommodateavarietyofusers,includingwalkers,joggers,parentswithbabystrollers,cyclistsandtrailuserswithdisabilities(confinedtowheelchairs,visuallyimpaired,hearingim-paired,elderlypersons).Multi-usetrailsshouldbeconstructedusinghardsurfacedmaterialssothattheyaresolid,smoothandeasilytraveledbyavarietyofusers.Normally,multi-usetrailsarebuiltoutofasphalt,crushedandcompactedlimestonescreenings,concreteorsoilcement.Trailwidthshouldbeaminimumof10feet,however12feetispreferredsoastosimul-





taneouslyaccommodatethemaximumnumberofusergroups.Trailclear-ingshouldprovideanadequateclearzoneof3feetoneitherside.Clearingheightfromforestfloorshouldbeaminimumof10feettoaccommodatealltypesofusers,especiallythoseonbicycles.

Multi-usetrailsaremoredifficultandexpensivetoconstructthanequestrianandhikingtrails.Thesubgrade(naturalearthsurface)needstobeproperlypre-paredsothatitissmoothandlevel.Ageotextilefabricisalwaysrecommend-edforinstallationbetweenthesubgradeandsubbase,thisdoublesthelifeofthetrailsurface,strengthensthetrailcrosssectiontosupportheavierloads,andal-lowstrailconstructiononsoftunsuitablesoils.Multi-usetrailmaintenancecanbeminimalifthetrailisproperlyconstructed!Ifpoorlyconstructed,trailmaintenancecanbeveryexpensiveandcontinuous.Routinetrailmainte-nanceincludesremovingtrash,debris,leavesandaccumulatedforestfloorlitter.Remedialmaintenancecanincluderepairingdamagedorfailedsec-tionsoftrailandreplacingvandalizedtrailsegments.Multi-usetrailsserveotherpurposes:asroadwaysforaccessofmaintenancevehiclestoforestrylands,lakes,ponds,streams,andothertrailsandfacilitiesofthepark.

EquestrianTrailsEquestriantrailsareproposedforthosepersonswhobringtheirownhorsestothepark,andunloadthemattheEquestrianCenterintheSoutheasterncornerofthepark.

Equestriantrailsareanaturalsurface,whichissup-plementedinspecificareaswithappropriatedrain-ageandtrailtreadstabilization.MetroParkswantsequestriantrailstobeamulti-usetrailsupportingbothequestrianandhikinguses.Toaccomplishthis,thesetrailsneedtobeclearedtoawidthof10feet,toallowtwohorsestosafelypassandprovidespaceforhikers.Theclearingheightfromforestfloorwillneedtobe12feet,andallbranchesandlimbswithinthiszoneshouldberemoved.Anadditional6feetofclearingcanbeconductedtoridthetrailofpoisonivy,aggres-siveunderstoryvegetation,ordebrisandmaterialthat





causesrepeateddisturbancetohorses.Pedestriansneedtobeinstructedwithpropersignagetoyieldtoequestriansonallsharedusetrails.Aleadtrailfromtheequestriantrailtothemaintrailsystemshouldbeprovidedsothathorsestransportedbytrailerhaveachancetoadjustphysicallyandemotionallytothetrailenvironment.

MountainBikeTrailsMountainbiketrailsareprincipallylocatedinthenortheastcorneroftheparkandareintendedforusebybeginnerandmoderatelyadvancedcy-clists.Amountaincyclingcoursehasbeenlaidoutasacircuitforriding.Thesetrailsarenaturalsurfacetreadsandshouldcontainobstaclessuchasdownedtrees,shallowwaterandmuddyareas,rockyterrainandsteepgradestoensurethattheuserexperienceisenjoyable.Trailtreadsshouldbe4to6feetwidewith8feetofoverstoryclearance.





TrailSignageSystemAcomprehensivesignagesystemisneededforalltrailswithinthepark.Thetrailsignagesystemshouldincludedirectional,informational,regulatoryandwarningsigns.Woodshouldbeusedasthestructuralelementforallsigns,andasimpledesignsystemisrecommendedsothatitiseasilyrecognizablebyalltrailusers,easytobuildandmaintain,andsatisfiesthelow-impactobjectivesofthepark.

EntryRoadsandParkingBellsBendEnvironmentalParkwillbeservedbythreeentryroads,allinter-sectingwithOldHickoryBoulevard.TheprimaryentryroadwillbelocatedinthemiddleoftheparkandwillservetheEnvironmentalEducationCenter.Twosecondaryentryroadswillbedeveloped,oneonthenorthernsectionandtheotheronthesouthernsectionofthepark.

Roadwayandparkinglotdevelopmentwillbestructuredaslow-impact,withgreatsensitivitytowardpreservationandprotectionofexistingtreesandvegetation.Overlanddrainagefromtheroadwaysandparkinglotswillbeabsorbedinroadsideswales,usinginnovativestormwatermanagementtechnology,topreventtoxicoilsfromreachingwaterbodies.

GatewaySignageandLandscapingAcomprehensivesignagesystemwillbedesignedandinstalledasamajorcomponentofthepark.Thesignageshouldbelightedfornighttimevisi-tors.Allsignsshouldbedevelopedinharmonywithothersignagesystemsthroughoutthepark.Routedwoodsignageformatwouldbeappropriatewiththe“lowimpact”andenvironmentalthemesofthepark.

Trees,whiteboardfarmfencing,lowstonewallsandwildflowersshouldbetheprimarylandscapeelementsforallthreegatewaystothepark.Theremainderofthelandscapewouldbelow-impact,low-maintenance,andretaintheruralfarmcharacterthatalreadyexists.

ParkingLotsAllparkinglotswithintheparkshouldbedevelopedasenvironmentallysensitiveaspossible.Porouspavementshouldbeusedwhereparkinglotsarepaved.Someparkingareasmaybesurfacedwithgravel,orwithgeo-blocktoencouragetheflowofwater.





NaturalResourceManagementBellsBendEnvironmentalParkcurrentlycontainsthebuildingblocksforadiverseecologicalsystem.Morethan100yearsofagriculturalactivityhaslargelysubduedthenaturalresourcesofthesite.AsparkdevelopmentproceedstheopportunityexistsforMetroParkstocarefullycultivatetheresourcesofthesitesothattheyareanintegralpartofthefutureparkexpe-rience.

WildlifeHabitatCurrently,wildlifehabitatintheBellsBendEnvi-ronmentalParkisnotasrichanddiverseasitcouldbecome.Asagriculturaloperationswinddownandtheparkenvironmentreturnstoamoreforestedcon-dition,wildlifewillbegintooccupytheparkingreaternumbers.TheCumberlandRivervalleyisawonder-fulplaceforawidevarietyofbirds,includingnestingbaldeagles.Wildturkey,deer,rabbitandfoxhavebeenspottedontheproperty.Aquaticlifeshouldbe-gintoflourishinthetwoon-sitestreamsystems.

ShorebirdPondsAuniqueopportunityexiststoinstallasystemofshorebirdpondsalongthewesternboundaryofthepark,withinthefloodplainoftheCumberlandRiver.MetroParksshouldexplorepotentialpartnershipsonthelocal,stateandnationalleveltoplan,designandfostershorebirdpondswithinthepark.Thesepondsshouldserveseasonaluseinthefallandspring.MetroParksshouldactivelysolicittheWetlandMitigationFundformoniesforthelakeandassociatedwetlandcreation.

ForestRestorationTheparksitecontainsasignificantamountofimmatureforeststhathavebeenharvestedfrequentlyduringthepast100years.Themasterplanmapblocksoutareasoftheparkthatshouldbeallowedtoreturntoafullyfor-estedcondition.Thiswillimprovehabitatforwildlifeandreduceenviron-mentaldegradation.

MeadowRestorationLargeexpansesofagriculturallandcanberestoredasmeadowlands.MetroParkswillneedtoworkwithprofessionalsskilledinmeadowrestorationtodeterminethemostcosteffectivemethodforrestoringtheselandsandthetypesofmeadowstocreate.





