Centennial Park
Revitalization
Help us Restore and Transform Nashville’s Central Park
Centennial Park is a Nashville Treasure
The city’s central park and a point of pride for generations of Nashvillians. An urban park is a fragile thing. And throughout the decades, ours has faced many challenges: its iconic Parthenon slated for demolition; injustices of segregation, its trees felled by tornadoes; its ecosystem damaged by surrounding construction. Each time, Nashvillians have rallied to protect Centennial Park – and make it better.
Centennial Park has been a Nashville treasure for 115 years. Like all well-loved treasures, Nashville's aging central park needs our help to restore, enhance and protect it as the pulsating heartbeat of of our city. During this time of unprecedented growth, it is vital we preserve our limited urban green spaces, so they will flourish and serve current and future generations.
Nashville is growing like never before. So are the numbers of people flocking to Centennial Park – an estimated 2 million a year and climbing. Neglect could be the latest threat to its wellbeing. This is our opportunity to transform the park into the pulsating heart of our collective home. Support this unprecedented and ambitious revitalization of Centennial Park and help make this a reality.
Now it’s our turn to care for the park.
About the Centennial Park Revitalization
The Centennial Park Master Plan was developed by Centennial Park Conservancy and Metro Nashville in 2010 to restore, renovate, and revitalize Nashville's central park. Through a public-private partnership, two phases of improvements totaling $21M have already been completed and the $10M Park Plaza/Event Pavilion Phase is currently underway.
2015 Concept Plan Rendering
In partnership with Metro Parks, Centennial Park Conservancy is preserving the iconic green space of our city’s central park that champions arts, music, history, education, and health and wellness. This transformation can only take place through the generosity of the Nashville community. You can play a vital role in the park’s revitalization.
Join us in this important revitalization
About the Capital Campaign
Centennial Park Conservancy created the Centennial Park Capital Campaign to bring the Nashville community together to support an ambitious initiative to preserve, enhance, and sustain our people's park for future generations. While we completed our initial Capital Campaign in 2022, the revitalization work continues as we fundraise for future capital improvements, which include the Croquet Cafe, pedestrian pathways, Bandshell revitalization, and more.
VIEW OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW
Partner with us to help keep Centennial Park looking beautiful by making a donation.
You can also contact justintam@conservancyonline.com or wendy@conservancyonline.com
to discuss giving options that best meet your philanthropic goals.
Upcoming Park Improvements
Park Plaza/Event Pavilion Phase (In Process)
Event Pavilion rendering
Cafe rendering
The Park Plaza/Event Pavilion Phase will revitalize the Park Plaza section of the park - our connection to North Nashville. In 2025, Metro Parks and Centennial Park Conservancy will break ground on a series of ambitious projects focused on the north sector of Centennial Park:
The construction of a new vehicular grand entrance along Park Plaza. It will increase access along the Park’s northern boundary, as well as create a new multi-modal pathway from the 31st Avenue to enhance pedestrian access from the north and into the Park and strengthen Centennial Park’s connections to future expansion of the 440 Greenway.
The revitalization of the historic Croquet Clubhouse structure into a cafe. Proximity to the new entrance along Park Plaza will provide exposure and serve customers from around the Park. This project will create a sustainable new source of revenue to further support the Centennial Park Beautification Fund.
Construction of a new Event Pavilion; shifted to the eastern banks of Lake Watauga, this new space will further expand the Park’s entertainment and event-hosting capabilities via a world class events pavilion where the Nashville community can gather for various types of events. It will bring our community together by serving as a destination for ongoing local events, nonprofit fundraisers, music performances, festivals, educational children's activities, lectures, and the park's popular Big Band Dances.
Completed Park Improvements
Photo: Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architecture
The Cockrill Spring/Lake Watauga Phase
The Cockrill Spring/Lake Watauga Phase, completed in 2015, was a $9 million public/private partnership that improved the water quality of Lake Watauga, unearthed long-buried Cockrill Spring, built a dedicated space for Musicians Corner, created a new parking area surrounding the Parthenon, and introduced bees to pollinate the park.
The Great Lawn Phase
The Great Lawn Phase, which phase broke ground in summer 2019 and was completed in 2021, focused on the 19-acre zone that includes the Great Lawn, the West End entrance road, lighting and landscape improvements near the Parthenon. The Great Lawn was re-engineered with sports field-quality turf and drainage improvements to help the lawn’s recovery after events. Two pedestrian promenades shaded by double rows of trees were created to border both sides of the lawn. The redesigned West End entrance allocated more space to pedestrians, new entry signage, and new planting beds that showcase seasonal color. Additionally, the Parthenon is illuminated with a new LED lighting system designed to celebrate the iconic structure’s classical architectural features and sculptural details.
