Brentwood's latest recreational venture, the Windy Hill Park, is shaping up to be a playground with a twist—honoring its unique pedigree as a makeshift airport, the park will feature aviation-themed attractions, including a playful nod to the site's aerial past with an airplane-theme playground and a commemorative mural that's being crafted by Leadership Brentwood.
The history of the land traces back to 1974 when Wilbur and Lucy Sensing lit up their farm's field to double as a runway—Windy Hill Airport was home to Wilbur's business trips and recreational flights for a quarter of a century; the city is planning to keep these memories alive in their park overhaul. Wilbur Sensing, who flew to make business enjoyable, according to a Brentwood government release, is a storied character in local lore; after all, maneuvering a single-engine plane between towering trees and onto an undulating grassy strip is the stuff neighborhood legends, and nicknames like "Crazy Wilbur," are made of.
In a sentiment expressed by Lucy Sensing, the couple has enjoyed Windy Hill Farm's pastoral serenity for decades and is grateful that it will be preserved for public enjoyment; the Sensings' journey with this land is now transitioning from private aviation history to community legacy. The park, set to open later this year, will invite Brentwood residents to look skyward and imagine the days when Wilbur's plane soared above, a time well-documented in family anecdotes and FAA records—Wilbur Sensing was awarded the prestigious Wright Brothers "Master Pilot" Award in 2019 for his half-century commitment to aviation safety.
Flying into the so-called Windy Hill Airport was, to put it lightly, an exercise in precision, with threats of wet grass runways leading toward stone walls demanding a pilot's full attention, but Wilbur, a shrewd pilot, relied on the massive WSM radio tower for navigation and told the city government that trick maneuvering through the risks was all in a day's flying. Now, instead of watching Cessnas coming in to land, kids can climb on aircraft-shaped structures and learn through plaques about the narrative of one man, his hobby, and the neighbors who sometimes found themselves clearing cattle off an airstrip so that Wilbur could touch down safely.
Although the era of impromptu flight lessons for local youth and landings amid livestock has passed, Brentwood's Windy Hill Park is set to commemorate the rich history of grassroots aviation that shaped the region for decades. The park will serve as a tribute to one man's aviation legacy and the family that established a lasting connection between the skies and this part of Tennessee.
