Cane Creek Park acquiring 31 acres

COOKEVILLE – Soon there will be more of Cookeville’s largest and most-visited park to love.

Cane Creek Park, on CC Camp Road, is gaining 31.39 acres, bringing the total size of the park complex – which includes a recreation center and sportsplex – to 293 acres.

“I’m very happy that we are able to acquire this adjoining property and add to the footprint of Cane Creek,” Rick Woods, Cookeville Leisure Services director, said. “This is an awesome extension as it will tie in well with the existing park and enable us to expand our amenities in the future. It also preserves the natural open space and wildlife habitat and protects the park and neighbors from potential development.”

The city of Cookeville is purchasing the property from park neighbors Joel and Dorothy Cowan. It extends from the park’s southern boundary to Buffalo Valley Road. 

Woods foresees the additional acreage being used primarily as a passive park area. 

“We hope to be able to add parking and additional picnic opportunities and perhaps a shelter,” he said. “I see a great opportunity to expand our multi-use trail and tie it into the existing trails.”

Cane Creek Park has approximately four miles of paved trail and another two and a half miles of unpaved trail within the fenced area of the park.

“We hope to be able to add nearly a mile of paved trail,” Woods said. “This will give trail users variety and options on which section or sections to walk, run or bicycle. Depending on design and layout, it may also give us enough length to enable us to complete a 5K course in a single loop, which we have not had previously.”

Woods anticipates any additional picnic shelters to be similar in size and design to the park’s existing three shelters (Lakeview, Hilltop and Courtside), with charcoal grills, seating for 50-100 people, electrical outlets, playground equipment and nearby restroom facilities.

“Cane Creek is a very popular place to hold family reunions, graduation parties, birthday parties and other significant family celebrations,” Woods said. “We’ve also hosted weddings, class reunions, bridal showers, church picnics, service club meetings and many more events at our picnic shelters, so there is always a demand for covered shelters in a beautiful park setting. I hope to be able to add to that opportunity for our park users.”

This property acquisition will increase city-wide park land to approximately 360 acres.

Cane Creek Park features a 56-acre lake for fishing and non-motorized boating, two fishing piers, paved trails, mountain bike trail, 18-hole disc golf course, pollinator fields, playgrounds, basketball and volleyball courts, picnic shelters and picnic tables with charcoal grills, seasonal concession building and seasonal paddleboat, kayak and canoe rentals. It is also the future home of Cookeville’s first public dog park. Fall and winter hours are 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

For more information, call Cookeville Leisure Services at 931-520-4386.

Submit your story ideas to the Upper Cumberland Business Journal! via email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.