Brentwood Debuts $2M Park Upgrades

BRENTWOOD, TN — After a year of work totaling more than $2 million, Brentwood debuted the latest upgrades at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park Sunday.

Improvements include extending the “loop road” and bike path on the south side of Ravenswood Mansion, as well as the construction of two multi-purpose athletic fields with irrigation, parking, new restrooms, a picnic shelter, and a playground.

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“When we purchased the Smith Park land in 2010, Brentwood was dedicated to making sure we develop this park into a grand community greenspace for our community. Today, as we celebrate another phase of this park’s development, we remain dedicated to greenspace and our commitment,” Mayor Jill Burgin said.

Smith Park, originally known as Ravenswood Farm, is located on the west side of Wilson Pike, south of Split Log Road. The city acquired 320 acres in 2010 from the family of the late Marcella and Reese Smith. In 2013, the city bought another 80 acres and the park opened in November 2014.

The park includes six miles of walking trails, picnic space, and the historic Ravenswood Mansion. Ravenswood was built in 1825 by James Hazard Wilson II and is named for Sam Houston, who lived with the Cherokee as a teenager and whom the tribe called "Colonneh," meaning "The Raven."

Photo via City of Brentwood