BRENTWOOD–  Brentwood City Mayor and Commissioners along with the City’s Park Board celebrated the Grand Opening of Brentwood's two newest recreational parks on Saturday, October 22.  Flagpole Park located at 1560 Mallory Lane is a nine-acre park with trails, a half-basketball court, restrooms, and two unlighted athletic fields which will be ready for use in the Spring of 2017.  Wikle Park is a 15-acre park located at 7042 Wikle Road West and features a playground, an open play area, a walking/jogging trail, restrooms, and two picnic tables under a gazebo.  Each park is open from dawn to dusk.

At this morning’s ceremony, Mayor Regina Smithson said, “Brentwood is dedicated to making sure we have greenspace in our community and this beautiful park is just another example of our commitment.”   

Commissioner Rhea Little, a member of the Park Board, who was unable to attend the event Saturday said, “I am thankful to have new park amenities for this section of Brentwood which is not as close to some of our other parks.” 

Commissioner Ken Travis, who lives nearby the area said, “I am very excited about our new parks!  The close proximity to subdivisions like Brentwood South, Willowick, Stonehenge, Brentwood Hills King’s Crossings and Mooreland Estates will make going to the park convenient and easy.  I know in my neighborhood we have seen a resurgence of young families moving into existing homes. These parks will be so much fun for our Brentwood children!”

The parks are located on property that sits parallel to Interstate 65, between the Mallory Business Park and Wikle Road West.  There are four residential neighborhoods in this area on the west side of Brentwood.  During the development of the 90-acre business park over the past decade, 24 acres were donated to the City by the Speyer family to serve as a buffer to the nearby neighborhoods.

“This is an example of great planning,” according to Wood Caldwell a principal at Southeast Venture, who represents the Speyer family.  At today’s event, Caldwell said “We are thankful that the City of Brentwood rezoned this property in 2012 to allow us to incorporate some green space with the business park.   This will create not only a nice park for citizens, but a convenient place to walk and exercise for the hundreds who work in the business park.”  In the past, this property was open farm land which had a large barn and stabled horses.  According to Caldwell, the Speyer family used to lease the property out for horse riding lessons. 

Flagpole Park is named such because a previous land owner used to line the property with several flagpoles visible from the interstate. 

Hodgson Douglas worked with the City of Brentwood to design the park.  Division 2 was the building contractor.  The total cost of the two parks was $1.7 million.

Following the ceremony and ribbon cutting, nearby families participated in an early morning exercise class provided by the Be Healthy Challenge. For more information about Brentwood Parks, call 615-371-2208.