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Off the Clock in Rutherford County

Quality of life in Rutherford County is off the charts for residents

By Jessica Walker Boehm on May 22, 2019

Rutherford County TN
Murfreesboro / Photo Courtesy of Fountains At Gateway

It’s easy to see why so many families have put down roots in Rutherford County. Along with highly rated schools, a strong workforce and an affordable cost of living, the community offers plenty of ways to fill up your free time–from shopping and arts to outdoor recreation and adventure. As a result, residents of all ages and interests have everything they need to enjoy an unparalleled quality of life.

Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Offerings

There are ample opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors in Rutherford County thanks to the area’s many parks, trails and green spaces.

Many locals enjoy exploring Barfield Crescent Park, a 430-acre community green space in southern Murfreesboro complete with more than seven miles of both paved and unpaved hiking and walking trails, an 18-hole disc golf championship course, and a baseball and softball complex. But you can also hit the Murfreesboro and Smyrna greenway systems for an afternoon of walking, running, cycling and inline skating.

For tennis fans, Adams Tennis Complex, a partnership between the city of Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee State University, offers 24 outdoor courts, all lighted, and eight asphalt indoor courts.

Reach For the Stars in Rutherford County

Looking for a water adventure?

You’re in luck. Rutherford County includes a sizable portion of J. Percy Priest Lake, one of the region’s top destinations for boating, fishing and swimming. But you can also turn to one of the community’s many aquatic attractions – like Boro Beach, SplashTown and Lucky Ladd Farms Splash Zone – for a family friendly way to beat the heat and have fun during warm-weather months. 

“Rutherford County is an amazing place to call home and raise a family,†says Shana Miller, director of communications and marketing for the Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “From Lucky Ladd Farms in Eagleville to J. Percy Priest Lake access in both Smyrna and La Vergne, there’s never a shortage of adventure close to home.”

Rutherford County TN
Murfreesboro / Photo by David Warren

Arts, Culture & Shopping 

Rutherford County is home to a robust arts scene that recently welcomed the Rutherford Arts Alliance, a new advocacy group dedicated to identifying, uniting and promoting arts, culture and heritage in the region.

The community has a flourishing and diverse cultural landscape. The Center for the Arts in Murfreesboro showcases theatrical productions, musical performances and art exhibits. 

Carpe Artista, a nonprofit organization, in Smyrna offers a number of programs that encourage engagement with and participation in the arts. The organization creates and manages an array of art related classes, events, performances and camps for local residents of all ages, interests and skills. 

Recreation in Rutherford County: Fun in the Sun

Washington Theatre at Patterson Park Community Center, MTSU’s Tucker Theatre and Springhouse Theatre Co. in Smyrna are just a few of the community’s performing arts assets.

Rutherford County is also home to the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra, whose world-class performers entertain audiences with classical, pop and youth education music programming at venues across the community.

The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, a hands-on children’s museum, attracts about 120,000 children and families to its interactive exhibits each year.

Rutherford County TN
Murfreesboro / Photo Courtesy of Fountains At Gateway

Get ready to warm up your credit cards at some of Rutherford County’s top-notch shopping spots, including The Avenue Murfreesboro, an outdoor shopping destination with a mix of specialty shops, local boutiques, big-box retailers and restaurants. Nearby are Stones River Town Centre and the Oaks Shopping Center, a 32-acre master development with more than 300,000 square feet of retail, office and restaurant space that’s part of Murfreesboro’s Gateway Project.

The Fountains at Gateway, a  total-experience destination, features upscale retail, such as home decor and gift store Homegrown Marketplace, dining options, a corporate office campus, a community event venue and ample green space.

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