WaterResourceManagementTheparkcontainstwoprimarystreamcorridorsandseveralsmallfarmponds.Asparkdevelopmentproceeds,managingstormwaterandwaterqualitywithintheexistingsurfacewaterbodiesshouldremainapriorityofMetroParks.Buffersshouldbeestablishedalongstreambedstointerceptoverlandflowandreducesedimentationofstreams.Farmpondswillalsoneedbufferstoabsorboverlandflowandimprovewaterquality.

RestorationofJohnBellHomesteadThehistoricJohnBellhomesteadwillserveastheAdministrativeHeadquar-tersforparkpersonnel.Thiswillbethe“nervecenter”forthepark.Alladministrativefiles,managementinformationandothervitalemploymentinformationshouldbemaintainedhere.Renovationstothehomesteadshouldbeaccomplishedincompliancewithlocalandstatehistoricpreser-vationlaws.Sometheexistingroomswillbeneededasfutureoffices,anemployeeloungeandasmallconference/meetingroom.Itisrecommendedthatcentralairconditioningandheating,afirecontrolsystem,andsecurityalarmsystembeinstalled.

NativeAmericanBurialSitesThearchaeologicalsiteswithintheparkthatcontainburialsareconsideredcemeteriesbylawandmustbetreatedassuch.TheNativeAmericansitesaretremendousassetsofthepark,andtheyneedtobeprotectedandprop-erlymanagedbyMetroParksinaccordancewithstateandfederallaws.ThemostimportantstepforMetroParkstotakeistoprovideproperinterpreta-tionandthemanagementofaccesstothesesites.

FencingParkPropertyTheentireparkboundaryneedstobefencedandmanagedbyMetroParks.Adjacentlandownersvoicedconcernaboutparkvisitorswanderingontoprivateproperty.Fencingthepropertywillservetocontrolproperuseoftheparkland.Woodenfencingthatisappropriatetothesurroundingfarmcultureissuggested.




ChapterFive:CostEstimates

ChapterFive-CostEstimates


Bellʼs Bend Environmental ParkEstimate of Possible Costs

Area/Description Quantity Unit Unit Price Total

TrailsHiking and Interp. (natural) 26,004 LF $12.00 $312,048.00 Equestrian/Hiking (natural) 27,535 LF $12.00 $330,420.00 Hike and Bike (10 ̓asphalt) 28,913 LF $50.00 $1,445,650.00 Mountain Bike (earth) 17,830 LF $12.00 $213,960.00 Subtotal Trails $2,302,078.00

Environmental CenterEducation Center Building 5,000 SF $100.00 $500,000.00 Observation Tower 1,000 SF $100.00 $100,000.00 Utilities $25,000.00 Paved Parking Lot (Porous) 31,287 SF $3.50 $109,504.50 Unpaved Parking Lot 22,151 SF $2.50 $55,377.50 Entry Walkway 1,386 SF $2.75 $3,811.50 Parking Lot Walkway 2,034 SF $2.75 $5,593.50 Bioretention $31,000.00 Planting $4,000.00 Drop Off Area 1,886 SF $3.50 $6,601.00 Bus Pulloff Parking 2,119 SF $3.50 $7,416.50 Outdoor Classroom with 2-3 Sails $35,000.00 Front Patio (poured concrete) 1,027 SF $2.75 $2,824.25 Back Patio (poured concrete) 2,150 SF $2.75 $5,912.50 Subtotal Environ Center $892,041.25

CampgroundAccess roadway 16,676 SF $3.50 $58,366.00 Group Campsites (gravel pad) 6,720 SF $2.00 $13,440.00 Council ring 3 EA $500.00 $1,500.00 Primitive Campsites (gravel pad) 1,792 SF $2.00 $3,584.00 Subtotal Campground $73,306.00

Fishing and Boating CenterLake 10 AC $40,000.00 $400,000.00 Paved Parking 11,048 SF $3.50 $38,668.00 Entry Walkways 6,558 SF $2.75 $18,034.50

Utilities $25,000.00 Building 1 1,400 SF $100.00 $140,000.00





Building 2 (relocated house) 2,300 SF $50.00 $115,000.00 Building 3 1,400 SF $100.00 $140,000.00 Boardwalk on Lake 48,000 SF $10.00 $480,000.00 Access roadway (gravel) 5,000 SF $2.50 $12,500.00 Boat Dock on River 12,000 SF $10.00 $120,000.00 Subtotal Fish/Boat Center $1,489,202.50

Equestrian CenterPaved Parking 64,135 SF $3.50 $224,472.50 Entry Walkways 1,180 SF $2.75 $3,245.00 Tack Barn 3,800 SF $100.00 $380,000.00 Gravel/Mulch Walkway 6,000 SF $2.50 $15,000.00 Horse Tie Up 2 EA $100.00 $200.00 Subtotal Equest. Center $622,917.50

Park Maintenance HQBuilding 1 Restoration 3,000 SF $50.00 $150,000.00 Building 2 1,428 SF $100.00 $142,800.00 Utilities $15,000.00 Paved Parking 10,115 SF $3.50 $35,402.50 Building 3 1,428 SF $100.00 $142,800.00 Plant Screen $4,000.00 Subtotal Park Maint HQ $486,002.50

Main EntranceEntry roadway 86,035 SF $3.50 $301,122.50 Entry signage 1 EA $5,000.00 $5,000.00 Entry trees (50 trees, 250 shrubs) $15,000.00 Entry fencing 5,967 LF $7.50 $44,752.50 Entry lighting 2 EA $500.00 $1,000.00 Entry trees 74 ea $250 $18,500.00 Subtotal Main Entrance $385,375.00

Camping EntranceEntry Roadway 90,516 SF $3.50 $316,806.00 Entry Signage 2 EA $5,000.00 $10,000.00 Entry Planting (30 trees, 200 shrubs) $15,000.00 Entry Fencing 1,040 LF $7.50 $7,800.00 Entry Lighting 2 EA $500.00 $1,000.00 Subtotal Boat/Camp Entry $350,606.00 Equestrian/Maint EntranceEntry Roadway 25,205 SF $3.50 $88,217.50 Entry Signage 2 EA $5,000.00 $10,000.00





Entry Planting (30 trees, 200 shrubs) $15,000.00 Entry Fencing 1,040 LF $7.50 $7,800.00 Entry Lighting 2 EA $500.00 $1,000.00 Subtotal Equest Entry $122,017.50

Meadows and FieldsGrassland Meadow 200 AC $1,500.00 $300,000.00 Wildflower Meadow 185 AC $1,500.00 $277,500.00 Created Wetland 15 AC $2,000.00 $29,200.00 Reforestation 252 AC $2,500.00 $630,000.00 Turfgrass 75 AC $2,000.00 $150,000.00 Subtotal Meadows and Fields $1,386,700.00

Parking on Main Entry RoadAsphalt paving 7,528 SF $3.50 $26,348.00 Grasspave parking spaces 7,662 SF $2.50 $19,155.00 Gravel parking lot 15,025 SF $2.50 $37,562.50

$83,065.50

Total for Park $8,193,311.75 Design and Engineering Fees $819,331.18 Contingency $1,351,896.44

Grand Total $10,364,539.36

Phase One Development

Quantity Unit Unit Price Total TrailsHiking and Interp. (natural) 26,004 LF $12.00 $312,048.00

Environmental CenterPaved Parking Lot (Porous) 31,287 SF $3.50 $109,504.50

Fishing and Boating CenterPaved Parking 11,048 SF $3.50 $38,668.00

Main EntranceEntry roadway 86,035 SF $3.50 $301,122.50 Entry signage 1 EA $5,000.00 $5,000.00 Entry trees (50 trees, 250 shrubs) $15,000.00 Entry fencing 5,967 LF $7.50 $44,752.50