The Children’s Memory Garden
The most recently completed phase completely redesigned the The Children's Memory Garden. The pastoral space located in the west area of Centennial Park to the rear of the Parthenon serves to remember local children who lost their lives to violence. As part of the Centennial Park Revitalization, the Children’s Memory Garden was redesigned by Nelson Byrd Woltz to restore its dignity and peace, and to make it accessible to all with the help of Dowdle Construction.
Picture the impact you can make
through a revitalized Centennial Park.
You can also contact justintam@conservancyonline.com or wendy@conservancyonline.com
to discuss financial contribution options.
Picture a sustainable urban green space
We envision a beautifully balanced expanse where you and countless others have ample room to enjoy a natural environment that is significantly more sustainable. We are enhancing the park’s delicate ecosystems, increasing the number of trees by 300 percent, and continuing to improve the park's water quality.
Can you picture a transformed green space for our community?
Picture a destination for healthy activities
The Great Lawn of the Centennial Park Revitalization has doubled the number of walking, jogging, and biking trails throughout the park. It will enhance the park's core 32-acres and provide a respite for individuals and families to play, picnic, read, run and enjoy a beautiful urban green space.
Can you picture your contribution to a healthier Nashville?
Picture a Community Gathering Space
The Event Pavilion Phase will revitalize the Park Plaza section of the park - our connection to North Nashville. The highlight of this phase is the building of a world class events pavilion where the Nashville community can gather for various types of events. The event pavilion will bring our community together by serving as a destination for ongoing local events, including nonprofit fundraisers, music performances, festivals, educational children's events, lectures, and the park's popular Big Band Dances. This phase is currently in design development, and we are actively fundraising to support it.
Can you picture a space in Nashville's central park to strengthen our community?
Picture the impact you can have on our city
Centennial Park has been a Nashville treasure for 115 years. Like all well-loved treasures, Nashville's aging central park needs our help. During this time of unprecedented growth, it is vital we preserve urban green spaces, so they will flourish.
Support Park Revitalization
Throughout Centennial Park’s history, Middle Tennesseans have rallied to preserve and enhance it. Now it’s our turn. Join us in sustaining the revitalization of this community treasure.
You can also contact justintam@conservancyonline.com or wendy@conservancyonline.com.
Master Plan Updates
Capital Campaign Supporters
The Centennial Park Revitalization would not be possible without the generous support of the following individuals, foundations, and corporate donors who have helped us raise private funds to match the city's financial commitment. Special thanks to our neighbors at HCA Healthcare who made a $5M leadership gift during Phase Two of the Capital Campaign.
Thank you to our many generous capital campaign donors & revitalization supporters, including:
Advance Financial
American Paper & Twine
BasePoint Capital
Lee Beaman
Eric Cook and Jason Somerville
Phillip Bredesen & Andrea Conte
Nancy Brown & Andy May
WL Lyons Brown Foundation
The Brown Family - MSB Cockayne Fund
Melinda & John Buntin
Varina & Jeffrey Buntin
Andrew & Marianne Byrd
Jeffrey Carson
Dean & Sandy Chase
Patrick Conroy
Core Civic
Richard & Beth Courtney
John & Josephine Darwin
Joe C. Davis Foundation
Robert Day & Candace Toler
Cullen Earnest
The Frist Foundation
Beth Fortune & Debbie Turner
Matthew Hargis & Divya Shroff
Aubrey & Carlana Harwell
The Hays Foundation
HCA Healthcare
Nancy Peterson Hearn
John T. Johnson
Douglas Joyce
Peggy Joyce
Judy Keener
Neil & Louise Kohler
Randy & Janice LaGasse
Neil Krugman & Lee Pratt
Christopher & Coco Kyriopoulos
John & Trish Lindler
Robert Lipman
Ellen Harrison Martin
Bert & Brooks Mathews
Reavis & Patricia Mitchell
Jim & Trish Munro
Nashville Electric Service
Ben & Libby Page
Pinnacle Financial Partners
Sylvia Rapoport
Justin & Valerie Potter Foundation
Sandra Schatten Foundation
Michael & Lisa Shmerling
Skanska
Jimmy & Beverly Small
Stuart & Shirley Speyer
Tennessee Historical Commission
Jeremy Spinrad & Barbara Tsakirgis
Hope Stringer
TeamHealth
Verlon Thompson & Demetria Kalodimos
The James Stephen Turner Foundation
LeRoy Norton & Paula Van Slyke
James & Carole Williams
Anne Potter Wilson Foundation
Will Wilson, Blair Jackson Wilson
LEARN ABOUT THE CENTENNIAL PARK BEES
that were introduced as part of the park’s revitalization efforts.