Trousdale County holds SWOT workshop for parks master plan; public open house set for the 20th

The Trousdale County Parks & Recreation Committee on Monday reviewed an updated parks master-plan concept designed to meet state grant requirements and to reflect community priorities. Consultants led a strengths–weaknesses–opportunities–threats (SWOT) exercise and previewed survey results that showed strong demand for more youth athletics, aquatics and indoor walking or gym facilities.

Committee members and the consultant said recent facility upgrades — including new playground equipment, improved lighting and upgraded security cameras — were strengths. But participants raised recurring access and maintenance concerns: much park acreage lacks county-owned parking, the tennis courts show cracking and trip hazards, and a baseball complex is vulnerable to periodic flood damage. Committee members noted recurring water-loss issues at the pool site and recommended further study of drainage and soils before committing to construction.

Several members described both a challenge and an opportunity in youth athletics: local teams increasingly join travel leagues outside Trousdale County, reducing local play but offering a possible reason to expand fields and parking to host tournaments and generate revenue. The committee discussed existing partnerships with neighboring counties and league groups that currently rent fields under modest arrangements, noting those partnerships as a foundation for future hosting.

Survey feedback previewed to the committee emphasized indoor facilities and walking options: respondents asked for an indoor walking track, a multipurpose gym for volleyball and basketball, more aquatics programming and expanded soccer fields. The consultant said many community events are run by outside groups using county facilities rather than being produced by county staff, and that the county generally accommodates community event requests.

On property needs, a committee member said the committee has permission to explore buying additional land identified in the concept plans; the discussion pointed out a public misconception that the county owns more parkland than it actually does. The consultant said raw survey data has been shared with staff and that summarized graphics will appear in the draft master plan.

The consultant confirmed an open house to display concept boards and solicit public feedback on the 20th at 5:00 p.m. in the courthouse lobby. The committee approved the meeting minutes at the start of the session and, after continuing business and the consultant presentation, moved to adjourn following staff scheduling discussion.