Entry lighting 2 EA $500.00 $1,000.00 Entry trees 74 ea $250 $18,500.00

Camping EntranceEntry Roadway 90,516 SF $3.50 $316,806.00 Entry Signage 2 EA $5,000.00 $10,000.00 Entry Planting (30 trees, 200 shrubs) $15,000.00 Entry Fencing 1,040 LF $7.50 $7,800.00 Entry Lighting 2 EA $500.00 $1,000.00

Design and Construction Administration Fees (9%) $135,000.00

Contingency (10%) $150,000.00

Total Estimate Phase One $1,481,201.50

Phase Two Development

Quantity Unit Unit Price Total TrailsHike and Bike (10 ̓asphalt) 28,913 LF $50.00 $1,445,650.00

Environmental CenterEducation Center Building 5,000 SF $100.00 $500,000.00 Utilities $25,000.00 Unpaved Parking Lot 22,151 SF $2.50 $55,377.50 Entry Walkway 1,386 SF $2.75 $3,811.50 Parking Lot Walkway 2,034 SF $2.75 $5,593.50 Drop Off Area 1,886 SF $3.50 $6,601.00 Bus Pulloff Parking 2,119 SF $3.50 $7,416.50 Front Patio (poured concrete) 1,027 SF $2.75 $2,824.25 Back Patio (poured concrete) 2,150 SF $2.75 $5,912.50

CampgroundAccess roadway 16,676 SF $3.50 $58,366.00 Group Campsites (gravel pad) 6,720 SF $2.00 $13,440.00 Council ring 3 EA $500.00 $1,500.00 Primitive Campsites (gravel pad) 1,792 SF $2.00 $3,584.00

Fishing and Boating CenterEntry Walkways 6,558 SF $2.75 $18,034.50 Utilities $25,000.00





Building 2 (relocated house) 2,300 SF $50.00 $115,000.00

Equestrian CenterPaved Parking 64,135 SF $3.50 $224,472.50

Park Maintenance HQBuilding 1 Restoration 3,000 SF $50.00 $150,000.00 Utilities $15,000.00

Equestrian/Maint EntranceEntry Roadway 25,205 SF $3.50 $88,217.50


Contingency (10%) $277,080.13

Total Estimate Phase Two $3,297,253.49

Phase Three Development

Quantity Unit Unit Price Total Environmental CenterPlanting $4,000.00

Fishing and Boating CenterLake 10 AC $40,000.00 $400,000.00 Boardwalk on Lake 48,000 SF $10.00 $480,000.00 Access roadway (gravel) 5,000 SF $2.50 $12,500.00 Boat Dock on River 12,000 SF $10.00 $120,000.00

Park Maintenance HQPaved Parking 10,115 SF $3.50 $35,402.50

Equestrian/Maint EntranceEntry Signage 2 EA $5,000.00 $10,000.00 Entry Planting (30 trees, 200 shrubs) $15,000.00 Entry Fencing 1,040 LF $7.50 $7,800.00 Entry Lighting 2 EA $500.00 $1,000.00

Meadows and FieldsCreated Wetland 15 AC $2,000.00 $29,200.00 Reforestation 252 AC $2,500.00 $630,000.00






Contingency (10%) $174,490.25

Total Estimate Phase Three $2,076,433.98

Phase Four Development

Quantity Unit Unit Price Total TrailsEquestrian/Hiking (natural) 27,535 LF $12.00 $330,420.00 Mountain Bike (earth) 17,830 LF $12.00 $213,960.00

Environmental CenterObservation Tower 1,000 SF $100.00 $100,000.00 Bioretention $31,000.00 Outdoor Classroom with 2-3 Sails $35,000.00

Fishing and Boating CenterBuilding 1 1,400 SF $100.00 $140,000.00 Building 3 1,400 SF $100.00 $140,000.00

Equestrian CenterEntry Walkways 1,180 SF $2.75 $3,245.00 Tack Barn 3,800 SF $100.00 $380,000.00 Gravel/Mulch Walkway 6,000 SF $2.50 $15,000.00 Horse Tie Up 2 EA $100.00 $200.00

Park Maintenance HQBuilding 2 1,428 SF $100.00 $142,800.00 Building 3 1,428 SF $100.00 $142,800.00 Plant Screen $4,000.00

Meadows and FieldsGrassland Meadow 200 AC $1,500.00 $300,000.00 Wildflower Meadow 185 AC $1,500.00 $277,500.00 Turfgrass 75 AC $2,000.00 $150,000.00

Parking on Main Entry RoadAsphalt paving 7,528 SF $3.50 $26,348.00 Grasspave parking spaces 7,662 SF $2.50 $19,155.00 Gravel parking lot 15,025 SF $2.50 $37,562.50






Contingency (10%) $248,899.05

Total Estimate Phase Four $2,961,898.70


ChapterSix:Implementation

ChapterSix-Implementation


ActionPlanThefollowingtextdescribesastrategyfordevelopingtheBellsBendEnvi-ronmentalPark.Threephasesofdevelopmentarerecommendedtotakeplaceandspana4-yearconstructionprogram.Thisprogramcouldbeac-celerated,ordelayed,bytheavailabilityoffunds.Currently,theCityhasbudgeted$4milliontobuildthefacilitieswithinthepark.ThisbudgetwaspreliminaryandwasnotbasedonthedevelopmentprogramdefinedwithinthisMasterPlan.

PhaseOneStrategyThisfirstphaseofworkinvolvesdevelopingtheentryroadsintothepark,establishingpublicparkingareasandconstructinghikingtrails.Twoentryroadswouldbescheduledforconstruction,themainentryroadthatleadstotheproposedEnvironmentalEducationCenterandtheentryroadthatleadstotheCampingCenter,andthefuturesiteoftheBoatingandFishingCenter.Theentryfeaturesthatsurroundthesetworoadwayswouldalsobeconstructedandwouldincludesignage,signaturefencing,newtreesandlandscaping,andentrylighting.Twomajorparkingareaswillalsobedevel-oped,onealongthemainentryroadandtheotherattheterminalpointofthecamping,boatingandfishingcenterroadway.Finally,morethan5milesofnaturalsurfacehikingtrailswouldbelaidoutandopenedforpublicuse.ThisworkcouldbecompletedandtheparkopenedforpublicusebytheFall2004.

PhaseTwoStrategyThesecondphaseofworkwouldinvolveconstructingtheEnvironmentalEducationCenterbuildinganditsassociatedparking,relocatingandreno-vatingtheTenantHousetoserveastheCamping,BoatingandFishingCen-terbuilding,constructionofthe10-acrelakeandboardwalk,campgroundsandrenovatingthehistoricJohnBellhometoserveasthehomefortheparkRangerandadministrativeheadquartersforthepark.Additionally,theentryroadandparkinglotsfortheequestriancenterandadministrativeheadquar-terswouldalsobeconstructedwithinthisphaseofwork.

TheEnvironmentalEducationCenterisenvisionedasbuildingthewouldreflecttheagriculturalheritageoftheBellsBendarea.Itmaybepossibletoconstructthisfacilityusingacommunityinvolvementprocessreferredtoasa“barnraising.”TheCitymaybeabletofindafinancialpartnerfortheCenterthatcouldhelptounderwritethecostsforconstructingthecenter,andutilizeotherkeycorporateandcivicsupporttodevelopthisfacility.





RelocatingandrenovatingtheTenantHousewouldbeasecondmajorconstructionelementofthisphaseofwork.ThiswillinvolverelocatingthehousefromitscurrentpositiononOldHickoryBoulevardtoitsnewloca-tionwhereanolderhomeoncestood.Constructingthe10-acrelakewillrequireobtainingapermitfromtheUSArmyCorpsofEngineers.Thelakeshouldbedesignedtosupporttheboatingactivitieslistedinthedevelop-mentprogramandfishingfromtheboardwalkandpier.Theprimitivegroupcampinggroundswouldalsobeconstructedinthisphaseofwork.

