Parks & Greenways
Parks
Bicentennial Park
Located in the shadow of the Capitol in downtown Nashville, Bicentennial Capitol Mall gives visitors a taste of Tennessee’s history, natural wonders and serves as a lasting monument to Tennessee’s Bicentennial Celebration. With just a simple walk in the 11-acre park, visitors can experience many facets of Tennessee’s history including a 200-foot granite map of the state, a World War II Memorial, a 95-Bell Carillon, a Pathway of History and the Rivers of Tennessee Fountains. The 11 planters along the Walkway of Counties show native plant species from different regions of the state.
Centennial Park
Centennial Park is one of Nashville's premier parks. Located on West End and 25th Avenue North, the 132-acre features: the iconic Parthenon (a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens), a one-mile walking trail, Lake Watauga, the Centennial Art Center, historical monuments, an arts activity center, a beautiful sunken garden, a band shell, an events shelter, sand volleyball courts, dog park, and an exercise trail. Thousands of people visit the park each year to visit the museum, see exhibits, attend festivals, and just enjoy the beauty of the park.
Cumberland Park
Part of the larger Riverfront Revitalization Plan, which includes a recreation lawn, events space and the Bridge Building, Cumberland Park is an exciting new attraction along Nashville’s riverfront! The park is an innovative play space for children and families incorporating unique play structures and water features. The 6.5 acre park includes an outdoor amphitheater, which accommodates approximately 1,200 people for events. Cumberland Park sits between the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge and offers direct access to the Shelby Street Bridge.
Shelby Bottoms Greenway & Natural Area
The 960-acre Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Natural area is located in East Nashville adjacent to Shelby Park and is one of five Natural Area Parks within Metro Parks. With approximately three miles of Cumberland River frontage, this area features bottomland hardwood forests, open fields, wetlands, and streams, providing excellent habitat for birds, amphibians, deer and more. The greenway offers over 5 miles of paved ADA accessible trail for hiking, biking, running, skating and wildlife watching and over 5 miles of primitive trails for more passive activities of walking, running and exploring nature.
Sevier Park
Known best for its urban location in the 12South neighborhood and it's long standing Community Center, Sevier Park is a welcomign place for children and families to play. The park has two play grounds, ample green space, and picnic shelters. The Community Center serves as the centerpiece for Sevier Park and offers many great amenities like a new gymnasium with an upper level walking track, a fitness center and community meeting space.
The Warner Parks
Edwin Warner Park and Percy Warner Park, collectively known as the Warner Parks, are adjacent to each other, separated by Old Hickory Boulevard and located approximately 9 miles from downtown Nashville. The Warner Parks are the largest municipally administered parks in Tennessee and together span 2684 acres of forest and field. Both parks offer public green space, equestrian trails, bicycle routes, athletic fields, picnic areas, scenic roadways and overlooks, hiking trails, cross country running courses, golf courses, and athletic fields. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the parks are well know for an iconic limestone staircase and hosting the Annual Iroquois Steeplechase each Spring.
Greenways
Greenways for Nashville
Since 1994, Greenways for Nashville has worked to create, preserve, and promote a system of greenways in Nashville and Davidson County. Advocating preservation and protection of natural and cultural areas, development of community recreational opportunities, and acquisition of land for preservation as greenways and parks, this conservation organization is committed to doing their part to ensure equitable access to all members of our community so that they may safely experience an inviting network of greenways for health, recreation, wellness, and healing.
Greenways for Nashville supports the initiative of the Metro Parks Department and the Greenways Commission, leveraging public and private funds, building trails and enhancements, and preserving land. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1994, to date, Greenways for Nashville has assisted in developing a significant trail footprint of nearly 100 miles, including the protection of over 2,700 acres of floodplain land and the addition of over 7,000 acres of park land through the Greenways and Open Space Division of Metro Parks.
Greenways are linear parks and trails that connect neighborhoods to schools, parks, transportation, shopping and work. Often located along natural landscape features like streams, rivers and ridges, or along built features, such as railroad corridors and scenic highways, greenways provide valuable greenspace for conservation, recreation and alternative transportation. Greenways provide all citizens barrier-free access to natural resources and recreational opportunities.
Nashville’s greenways are primarily based along our eight major water corridors: the Cumberland River, Browns Creek, Harpeth River, Stones River, Mill Creek, Richland Creek, Seven Mile Creek and Whites Creek.
Find out more about Nashville Greenways, trails, and interactive maps at GreenwaysforNashville.org.
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