NASHVILLE, TN – (September 27, 2023) – Centennial Park Conservancy, a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and enhancing Centennial Park and the Parthenon and providing accessible and expansive cultural programming for the city of Nashville, announced today the organizations and projects that will receive Nashville Earth Day’s 2023 environmental project grants. For the past four years, Centennial Park Conservancy has used proceeds generated by the city’s official Earth Day celebration to underwrite environmental projects across Nashville. The program is stepping up its citywide commitment this year, awarding $50,000 to fund 15 environmental projects across Nashville with proceeds from this year’s event, up from six projects in 2022.
“These environmental projects are critical to the sustainability of our ecosystem,” said Metro Parks Director Monique Horton Odom. “We are so fortunate to have Centennial Park Conservancy both supporting our city’s central park and helping to improve public spaces across our city. We are thrilled that the Nashville Earth Day program is continuing to underwrite so many important projects that will significantly benefit our community.”
“We are grateful to everyone who attended and supported the 2023 Nashville Earth Day celebration,” said Centennial Park Conservancy’s Vice President of Programming Justin Branam. “Every attendee, sponsor, and vendor played a role in making these grants available to support environmental projects that will benefit the entire Nashville Community.”
The projects receiving funding from Nashville Earth Day 2023 are:
- Providing annual care for 160,000 bees that reside in hives located in Centennial Park in Midtown Nashville, in partnership with Nashville Area Beekeepers Association
- Funding a Nashville Tree Foundation tree planting at educational program and McKissack Middle School that will plant 40 trees and educate 180 students
- Establishing a community garden in Southeast Nashville centered on native plants that are significant to the tribes that were historically based in Tennessee, in partnership with the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee
- Native plant giveaway of at least 1,300 plants to more than 60 families, in partnership with Neighbors for Native Plants
- Water-quality improvements and long-term water-quality monitoring at Beaman Park, with Friends of Beaman Park
- STEM-focused environmental education programs in Metro Nashville Public Schools, with Nashville Wildlife Conservation Center
- Honeybee infrastructure (fencing, landscaping, cameras) at Stratford High School
- Gardening workshops, plant swaps and volunteer opportunities in Summer 2024 via Turnip Green Creative Reuse
- Expanding the Residential Pocket Prairie program and promoting No-Mow May, for water quality and biodiversity, in partnership with Cumberland River Compact
- Updates and revitalization of Crieve Hall Elementary School’s on-site food garden, with Crieve Hall Elementary School PTA
- Removal of invasive plants from Shelby Park via a goat program such as the Chew Crew, in partnership with Friends of Shelby Park & Bottoms
- Inglewood pollinator habitat labor, via Inglewood Elementary School
- Stream clean-up in Richland Creek and Mill Creek, with the Harpeth River Conservancy
- Establishment of “gateway gardens” at Mill Ridge Park, in partnership with Friends of Mill Ridge Park
- Educator training sessions that will teach how to bring sustainability practices into the classroom by Urban Green Lab
In the past four years, proceeds from Nashville Earth Day have funded the planting of more than 270 trees in Boyd, Dudley, Frederick Douglass, Green Hills, Hadley, Hartman, Mill Ridge, and Shelby Parks, plus Carter Lawrence Elementary; cared for 160,000 bees in Centennial Park and introduced 9,000 bees to Shelby and Mill Ridge Parks; planted six pollinator gardens in Green Hills, Hadley, Hartman, Mullins, and Shelby Parks, plus Stratford STEM Magnet School; cleaned up 13 waterways in Bordeaux, Donelson, Joelton, Madison, Midtown, Southeast Nashville, and West Nashville; and provided education to thousands of adults and children in parks and classrooms across our community. Nashville Earth Day has also facilitated the giving away of 1,000 trees to the public that have been planted in yards across our community, in partnership with Nashville Tree Foundation and Amazon. In total, $100,000 has been given back to the community by Centennial Park Conservancy through Nashville Earth Day’s environmental project program.
Nashville Earth Day is grateful for the generosity of the corporate and foundation partners who make the annual event and environmental projects possible. The program’s organizers are also thankful to the individuals at organizations such as Cumberland River Compact, Nashville Area Beekeepers Association, Tennessee Environmental Council, Nashville Tree Foundation, and Urban Green Lab who work tirelessly to educate, inspire, and create positive environmental change on a daily basis.
Learn more at nashvilleearthday.org/environmental-projects.
Centennial Park Conservancy presents Nashville Earth Day in partnership with Urban Green Lab. The program is sustained by Amazon, Nissan, and HCA Healthcare Foundation, and sponsored in part by Kroger and WM.
Nashville Earth Day is organized by Centennial Park Conservancy, with support from Metro Parks. The program is made possible with support from the following socially responsible organizations who share our mutual respect and concern for the environment and desire to inspire positive environmental change in our city.
Sustaining Partners:
Amazon • Nissan • HCA Healthcare Foundation
Presenting Sponsors:
Kroger • WM • Sandra Schatten Foundation
Supporting Sponsors:
Republic Services • Nashville Parks Foundation • First Horizon Foundation • BMW of Nashville
Media Partners:
Lamar Advertising Company • Lightning 100 WRLT • Nashville Scene • The Nashvillian
The Tennessee Tribune • 92Q WQQK • WSMV 4
Event Management Partners:
Centennial Park Conservancy • Metro Parks • Urban Green Lab
In-Kind Sponsors:
6th Man Movers
Additional Support by:
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation • Hereford Dolley Architect
Village Real Estate • EarthMix • TN Clean Fuel • 1Hotel • Drive Electric Nashville
Renewal by Anderson • Gresham Smith • Piedmont Natural Gas • Manuel Zeitlin Architects
Nashville Electric Service • String Fellow
About Nashville Earth Day:
Nashville Earth Day is the city’s official annual event to celebrate Earth Day. The free family event takes place in Centennial Park every April and brings the Nashville community together to celebrate our planet and inspire positive environmental change. The event is organized by Centennial Park Conservancy with participation from local community groups, environmental organizations, and state/metro agencies that collectively strive to educate Nashvillians about protecting our environment. Visit https://www.nashvilleearthday.org/.
About Centennial Park Conservancy
Centennial Park Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve, enhance, and share the Parthenon and Centennial Park so all future generations may benefit from these cultural and enriching landmarks. The organization works in partnership with Metro Parks to protect and revitalize the Park’s green space, underwrite the Parthenon’s exhibition and educational programs, and present accessible and inclusive community programming to sustain the Park’s vibrancy. Visit www.conservancyonline.com.
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