RenovatingthehistoricJohnBellhomesteadwillbeathirdmajorundertak-inginthisphaseandwillrequireworkingwithrestorationarchitectsandconstructionspecialists.Thefinalconfigurationofthishomewillneedtobedeterminedbythearchitectasseveraladditionshavebeenmadetothehomewhichmaynotberegardedashistoric.Thenewentryroadtothehomeandparkingfortheequestriancenterandadministrativestaffwillneedtobeincludedatthistime.Aswiththeotherentryroads,signage,signaturefencing,landscapingandlightingwillbeinstalledalongthisroadway.

Thisphasecontainsanumberofcomplicatedconstructionelementsandwillmostlikelytakeanestimatedtwoyearsofconstructionworktocomplete.Itisenvisionedthattheseelementsoftheparkwouldbeopenedforpublicuseby2006.

PhaseThreeStrategyThefinalphaseofconstructionactivitywouldinvolvecompletingthere-mainingoutstandingelementsofthepark,includingtheequestriancenterbuildings,equestriantrails,mountainbiketrails,multi-usetrailsandpicnicgrounds.

Theequestriancenterwillcontainasmalltackbarnthatiscapableofsup-portingsimultaneoususeby10to12horsesatonetime.Equestriantrailswillbelaidoutduringthisphaseofconstructionactivityandareintendedtobeusedbybothequestriansandhikers.

Themountainbiketrailssystemandparkingfacilitywouldbeconstructedduringthisphaseandwouldprovidesupportforcyclistsandtheirequip-ment.Potablewaterandrestroomscanbeprovidedatthislocation.

Themulti-usetrailsystemwouldbepatternedafterthesuccessfulShelbyBottomsGreenway.Thetrailshouldbea10-footwideasphaltpavedsurfacewithsufficientwidthoneithersideforsafetyandmaintenance.ThetrailwillwindthroughthefloodplainoftheCumberlandRiverandextendthroughuplandssectionofthepark.





Picnicgroundsarelocatedthroughouttheparkandtypicallysituatedonthehigherknollsandelevations.Picnicfacilitiescanrangefromasimplecollectionofpicnictablesbeneathastandoftreestomoreelaboratepicnicpavilions.MetroParkswillneedtomakeadeterminationastothetypeoffacilitythatisappropriateinspecificlocationsthroughoutthepark.

Thisphaseofconstructionisexpectedtotakeapproximately1yeartocom-plete,withananticipatedopeningoftheseparkelementsoccurringin2007.

Allelementsoftheparkshouldbeopenedandfullyfunctionalbythecloseoffiscalyear2007.




ChapterSeven:Maintenance&Operations

ChapterSeven-Maintenance


OperatingBellsBendParkBellsBendParkwilleventuallybecomeoneoftheflagshipparkpropertieswithintheMetroNashvilleParksandRecreationSystem.MetroParkswillberesponsibleformaintenance,managementandoperationsofallparkfacilities.Thefollowingtextdefinessomeofthekeyoperatingstrategiesthatwillbeimplementedthroughoutthepark.

FacilitiesMaintenanceProgram

ParkFacilitiesAllfacilitieswithinBellsBendEnvironmentalParkwillbemanagedandcaredforbytheNashvilleMetroParksandRecreationDepartment.ThesefacilitieswillbemanagedtostandardsthatareconsistentwithotherMetroParkfacilities.SomelandswithinBellsBendEnvironmentalParkareintend-edtobenaturalandwild.Parkvisitorsthatusetheselandsshoulddosowithcautionandrespectthenaturalornativeplants,animalsandconditionsthatareencountered.

HoursofOperationBellsBendEnvironmentalParkshallbeoperatedlikeallotherMetroParksandbeopenforpublicusefromsunrisetosunset,365daysayear,exceptasspecificallydesignatedbyMetroParks.Individualswhoarefoundtobeus-ingunlightedfacilitiesafterduskandbeforedawnwillbedeemedinviola-tionofthesehoursofoperationandtreatedastrespassers.

MetroParkswillnotallowthegeneralpublictouseanyfacilitywithintheparkthatisunderconstruction.Parkfacilitieswillnotbeconsideredoffi-ciallyopenedforpublicuseuntilsuchtimeastheMetroParksdepartmentdeterminesthefacilityiscompletedanddesignatesitopentothepublic.In-dividualswhouseparkfacilitiesthatareunderconstruction,withoutwrittenpermissionfromMetroParkswillbedeemedinviolationofthisaccessandusepolicyandtreatedasatrespasser.

SafetyandSecurityProgramMetroParkswilloperateBellsBendinamannerthatisconsistentwiththeoperationofotherparkswithinthesystem.MetroParkswillemployafulltimeParkRangertoliveinresidenceatthePark.Therangerwillberespon-sibleforopeningandclosingtheparktopublicuse,respondingtocallsforassistanceandenforcingparkrulesandregulations.Allparkusersare





advisedtouseallparkfacilities,includingtrails,withafriend.Thebuddysystemisadvisablethroughoutthepark.Additionally,alluseofparkfacili-tiesshalladheretoMetroParkscodeofconductandtrailordinancewhichwillbepostedatallpublicparkingfacilities,entrytobuildingsandotherparkfacilities.EmergencytelephoneswillbestrategicallyplacedthroughouttheparkandwillbelinkedtotheParkRanger.HuntingisnotpermittedatanytimewithinParkboundaries.Fishing,boatingandcampingwillbeper-mittedthroughareservationsystem.Trailscanbeusedatanytimeduringparkhoursofoperation.

TrailOrdinanceThefollowingRulesandRegulationswillbeinforcealongalltrailswithintheBellsBendEnvironmentalPark.Theseruleswillbedisplayedbothonbrochuresandinformationsignsthroughouttheparktrailsystem.

1)BeCourteous:Alltrailusers,includingbicyclists,joggers,walkers,wheelchairs,skateboardersandskaters,shouldberespectfulofotherusersregardlessoftheirmodeoftravel,speed,orlevelofskill.Neverspookanimals;thiscanbedangerousforyouandotherusers.

2)KeepRight:AlwaysstaytotherightasyouusetheTrail,orstayinthelanethathasbeendesignatedforyourusergroup.Theexceptiontothisruleoccurswhenyouneedtopassanotheruser.

3)PassontheLeft:Passothersgoinginyourdirectionontheirleft.Lookaheadandbehindtomakesurethatyourlaneisclearbeforeyoupulloutandaroundtheotheruser.Passwithampleseparation.Donotmovebacktotherightuntilyouhavesafelygaineddistanceandspeedontheotheruser.Fastertrafficshouldalwaysyieldtosloweron-comingtraffic.

4)GiveAudibleSignalWhenPassing:Allusersshouldgiveaclearwarningsignalbeforepassing.Thissignalmaybeproducedbyvoice,bellorsofthorn.Voicesignalsmightinclude“Passingonyourleft!”or“Cyclistonyourleft!”Alwaysbecourteouswhenprovidingtheaudiblesignal-profanityisunwarrantedandunappreciated.

5)BePredictable:Travelinaconsistentandpredictablemanner.Al-wayslookbehindbeforechangingpositionontheTrail,regardlessofyourmodeoftravel.

6)ControlYourBicycle:Lackofattention,evenforasecond,cancausedisaster-alwaysstayalert!Maintainasafeandlegalspeedatalltimes.

7)DonotBlocktheTrail:Wheninagroup,includingyourpets,usenomorethanhalfthetrail,soasnottoblocktheflowofotherusers.Ifyourgroupisapproachedbyusersfrombothdirections,formasingle





lineorstopandmovetothefarrightedgeoftheTrailtoallowsafepassagebytheseusers.

8)YieldwhenEnteringorCrossingTrails:WhenenteringorcrossingtheTrailatanuncontrolledintersection,yieldtotrafficalreadyusingtheothertrail.

9)DonotUsethisTrailUndertheInfluenceofAlcoholorDrugs:ItisillegaltousethisTrailifyouhaveconsumedalcoholinexcessofthestatutorylimits,orifyouhaveconsumedillegaldrugs.Personswhouseaprescribedmedicationshouldcheckwiththeirdoctororphar-macisttoensurethatitwillnotimpairtheirabilitytosafelyoperateabicycleorotherwheeledvehicle.

