Kid-Friendly City Attracts National Attention
When BusinessWeek magazine recently named Murfreesboro one of The Best Places to Raise Your Kids, it came as no surprise to Rutherford County families.
People around the country are just now learning about Murfreesboro's popular music festivals, diverse economy, vibrant parks, quaint downtown, expansive sports fields and numerous shopping venues, but Murfreesboro residents have been enjoying them all along.
"Rutherford County is a great place to raise a family because there are so many wonderful athletic and cultural programs for our children," says Mona Herring, vice president of the Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We have outstanding parks and recreation departments as well as Boys and Girls clubs. There are activities and festivals for families year-round. Uncle Dave Macon Days, JazzFest, Free Day in May, Old Timer's Day and the International Folkfest are just a few festivals where families can have fun while learning about our music and heritage."
Families with children of any age – from tots to teens – can generally find something fun to do in this growing community at any time of year. The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring is a huge hit with preschoolers and elementary-age children. The hands-on museum and environmental center has kid-friendly interactive exhibits, a two-story spiral slide, 20 acres of outdoor wetlands and educational programs.
"We just opened our new Tiny Town & TotSpace, which has a soft play area and a shopping area for toddlers," says Billie Little, executive director of the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring. "The soft play area has a woodland theme with mirrors and spinners at a toddler's eye level and beautiful murals. Tiny Town has a grocery store and a music shop with drums and maracas."
Little opened the museum in 1987 with her husband and five other couples who wanted to provide entertainment for children in the community.
"My husband is a pediatrician, and we've raised our three children here," she says. "We've found it to be a very friendly community with lots to get involved in."
Smyrna is another hot spot with kids of all ages, thanks to the Gregory Mill Park Splash Pad. The 3,000-square-foot outdoor water play area is the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day.
"It's becoming a countywide attraction," Herring says. "Children enjoy the geysers and water jets that shoot out of the ground, while parents are happy the splash pad has zero depth."
The county has several other parks as well, many of which are connected by the scenic Murfreesboro Greenway System.
"Families can get back to nature as they enjoy the beauty of Stones River and learn the history of the area," Herring says. "Playgrounds are located at several of the trailheads, including the wildly popular Kids Castle at Old Fort Park. Kids can see a waterfall, fish, canoe or just skip a rock."
Youth can get involved with the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and YEAH!, a year-round after-school facility where teens can play pool, eat and drink, study or read, create art and receive tutoring from volunteers. And Linebaugh Public Library has story times and kids' programs in addition to a Teen Advisory Board that meets twice a month to develop programs and services for teens.
Other local attractions include Cannonsburgh Village, a living history museum of early Southern life; the historic 1820s Sam Davis Home; and Oaklands Historic House Museum, an elegant mansion that once caught in the crossfire of the Civil War.
"We are a vibrant, growing community that still maintains its small town charm," Herring says. "I love the fact we have a wonderful university, historic downtown and great places to shop and dine. We're a community that exemplifies Southern hospitality with a generous volunteer spirit."
