Centennial Park Conservancy Receives National Recognition and Support From Central Park Conservancy's Institute of Urban Parks
Read Central Park Conservancy's Press Release about our inclusion into their Institute of Urban Parks Partnerships Lab
NASHVILLE, TN – (March 3, 2021) - Centennial Park Conservancy, the nonprofit support organization for Nashville’s historic Centennial Park and the iconic Parthenon, has been selected as one of eight park support organizations across the country to participate in the Central Park Conservancy Institute for Urban Parks Partnerships Lab. The Partnerships Lab, a thought leader in urban park management and public-private park partnerships, leverages the resources and expertise of New York’s Central Park Conservancy to help park organizations build their own capacity to plan, develop, and maintain great public places.
“We are incredibly honored to have been selected for this unique opportunity to work with the experts at Central Park Conservancy to explore ways to further our mission and better serve our community,” said John Tumminello, Centennial Park Conservancy Executive Director. “This creative mentorship will help us develop strategic plans to increase our support of Nashville’s central park and its beloved Parthenon landmark.”
Central Park Conservancy’s Institute for Urban Parks also selected park support organizations in Chicago, Denver, Detroit, and New York that will join Centennial Park Conservancy in a 9-month collaborative partnership that provides training, consulting, and a capacity building grant. Through a partnership with the Institute for Urban Parks Partnerships Lab, Centennial Park Conservancy seeks to develop a fundraising and operational strategy to meet the growing needs of Centennial Park.
“As the city of Nashville grows, groups like the Centennial Park Conservancy are vital to ensuring our green spaces are well supported,” said Metro Parks Director Monique Horton Odom. “We are excited that Central Park Conservancy is lending its expertise to help our Conservancy meet our shared goals for one of the city’s most beloved, historic, and iconic spaces - Centennial Park.”
By strengthening organizations that support parks, the Institute for Urban Parks seeks to ensure that all communities receive the social, economic, environmental, and health benefits that parks provide when well-planned and maintained.
"We are very pleased to be working with the Centennial Park Conservancy as part of the 2021 Partnerships Lab. The Conservancy has accomplished so much, especially in the last decade," said Maura Lout, Executive Director, Institute for Urban Parks at the Central Park Conservancy. "We look forward to collaborating on this next exciting phase of their growth and to supporting an urban park that is so central to Nashville’s history and its future.”
Centennial Park Conservancy works collaboratively with Metro Parks to preserve, enhance, and share two of Nashville’s enriching cultural landmarks so they remain vibrant for our community. This work is accomplished by presenting engaging arts and educational programming at the Parthenon, Musicians Corner, Kidsville, and Nashville Earth Day as well as the ongoing Centennial Park Revitalization. The revitalization of the park’s Great Lawn and core 19-acres will be completed this spring. Centennial Park Conservancy is also fundraising for the next phase of park improvements that will include an event pavilion for community gatherings, improvements to the Park Plaza side of the park, and increased access into the park from the 31st Avenue Connector. The organization recently established the Centennial Park Maintenance Fund and Parthenon Preservation Fund to help Metro Nashville care for the ongoing needs of the park and Parthenon.
“I applaud Centennial Park Conservancy for exemplifying how public-private partnerships can effectively serve and improve our community,” said John Cooper, Mayor of Nashville. “We are grateful to the organization for its ongoing support and to Central Park Conservancy for helping us make Nashville’s central park a public space that better serves everyone.”
About Centennial Park Conservancy
Centennial Park Conservancy is 501(c)(3) not-for-profit profit organization that works in partnership with Metro Parks to fund and present a variety of enriching programs in the Parthenon and Centennial Park that make a widespread impact on the Nashville community and our visitors. Central Park Conservancy’s mission is to preserve, enhance, and share the Parthenon and Centennial Park so that all future generations may benefit from these enriching cultural and educational landmarks. To learn more, visit conservancyonline.com.
About the Central Park Conservancy
The Central Park Conservancy is a private, not-for-profit organization that manages Central Park and is responsible for raising the Park's annual operating budget. The Conservancy’s staff of more than 300 is responsible for all aspects of the Park’s stewardship, from day-to-day maintenance and operations to continued restoration and rebuilding projects. The Conservancy also operates the Park’s visitor centers, provides public programs, and serves as a resource for other NYC parks and for public-private partnerships around the world. To learn more, visit centralparknyc.org.
About the Institute for Urban Parks
The Institute for Urban Parks, founded in 2013, is the thought leader in urban park management and public-private park partnerships. It provides professional education, capacity building, peer-to-peer exchange, and thought leadership to strengthen the field of urban park management so that all park professionals have the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they need to create and support successful and sustainable parks.