10)Clean-upYourLitter:PleasekeepthisTrailcleanandneatforotheruserstoenjoy.Donotleaveglass,paper,cansoranyotherdebrisonorneartheTrail.Pleasecleanupafteryourpets.Packoutwhatyoubringin-andremembertoalwaysrecycleyourtrash.

11)KeepPetsonLeashes:Allpetsmustbekeptonsecureandtetheredleashesexceptinaresdesignatedasa“LeashFreeZone.”Keeppetsoffofadjacentprivateproperty.Failuretodosowillresultinafine.




Appendices A-SummaryPublicInput B-SummaryAPAMayorsForum C-GlossaryofMasterPlanTerms

AppendixA-PublicInput

BellsBendEnvironmentalPark A-1

SummaryofPublicMeetingsThreepublicmeetingswereheldtoinformthepublicabouttheBell’sBendEnvironmentalParkandtogatherpublicinputandideasonitsdesign.ThefirstmeetingwasheldonMarch24thfrom7:00to9:00intheeveningattheScottsboroCommunityCenteronBell’sBend.Therewereapproximately100citizensthatattended,includingmanyresidentsthatliveinthebend.ThesecondmeetingwasheldattheWarnerParksEducationCenterfrom7:00to9:00intheeveningonthe25thofMarch.10citizensattendedthismeeting.Atbothofthesemeetings,aPowerPointpresentationcomposedbyconsultantsthatshowedcharacteristicpicturesofthesitewasavailable.GeographicInformationSystems(GIS)mapswereondisplaythatdepictedtheexistingconditionsonthesite.Threedesignoptionsofvaryingdensi-tieswereplacedontables.Theattendeeswereaskedtowritecommentsonthethreedifferentscenariomaps.Commentsheetswerealsoavailabletocollectpublicinput.WhenaskedwhattheoverallpurposeofBell’sBendshouldbe,thetopthreerecommendationswereenvironmentaleducation,openspacepreservationandhabitatrestoration.Themostpopularactivitiesthatweresuggestedforthesitewerewalking/running,hikingandwildlifeviewing.Overfiftypercentoftheattendeesthatfilledoutacommentformsaidthattheywouldvisitthesiteonceortwiceaweek.Seetheattachedsurveyresultsummationtoseethebreakdownofthecommentsreceived.

ThefinalpublicmeetingwasattheScottsboroCommunityCenterfrom7:00to9:00intheeveningonMay12th,2003.Approximately50citizenswereatthismeeting.APowerPointpresentationwasshownthatdepictedtheproposedactivitiesforthesite.Aconceptboardwasalsodisplayedthatshowedlistsandpicturesofintendedactivities.ChuckFlink,ofGreenwaysInc.,presentedthedraftmasterplan.At-tendeeswereaskedtowritedowntheircommentsonindexcards,whichweregatheredafterthemeeting.Theadditionalcommentsfromcitizensarelistedbe-low.Thesecommentswerecollectedfromthesurveysandindexcardsdispersedat


A-2 BellsBendEnvironmentalPark



thepublicmeetings.FirstPublicMeetingMarch24and25,2003

PublicQuestionnaireCommentSummary

Whatdoyouthinkshouldbetheoverallpurpose(s)ofBell’sBendPark?

•Workingfarm• SiteforNativeAmericanremains• Plaqueforthosewhofoughtagainstthelandfill• Attractmigratorybirdsandwaterfowl• Establisha"model"wetlandsecosystem(shorebirdhabitat)priorityplease• Non-motorizedriveraccess• Noequestrianactivities• Demonstrateearth-friendlysustainabledevelopment(solarheating,etc)• Trailalongriver,yes!• Nohunting• Protectripariancorridor• Openfieldsforrecreation,notorganizedsports• Naturepark• Bringbacktheferry• NativeAmericaninterpretation,wetlands/birding,lowimpact,agricultureinterpretation,dogpark• Nogroupsports• NativeAmericanmuseum,keepfarmingonsiteasalivingmuseumofNashvillepast• Germanancestorssettledhereis1860-AliceRogers• NativeAmericaninterpretation• Organicfarmsiteforeducationalpurposes-useofheirloomvarietiesofvegetablesandfruit• Supervisedatalltimes• Smallworkingfarm

WhatactivitieswouldyouliketoparticipateinatBell'sBendPark?• Astronomy• Primitivecampingonly• Rockclimbing,repelling• Shorebirdhabitat/wetland• Hawk/migrationwatchingtower• Nomotorboatsshouldbeallowed• Restoretheferry





•Birding• Primitivegroupcampingonly• Createanenvironmentalescapefromthecitywithinthecity• Mountainbikingwillcreateanerosionproblem• LookattheAGCenterinMemphisforhorserentalmodels• Wildliferestoration,waterquality• Birdwatching• Hunting• Keepitsimple,minimizetheinfrastructure,thingssuggestedarenicebuttheacreageisnotthatbig• Mountainbikingtrailneedstobe5-10miles

AdditionalComments,IssuesandSpecialConcerns• Lessismore• Bringbacktheferry• Inventoryallplantsandanimals• Encouragebirdwatching• Needrangertoliveonsite• Primitivecampingonly,nocarcamping• Nolighting/lightpollution• Nohunting• Don’thavetoomanyuses• SomethingsimilartoShelbyBottoms• Thisparkshouldbefenced• Mountainbikecanreallytearupaterrain-pleaselimittoonarea• Patroloften• Wildlifepreservation• SomethingsimilartoWarnerParks• Preventionofdrugdealing• Feeforcamping• Keepwildlifeahighpriority• ReviseferryaccesstoOldHickoryBlvd.,wouldliketoseethisasawildlifepreservationandanNativeAmericanartifactpreservation• Nohunting• Aslongastheintegrityofthelandandwildlifeisbestpreserved,aparkinthisareaisagreatidea.Anaturecenterw/exhibitsofthearea'splantsandanimalsalongwithamuseumofNativeAmericanswhoinhabitedthebend.Preservetheheritageofthearea.• Chargeforcamping





• Nocarcamping,minimallighting,dayuse,backpackcampingisok,organizedperiodichuntingisok

SecondPublicMeetingMay12,2003

CommentCardSummary •TWRAhasmanybeginningboatingandfishinglakesinthearea.

PerhapstheareaforthefishinglakeatBell’sbendcouldbeutilizedmoreasanaturalarea.Let’snotoverdo.Thisisagemofnature’sbeauty.

•Provideachainlinkfencetokeepanimalsinthepark.Therearehorsesandcowsonthefarmbesidethepark.

•ConnecttheparkwiththeRailtoTrailssystemsothattheparkcanbeaccessedbynon-motorizedmeans.

•LocateallNativeAmericangravesandpreservethem. •Wanttoseeagolfcourse,evenifitisaminiatureone. •Chainlinkfencearoundtheproperty. •Permitdogsintheparkandontrails.Addoffleashareafordogs.It

needstobeenclosedtoprotectpeople,horses,birds,etc. •Donotdisturbexistinganimalsduringconstruction. •Keepexistingspecimentreesandplants. •Protectallartifactsfoundduringconstruction. •12cardsforbirdingandtheinclusionof3shorebirdpondsonthe

masterplan. • Itismoreimportanttohavethethreelakesthanthesize(20acres

each).Theycanbeassmallas10acreseach,ifneeded. •Addamotorizedboatdockontheriverandconnectittothetrail

system. •200birdfestivalsareheldacrossthecountry.In1996,$30.6billion

wasspentonbirdingnationally. •Thereneedstobeaboatdockonsite.TheoneatClee’sFerryisnot

safe.Thereneedstobearangerpatrol. •Usecompostingtoilets. •Thereare3eaglenestsonthesite,alongwithturkey,coyote,deer,

beaver,lynxandfoxes.Pleasebeconsiderateofthemduringcon-structionandpreservehabitatforthem.





