The Land Trust for Tennessee Partners with Metro Nashville to Manage an Open Space Plan Project for Davidson County

This exciting project is a joint public/private effort between the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and The Land Trust for Tennessee to inventory critical natural and cultural resources and create a long-term plan for conservation and development of these resources for use and adoption by various government departments and private conservation organizations.

The Land Trust is managing this project to engage a nationally recognized consultant to produce a world-class open space plan for Davidson County. This effort will position Nashville as a national leader in conservation-led development, green economic growth, and preservation of both natural and cultural resources.

The genesis of this project was a strong recommendation from Mayor Dean’s Green Ribbon Committee to make a county-wide open space plan a priority. This partnership would not have been possible without the generous grant from The Martin Foundation to The Land Trust.

While the area of study will be Davidson County, the plan will take a regional view of the magnificent natural and cultural resources of Middle Tennessee. The goal of this project is to create short and long-term natural and cultural resource preservation goals, priorities, policies, strategies, and funding mechanisms for Davidson County based on geographic information, existing planning, and community input. The project will create specific goals and policy recommendations for county and regional natural resource preservation, public land acquisition and public and private land protection and enhancement.

The project will involve a technical advisory committee comprised of public and private sector leaders. The project will take approximately twelve months from the engagement of a firm or consultant team.

The project will have the following phases:

1)      development of a county-wide ‘green infrastructure’ inventory and analysis using GIS mapping technology that identifies natural and cultural resources and maps these resources in relationship to existing physical development patterns of the county; 

2)      incorporation of existing planning documents into this analysis;

3)      a public participation process that presents this information, helps educate citizens about the resources, and obtains public input in evaluation of the resources and conservation recommendations;

4)      development of formal recommendations for resource preservation and the adoption of these recommendations by various Metropolitan departments as well as promotion of the findings to federal, state regional, and local agencies and organizations for adoption into short and long term planning work for the region; and

5)      development of short, medium and long term implementation tools and action-oriented strategies tailored for maximum effectiveness and feasibility for the Metropolitan Government and for The Land Trust. Recommendations should include economic development analysis.

The open space plan will address all types of open/green space needs, opportunities and constraints, urban, suburban and rural, from small community or mini parks to large tracts of farmland.  It will consider issues related to economic development/prosperity, ecosystem restoration, agricultural and other sustainability needs, water resource protection and public water access, critical viewshed preservation, land use, connectivity for people and nature.  It will provide recommendations specific to Nashville for maintaining and enhancing the dynamic region and its unique physical character and natural attributes.