# FORMAL CITIZEN PETITION & PROPOSAL FOR MUNICIPAL PARKLAND ACQUISITION **TO:** **The Honorable Steve Barnett**, Mayor, City of Franklin **Chip Orner**, Superintendent, Franklin Parks and Recreation Department **Members of the Franklin Park and Recreation Board** **Joanna Tennell**, Senior Planner / Director of Planning & Engineering, City of Franklin **Matt McElroy, PE**, City Engineer, City of Franklin **Members of the Franklin Redevelopment Commission (RDC) & Common Council** **FROM:** Residents and Homeowners of the **Winterfield** and **Heritage** Subdivisions Franklin, Indiana (Needham Township) **DATE:** October 2026 **SUBJECT:** **CITIZEN PETITION FOR MUNICIPAL PARK ACQUISITION & BUFFER CONSERVATION: "Canary Airfield Park" AT THE CANARY TRACT (2385 N. GRAHAM ROAD, PARCEL #41-08-02-041-019.000-012)** --- ### I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & PURPOSE We, the undersigned residents, homeowners, and taxpayers of the Winterfield and Heritage communities in northeast Franklin, respectfully submit this formal petition urging the City of Franklin, through the Franklin Park and Recreation Board, the Redevelopment Commission (RDC), and the Administration, to pursue the acquisition of all or a strategic **15-to-30-acre park and buffer portion** of the **92.58-acre parcel located at 2385 N. Graham Road (Parcel #41-08-02-041-019.000-012, Instrument #2007-012267)**, historically known as the **Canary Farm and Canary's Airport (`FAA Identifier: 20IN`)**. Following the passings of lifelong Franklin landowners **Raymond Eugene "Gene" Canary (1928–2024)** and his son, U.S. Air Force veteran **Terry Lee Canary (1950–2026)** on August 15, 2026, this historic property has entered estate transition. As verified on the official Winterfield Primary Plat (`PC 2022-04`, Sheets C100 & C107) and Section 3 Secondary Plat (`PC-24-14`), the Canary parcel shares a direct **1,366.87-linear-foot boundary** with Winterfield's western residential lots (**Lots 246–262**) and carries an existing zoning classification of **IL (Industrial: Light)**—requiring only a **25-foot Buffer Yard Type 3** between residential backyards and by-right industrial warehouses. Securing parkland on this site to create **"Canary Airfield Park"** achieves five practical, budget-smart goals: 1. **Ending Northeast Franklin's "Park Desert"** by building a practical neighborhood park with an airplane-themed playground, public restrooms, picnic shelter, paved parking lot, and walking trails for 600+ families in Winterfield and Heritage; 2. **Honoring the Canary Family's Legacy** with a memorial plaque honoring Gene Canary (who built his own biplane on Canary's Airport `20IN` and restored U.S. military artifacts for Grissom and Dover Air Force Bases) and his son Terry Canary (U.S. Air Force Veteran, `1971–1974`, and #1 Citizen on the Battlefield at Camp Atterbury); 3. **Leaving Sufficient Budget to Build the Playground, Restrooms & Parking Lot Immediately** by either acquiring a targeted 15-to-30-acre eastern park & buffer parcel OR requiring a public parkland dedication if any residential builder seeks to rezone the `IL` parcel; 4. **Providing Natural Wetland Stormwater Detention & Flood Mitigation** for the **24.44 acres of western Winterfield (Basins J & F)** that drain west across the Canary tract into Canary Ditch; and 5. **Utilizing Over $1.5 Million in Dedicated Developer Park Impact Fees (`Ind. Code § 36-7-4-1300`)** already collected from Winterfield and Heritage—requiring **zero new taxes** on Franklin citizens. --- ### II. PRACTICAL PARK AMENITIES & ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION BUDGET We propose a straightforward, cost-effective neighborhood park design (`~$650,000–$1,100,000` construction budget) that fits comfortably within the **`$1.5M+` Park Impact Fee balance** already generated by Winterfield (`320 lots × $2,490 = $796,800`) and Heritage (`$700,000+`): 1. **Memorial Plaque Honoring Gene & Terry Canary (`~$4,000–$8,000`):** A cast-bronze plaque mounted on an Indiana limestone boulder at the trailhead entrance commemorating Gene and Terry Canary, Canary's Airport (`20IN`), and their service to the U.S. military. 2. **Airplane-Themed Children's Playground (`~$150,000–$275,000`):** A commercial municipal playground with an airplane-themed play structure, swings, and safety surfacing. 3. **Public Restrooms & Covered Picnic Shelter (`~$190,000–$335,000` including utilities):** A durable municipal restroom building and family picnic pavilion connected to nearby water, sanitary sewer, and electric lines. 4. **Paved 25–40 Space Parking Lot (`~$85,000–$145,000`):** Asphalt parking lot with ADA spaces and driveway entrance. 5. **Paved Walking/Biking Trail, Wetland Detention & Tree Buffer (`~$220,000–$350,000`):** A standard 8-to-10-foot asphalt trail loop, natural stormwater detention along Canary Creek (`Wetlands D & F`), and native shade trees buffering adjacent homes. --- ### III. SPECIFIC ACTIONS REQUESTED We respectfully petition the Mayor, Parks Superintendent, Park Board, and Redevelopment Commission to: 1. **Initiate Outreach to the Canary Estate:** Contact the personal representative of the Raymond Eugene and Terry Lee Canary Estate to explore acquiring all or a **15-to-30-acre park & buffer portion** of 2385 N. Graham Road; 2. **Protect Parkland in Any Rezoning or Development Review:** If a residential homebuilder (such as D.R. Horton) or commercial developer seeks city approvals on this parcel, require a **mandatory 15-to-30-acre public park and wetland buffer dedication** so the City's `$1.5M+` Park Impact Fee balance can immediately fund the playground, restrooms, parking lot, and trails; and 3. **Place This Proposal on the Franklin Park Board & RDC Agendas:** Schedule a public discussion with Winterfield and Heritage neighborhood representatives. --- ### IV. SIGNATURES OF WINTERFIELD & HERITAGE RESIDENTS | Name | Subdivision & Street Address | Email / Phone | Signature | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1. | | | | | 2. | | | | | 3. | | | | | 4. | | | | | 5. | | | | | 6. | | | | | 7. | | | | | 8. | | | | | 9. | | | | | 10. | | | |