TechnicalAdvisoryCommitteeMeetingsMetroParksinvitedrepresentativesfromlocalagenciestodiscussideasfortheBell’sBendEnvironmentalParkdesign.ThetwomeetingswereheldattheMcCabeGolfClubhousefrom11:00amuntil1:00pm.Theattendeeswereshownthesamemapsdisplayedatthepublicmeetings,includingthethreedesignscenariosandthedraftmasterplan.TheywereaskedtogivetheirreactionstothedesignsandtheirsuggestionsforworkingwithMetroParksandeachotherontheBell’sBendEnvironmentalPark.Theywerealsoencouragedtoprovidetheirparticularexpertiseintheareasofwaterquality,historicalarcheology,nativewildlife,andenvironmentalaspectsofthesite.Alistoftheparticipantsandtheirrespectiveagenciesisbelow.Theircommentsarealsolistedbelow.

MeetingCommentsFebruary25,2003

Attendees:LisaMorris(USACE),SueFerguson(COE),BobParrish(WarnerParks),ChrisKoster(Mayor’sOffice),AnnTidwell(GreenwayCommission),MargoFarnsworth(CumberlandRiver),DanielBoone(TSRA),JeanNelson(TNLandTrust),JerryStrother(USACEResourceManagement),TroyEttel(TWRA),BillCoble(GreenwaysCommission),TimNetsch(MetroParks),CurtGarrigan(MetroParks),ShainDennison(MetroParks)

•LisaMorriswillsendthewetlanddelineation.Itwasdonein1995byLawEnvironmental.WewillneedtoasktheUSCOEtoreverify.TheconsultantneedstorevisitthesiteandtelltheCorpthattheconditionshavenotchangedinouropinionorthatithasincreased,decreased,etc.

•TheLandTrustisalsolookingatviewcorridorsformtheparkacrosstheriver.

•ThereiscurrentlynocanoeaccessontheCumberlandRiver. •ThereisapotentialatBell’sBendforwetlanddevelopment.TWRA

willhelpfund.Alsoapproximately75acresofgrassland/wildflowermeadowwouldbegreat.QuailunlimitedishelpingatShelbyBot-tomsandwouldbeinterestedhere,also.

•Assoonasthefarmingisremoved,invasives,likehoneysuckle,willtakeover.





• JohnBellbuiltthemainyellowhouseintheearly1800’s. •AbikelaneallthewaydownOldHickorytotheferryandacrossthe

riverissuggested. •Sometrailsmayneedtobeclosedduringcertaintimesoftheyearfor

mountainbikesandhorses. •Limitcampingtoprimitivecampingonly. •Trailsthroughdifferentecosystemswiththenativetreesidentified

wouldbeeducational. • Itwouldbegoodtohavesomesortofworkingfarmsuchas:cattle,

corn,soybeansorpumpkins. •PleasecallitanEducationCenter,notaCommunityCenter. •Haveanoutdooreducation/wildernesseducationtheme. •Accessrampandparkingforcanoes.Thereshouldbe5-7milesbe-

tweenaccesspoints.ShelbyBottomsismorelike20miles.Usethelakeforpaddlinginstruction.

• IncludeADAearlyinthedesignprocess. •Askthelocalmountainbikingclubwhenthetrailsshouldbeclosed. •Thereshouldbeapreservedbufferzonealongtheriverwithaboard-

walktoallowaccesstotheriver.Aseriesoflowtotallgrasscouldbeusedtoinhancethevistas.

•ContactLeanneWelshtodeterminewhatgrassesbestprotectarcheo-logicalsites.NickFielderhasacopyofthereport.

•Trytousegreenbuilding,solartechnology,andwetlandsewertreatment/greywatertreatmentsystem.

•Shorebirdponds–contactTroyEttelforspecifics. •USCOEcanmatch75-25forbottomlandhardwoodwetlanddevel-

opmentbecauseofCheatumLockanddam. •Constructedwetlandswillneedlong-termmaintenancebecauseof

CumberlandRiversiltation. •Takeoutthelooproad.Tworoadswithaturnaroundwouldbesuf-

ficient.Therearemanyscenicdrivesnearby. •Highdesireforprimitivecamping.Ifthereisovernightuse,therewill

havetobeattendantsthere.Thereshouldbelimitedvehicularaccessandalowvolumeofpeople.Justgroupandintroductorycamping.Firewoodwillneedtobesuppliedsopeoplewon’tcutdowntrees.

•WarnerParkshasanurbancitycampingprogram.Bell’sbendcouldbeusedasanalternativesite.

• InvolveTWRAinthedesignoftheboatramp.Itcanbelowimpactwithoutconcrete.

•TheCumberlandRiverisnotasafeplaceforbeginnerstolearnhowtocanoe.

•Thisparkshouldbethefamilyintroductiontotheenvironmentalex-perience(horsebackriding,camping,fishing,canoeing,hiking,etc.)





•BobParrishatWarnerParkscanhelpdeterminewhatfacilitiesareneededfororganizedeventssuchasraces,weddings,etc.

•Thereshouldbemarkersevery.25milesonthetrails. •Horsesaretoounpredictabletoputkidsonthemwithnotraining. •Likethesilowiththeclimbingwall. •Bringtheferrybackforbikes.

MeetingCommentsMay12,2003

•Allclassroomsshouldbeinthemainenvironmentalbuilding,insteadofspreadoutamongthebuildings.

•Theentiresiteshouldbepermittedatonetime.Theapplicationshouldbestartednow,becauseitwilltakealongtime.Ifthewet-landdisturbanceislessthana1/2-acre,itonlyneedsageneralper-mit.

•Thestreamwillhavetobepermitted,also.Thatwilltakeapproxi-mately3months.

•Thelakeneedstobeatleast40-50acrestoprovidegoodfishingandcanoeing.Thestatewillstockthelakewithgamefish.Floodingisaconcernbecauseitcanfillthelakewithtrashfish,suchascarp.

•ThereisfrequentandheavytrafficontheCumberlandRiver.Ca-noeaccessisasafetyliability.Itshouldbeaddressedwithsignage,literatureandlessons.Itmaybenecessaryforagatetobeinstalledtokeeppeopleoutoftheriverduringfloodevents.Thereshouldbearulethatboatscancomeinfromtheriverbutnoboatscanaccesstheriverfromtheparkinordertokeeplessexperiencedpeoplefromgettingontheriver.

• Itisverylaborintensivetocreateforestsfromfallowfarms.Active,notpassive,reforestationisneeded.TroyEttelsaidthattheygrowtrees.Someyearstherearemanyextrasthatcanbepurchasedforareducedprice.Invasives,suchashoneysuckleandfescueareaprob-lem.Troycanhelpwiththeequipmentandseed,butitneedstobedonenowbeforeitgrowsup.

•Maybehorsesshouldnotbeincluded.Thereare10milesoftrailatWarnerPark.TheneedformoretrailswasincludedintheMetroParksMasterPlan.

•Naturalparksarelaborintensive. •2-3Shorebirdpondsareneeded(oneforspringand2forfall)be-

causeofthemigratoryhabitsofshorebirds.Twoareneededforthefallbecausetheadultsmaketheflightbeforethejuveniles.TWRAcanoffersomefundingandtheycanwritegrantstogettherestofthefunding.DucksUnlimitedwilldesignitforfree.TWRAwillhelp



AppendixB-APAMayorsForum

BellsBendEnvironmentalPark B-1

APACityParksForumSummaryFall2001SymposiumChicago

Inthefallof2001,theAmericanPlanningAssociationheldaforumtodiscusschallengesthatthreedifferentcitieswerehavingwiththeirparks.MayorPurcellwasoneoffourmayorsinvitedtopresentrespectiveparkprojectstoapanelofgreenwayandparkexperts.MayorPurcellpresentedtheBell’sBendsiteforreview.ChuckFlink,ASLA,PresidentofGreenwaysIncorporatedservedasafacultymemberandpanelist.

