Orchard Bend Park and Mill Creek Greenway - Antioch, TN

Orchard Bend Park offers a unique setting in which people can experience sports activities, exercise, relaxation and nature all in one location.  The park encompasses 98 acres of land that lie within the floodway and floodplain of Mill Creek.  This facility will serve the growing demand for field space in Nashville with seven (7) new full-size multi-use fields. These fields are designed to accommodate adult and youth soccer, football, lacrosse, and ultimate Frisbee uses. The park also encompasses a new playground, walking trails, open natural areas and improved riparian zones with educational signage.

Orchard Bend Park’s stormwater design and permitting components posed huge challenges due to the immediate proximity to Mill Creek, the near-flat topography and shallow depth to bedrock. Collier’s engineers designed an innovative Low Impact Development (LID) system to treat stormwater as part of a comprehensive stormwater treatment and control system which included bioretention, bioswale, pervious pavement, native grasslands and detention ponds. All components of the stormwater system meet regulatory requirements, are safe for future site visitors, and blend well with the environment.

The project also includes an extension of Mill Creek Greenway a safe, low stress, shared-use (bicycle and pedestrian), paved path that takes advantage of the existing Greenway Conservation Easements on neighboring properties.  The new extension will add 3 miles of path and connect nearby neighborhoods to Orchard Bend Park and beyond. A portion of the greenway will cross Mill Creek along with several tributaries, which will expose users to the rich and varied ecosystem of this watershed.  The design includes two major pedestrian bridges and over 300 feet of elevated boardwalk that preserves the natural bluff of the river and beautiful, mature hardwood canopy trees.

Client:
Metro Nashville-Davidson County Department of Parks and Recreation