NashvilleMayorBillPurcell,CurtGarriganfromNashvilleMetroParks,RayBellandBillCoble(bothadjacentlandowners)discussedtheconversionofan808-acresitealongtheCumberlandRiverfromapotentialcitylandfilltoapark.Panelmemberswereaskedtogivetheiradviceonhowtoaccom-plishthisandtopointoutanyissuesofconcern.MayorPurcellandCurtGarrigangavesomebackgroundonthehistoryofthebendandtheparksystemasawhole,theattitudesofNashvillianstowardstheirparksystem,andtheuniquenessofthesiteitself.

In1989,thecitypurchasedthe808-acresiteforacityownedlandfill.MayorPurcellandthePublicWorksDepartmenthavesinceconcludedthatthereisnoneedforacityownedlandfill.PrivatebusinessescanprovidethisservicetoNashville.Thecitywasleftwiththelargepieceofproperty.Onthedayofhisinaugurationin1999,MayorPurcelldeclaredthatthesitewouldbepreservedasagreenspace.

Untilthelastfiveyears,therewasnothingbutforestandfarmsonthebanksoftheriveratBell’sBend.Nowthereisawastewatertreatmentpumpingplant.AsMayorPurcellpointedout,ifthisparkisdevelopedtraditionally,itwouldendupasbaseballfieldsoragolfcourse.Insteadhewouldliketoprotectandenhanceitsnaturalbeauty.

Thereisanexistingparkinglotonthesamesideoftheriverwhereapassen-gerferryusedtodock.ItwasdisconnectedwhenBrileyParkwaywasbuilttoconnectthisareawithdowntownNashville.Theferrycouldberevivedtogivepeopleaccesstotheparkinthefuture,MayorPurcelloffered.

ThelandscapearchitectureanddesignformofWallaceRobertsandToddworkedonacity-widemasterplantoidentifywhatfacilitiesneedtobeaddedtoexistingparksandwhatnewparksneedtobebuilttosatisfythedemandforcertainactivities.TheCumberlandRiverGreenwayMasterPlan


B-2 BellsBendEnvironmentalPark



callsforaseriesofgreenwayconnectionsalongtherivercorridor.Itispro-posedthateachbendwillhaveamajorgreenspaceanchor,suchasShelbyBottomsNaturePreserve.Bell’sBendEnvironmentalParkwillalsobeoneoftheseanchors.

RayBellandBillCobletalkedaboutthescenicqualitiesoftheparksiteandtheentireriverbend.Mr.Coblepointedoutthathighschoolsintheareahavestartedteachingenvironmentalcourses.TheLandTrustforTennesseeisinvolvedinaCumberlandRiverGorgeplanthatistryingtoconvinceprop-ertyownersfromBell’sBendanddownrivertopreservepropertyjustlikethis.Whilethisparticularsitewillbecomeapark,itisimportanttoprotectlandallalongtheCumberlandRivertopreserveviewsfromthepark,forwaterqualityandwildlifehabitat,andasscenicareas.

MayorPurcellexpressedtheneedtoeducateNashvilliansontheimportanceofgreenspacesandwhytheyhavesignificantimpactonlarge-scaleenvi-ronmentalissues.Openspacedoesnotmeanthatitisavacantlot.Nash-villecurrentlyhasmorepeoplethanAtlantaanditsurbansprawlisofgreatconcern.Thetimetopreservelandisfleeting.ThemayorasksthepaneltohelphimidentifywhattheissueswerewithadevelopmentsuchasBell’sBendEnvironmentalPark.

RayBelldiscussedsomeofthehistoryofthebendandofthefutureparksite.ThiswasthesiteofoneofthegreatestMississippiIndiansettlementsfrom10,000yearsagountilabout4,000yearsago.Stoneboxgravescanbefoundthroughoutthesite.JohnBell’shouseisonthecorneroftheproperty.TheoldNashvilleCollege,DavidLipscombCollege,wasjustyardsfromthesite.GeneralForestsanktwobattleshipshereinoneafternoonin1864.

Themayoroutlined5keyissues.Thefirstistheissueofisolation.Uptothispoint,theisolationofthesitehasbeenpositivebydecreasingitspotentialfordevelopment.Whatneedstobedonetodecreasethatisolation?Howdoyougetpeopleoutthereinatimelymannerandkeepthesenseofpeace-fulnessoncetheyareoutthere?Alimitedferryconnectionwouldincreaseaccessandgiveownershiptothesite.Wouldthisaccessjeopardizethepristinenatureofthesite?

Thesecondissueiswhatshouldbedoneonthesite.Thenextconsiderationishowthesitehelpseducatethepublic.Fourth,howdoyouconnectthisparktotherestofthemetrosystem?Last,whatisthebestmeansofprotect-ingtheparkforthefuturewhilebeingsensitivetothesurroundingproper-ties?





Thefollowingconcernsandsuggestionsarefromthereviewpanelinre-sponsetothemayor’sissues. • Thereisapark20minutesoutsideofCharlotteNorthCarolina,Anne

SpringsCloseGreenway.Itisnotconnectednow,butitwillbeinthefuture.Peoplearestillabletofinditandenjoyit.

• Environmentaleducation,historyandcultureofthesiteandcommu-nitytellaninterestingstory.Thesecanbeusedtogeneraterevenuetooffsetthemaintenanceofthepark.ThestoryofNashvilleanditssettlement,thegravesitesfoundonthesite,NativeAmericanheri-tagesites,naturalenvironment,andtheformationandhistoryoftheCumberlandRivercanalladdtothestoryofthesite.

• Programmingthesitesothatpeoplesillwanttogothereismoreim-portantthantheactualphysicalconnection.

• Whatisspecialaboutthesite?Threatenedorendangeredspecieshabitat,otherculturalheritage,thepre-settlementmigrationcanallbeinterpreted.

• Whataretheopportunitiesforeducation? • Provideaccessearlyintheprocesstogivepeopleinterestandowner-

shipinthesite.Thiswillhelpwithsupportlater. • Incorporategreendesignandgreenengineeringinthefacilities. • ThereisanarcheologyparkinLouisvillewherekidsandadultscan

comeanddig,measureandcatalogartifacts.Thatmightworkhere. • Iftherearealreadybaldeagles,birdingshouldbeincluded. • Whatwasthesitelikewhensettlerscamethrough? • ThiscouldbeapartofNationalSystemofHistoricRiversinthefu-

ture,liketheNationalParks. • Thereisanationalparkandhistoricbattlefielddownriver. • TheDeltaQueencurrentlypassesthesiteandthereisalargeamount

ofbargetraffic.Itisaveryactive,successfulriver. • Environmentalteachersandvarioussocieties,suchastheAudubon

Societyshouldbeinvolvedintheprogramming. • Itwouldbeeducationaltocreateanexhibitwithoverlays(likeBetsy

BarlowRogersdidyearsagoforCentralPark)thatshowsallofthedifferentthingsproposedforthesiteovertheyearsfromNativeAmericanhomesitestothepark.Itwillhelppeopleunderstandthatopenspaceisnotjustvacantproperty.

• Connectingthisveryisolatedpieceofpropertytothecitywouldshowaverydramaticchangefromanurbansettingtoaquite,tran-quilsetting.

• Usewetlandmitigationbankingeffortstocreatehabitatandimprovetheenvironmentalsetting.Thewetlandchainwouldbeimprovedalongtheriverwithdeveloper’sdollars.Theferrycouldtakepeopleacrosstheriveranddockinthewetlands.Boardwalkscouldtakepeoplethroughthewetlandstothepark.





• Thisparkisa“timefunnel”.Itlookslikeitdid200yearsago.Itisuniquetohavesomethingthatclosetodowntownthatactuallyhadinhabitantsover13,000yearsago.Thathistoryshouldbemadetopeopleinthecity.

• Considersecuringeasementsonthesurroundinglandandcreatingagreenbeltaroundthecity.

• Asapartofapartnershipwithenvironmentaleducationclassesatschools,wildernesscampingforurbanchildrenshouldbeincluded.

• Workwiththewastewatertreatmentplanttodemonstratedifferentapproachestowatertreatment.Thiscouldbeanenvironmentaledu-cationopportunity.

• WorkwiththeRiverandTrailProgramOfficeoftheNationalParkServiceinChattanoogatogethelpwithfundingandtechnicalassis-tance.

• Conservationeasementswouldhelpprotectthesiteandthesur-roundingagriculturallanduse.

• ItwouldbenicetorideuptheCumberlandRiverontheDeltaQueen,haveapicnicatBell’sBendnaturePark,goforahikeandattendatraditionalmusicconcertthatfeaturedmusicfromdifferentculturesthatinhabitedthesite.

• Thereareseveraloptionsforaccess:theriverferry,thegreenwaysys-tem,etc.Makesurethatdisabledpeoplehaveawaytogetaroundonthesite.

• Interpretenvironmentalandhumanhistorytogether. • Thesiteissodisconnectedfromthecitythatitwillcauseaproblem

foryouintheshortterm.ThelocalNashvillianmostlikelythinksthisisinthemiddleofnowhere.

• Shouldtheferrybeusednowtogivepedestriansandcyclistsaccesstothesiteorshouldwemakethemdrive15minutestodoit?

• Theconnectionisn’ttheproblem.Theywillfinditifthereissome-thinginterestingforthemtosee.Everythingdoesn’thavetobeputinatonetime.Itcanbephasedoutovertime.

• Toofarforwhat?Itwouldbetoofartoplaybasketball,butnottoofartogohikeinabeautifularea.Peoplewillgodifferentdistancestododifferentthings.Whatcanyoudotherethatyoucan’tdoanyotherplace?

• Accesstothesiteisimportant,butsoistheaccessthroughoutthesiteoncevisitorsgetthere.

• Anaturalsurfacehikingtrailshouldbeputonthesiteimmediatelywithapieceofpaperwithamaponit.

• Youcanuseamowed8-footto16-foottrail(liketheoneatFallsoftheOhioinIndiana).Thenferrypeopleoveronalimitedbasis,maybejustonSundayafternoon.

• Partnerwithschoolsystems.Getkidstohelpinventorythesite.This





willmakethesiteimportanttotheminthefuture. • Makeanopportunityforkidstovolunteerattheparkinthefuture. • Workwiththelandtruststokeepdevelopersoutoftheentirebend.

Treattheentirebendasopenspace.Thepreservationoftheparkwillincreasethedevelopmentvalueofsurroundingland.

• Conservationeasementscanhelppreservelandwhenfuturegenera-tionsownthepropertyrights.

• Partnerwithstatenaturalandculturalresourcesagencies. • Involvestatelegislatorsandshowthemanexampleofsomethingthat

theycanimplementstatewide. • Everythingthatyoudefineasspecialaboutthispropertyisgoingto

driveeverythingelse. • Decideifaccessequalsvalue.Therearepublicbenefitstothesite

thathavenothingtodowithaccess.

Inclosing,MayorPurcellestablishedthenextthreestepsformakingthisparkcometofruition.First,thelandmustbedeededfromthePublicWorksDepartmenttotheParksDepartment.Thenthecommunityneedstobeaskedwhattheywanttodoatthisnewpark.Finally,thecityneedstoworkonsecuringthesurroundingdevelopmentrights.



AppendixC-GlossaryofTerms

BellsBendEnvironmentalPark C-1

GlossaryCouncilRing–afirepitwithseatingarrangedarounditinacircle;canbeusedformeetings,classesorstorytelling

EducationCenter–Buildingthatcancontainsoorallofthefollowing:class-roomsforenvironmentaleducation,officesforparkstaff,exhibitsaboutthepark,communitymeetingareas,restrooms,souvenirstore,snackmachines,etc.

FloodFringe–difference(width)betweenfloodplainandfloodway

Floodplain–elevationandwidthofwaterinahundredyearstorm

Floodway–widthneededtocontain100-yearfloodwaterinfloodelevationisraisedonefoot;usedtodeterminehowhightobuildroadsandstructures

GIS–GeographicalinformationSystems–spatialdatabasemappingsystemthatcontainsnaturalandculturalfeaturesofasite;usedtodeterminetheap-propriateplacefordevelopment

Grassland–anecologicalcommunityinwhichthecharacteristicplantsarenativegrasses;grasslandsmakegoodhabitatforvariouswildlife,includingquail

GreenBuilding–designandconstructionpracticesthatsignificantlyreduceoreliminatethenegativeimpactofdevelopmentontheenvironment

GroupCamping–campingareareservedforcivicgroups,suchasGirl/BoyScouts,churchyouthgroups,schoolscienceclasses,etc.

HabitatRestoration–abringingbacktotheformerconditionofanenviron-mentbeforeitwasaltered

IntermittentStream–channelsthatnaturallycarrywaterpartoftheyearandaredryotherpartsoftheyear

LoopTrails–circulartrailsthatgiveuserstheoptionofnottravelingthesamesectionmorethanonce

Meadow–atractofmoist,usuallylevelecosystemthatcontainsnativewild-flowersandgrasses


C-2 BellsBendEnvironmentalPark



MountainBikeCourse–trailsystemdesignedformountainbikersonly;naturalsurfacetrailwithatreadwidthof2feet;dependingonthelevelofdifficulty,logsandrockscanbeusedtomakejumps;minimalremovalofforestmaterialisnecessary

MultiuseTrails–corridorsthatcanbeaccessedbymultipleusers

NaturalSurface–soil,gravelormulch

NaturalSurfaceEquestrianandHikingTrail–soilormulchpaththatisusedinenvironmentallysensitiveareas

NaturalSurfaceHikeandInterpretativeTrail–soil,gravelormulchpaththatisusedinenvironmentallysensitiveareas

Off-leashDogArea/Trail–looptrailthatownerscanwalkwiththeirdogsofftheirleash;off-leashzonesignsarenecessaryattheintersectionoftheoff-leashtrailandallothertrails

OpenSpace–areasofpubliclyorprivatelyownednaturalareathatispro-tectedfornaturalandculturalresources

PassiveOpenSpace–openspacewhereactivityislimitedduetothesensi-tivityofthenaturalresourcesonthesite;lowimpacttrailsareallowed;doesnotincludetypicalparkfacilitiessuchassportsfields,butrestrooms,bench-es,waterfountains,etc.areusuallyprovided

PavedHikeandBikeTrail–

PerennialStreams–channelsthatcarrywateryearround

Preservation–maintaininganareaorstructureintactorunchanged

RainGarden–parkinglotmediansusedtodetainstormwaterrunofffromparkingarea;variouswetlandplantscanbeusedinthegardenstohelpremovehardmetalsandcontaminantsfromtherunoff,whilebeautifyingtheparkinglot

Reforestation–theprocessofrestoringadisturbedareaintoaforest

RiparianBuffer–largestripsofforestedlandadjacenttoawaterbodythatfilterssedimentsandpollutionfromrunoff





Runoff–waterthatisnotabsorbedbythesoilandthereforerunsoverthesoilsurface

ShorebirdPond–shallowpondsbuiltforvarioustypesofbirds,suchasaplover,egretsandheronsthatallowforthebirdstofeedduringmigrationfromtheArctictoSouthAmerica;thewaterlevelscanbecontrolledtoin-suresuitablefoodandhabitatduringmigrationseason

TackBarn–asmallstructurethatcontainsmaterialsforequestriansandtheirhorsesincludingbridles,saddles,harnesses,feed,stalls,freshwaterandotherrelateditems.

WetlandCreation–theprocessofenhancing,restoringorbuildingnewwetlandareas



Documents

Bells Bend Environmental Park Master Plan · Master Plan to guide the city’s park system into the second century. The mas-ter plan recommended improvements and investments totaling