Mayor John Cooper today introduced a plan to build schools, modernize city infrastructure and create more public park space – a level of investment made possible by of Metro Nashville's recent financial turnaround.
Nearly half the $568 million capital spending plan goes to education and transportation improvements – key priorities the mayor also funded in his earlier, FY2021 capital spending plan.
"Nashville's population increased by nearly a hundred-thousand residents in the last decade - we're a growing city with growing needs," Mayor Cooper said. "We are addressing our growth in a smart, focused way, so that Nashville continues to work for everyone."
A record $85 million for Metro Parks will open access to 60-plus acres of neighborhood green space, plus fund major projects at sites like the Nashville Zoo and along the Cumberland riverfront.
"We are investing in our neighborhoods and our community and cultural assets, building deep public value in a Nashville that is one of America's most desirable places to live, work and play," the mayor added.
All told, the capital spending plan positions Nashville to leverage city funds to unlock up to $225 million in additional funds from state, federal and philanthropic sources.
The plan advances affordable housing and includes $20 million for the recovery of historic Second Avenue. It funds a second round of community projects under citizen-driven participatory budgeting initiative, which Mayor Cooper launched earlier this year.
It also launches a 14-acre campus to serve nearly 80,000 young people and their families annually, a vision long-championed by Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway.
Education: Five New Schools, Better Facilities Citywide
$134 million
Early work on four new or renovated elementary schools at Antioch, Percy Priest, Haywood, and Paragon Mills will help get students out of portable classrooms, used now because of overcrowding. New, right-sized buildings will also support the district's long-term efforts to move fifth graders back into elementary schools for better student outcomes.
Twenty-nine million dollars completes the new Hillwood High School in Bellevue for an August 2023 opening. The new Hillwood – funded at $100 million in the mayor's FY2021 capital spending plan - will serve 1,600 students from 34 of Nashville's 35 Council districts and replace a 60-plus-year old facility.
"Our students, teachers and the community we serve are excited to see progress being made and grateful for Mayor Cooper's commitment to complete this project on time, so we can experience our new, modern learning environment," said Dr. Stephen Sheaffer, Hillwood's principal.
The plan fully funds Metro Schools' priority requests ($85 million) for repairs and upkeep at more than 100 facilities citywide – projects like playground fixes, computer replacements and new buses.
"Once again, Mayor Cooper has shown a commitment to Metro Schools through investments that will create better learning environments for our students and improve the quality of our facilities," said schools director Dr. Adrienne Battle.
Transportation: Upgrading Infrastructure, Leveraging State and Federal Grants
$141 million to leverage up to $199 million in grants
While $2 million builds and outfits a Transportation Management Center - to reduce drive times by better coordinating traffic signals – another $5 million advances lighting, crosswalk and other safety improvements under the mayor's Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic and pedestrian deaths.
Other improvements include:
- 25 traffic calming projects on residential streets
- Paving roughly 285 lane miles of roadway
- Repairing bridges and culverts at 61 sites
- Upgrades to bus stops and shelters
- Replacing 19 buses, plus funds to run more buses during peak ridership hours
- New sidewalks, sidewalk repairs and new bikeways
"I'm excited we are making a significant down payment on needed improvements that will benefit drivers, transit riders and pedestrians in neighborhoods across Davidson County," said
Metro Councilmember Zach Young, who chairs the Council's transportation and infrastructure committee.
Serving Young People and Families
$30 million
A new, 14-acre campus will be a national model for how cities and courts can fully support young people and their families. The future campus on Brick Church Pike, near to public transportation and community organizations– will be home to green space, sports facilities and Davidson County's Juvenile Court.
"I am immensely thankful to Mayor Cooper for prioritizing this project to benefit families and young people in Nashville for years to come," Judge Sheila Calloway said. "I believe this investment will pay off exponentially, through improved public safety and positive outcomes for our community's young men and women."
Judge Calloway's team works with an estimated 76,000 people every year, providing trauma-informed legal services and connecting them to supportive, rehabilitative care.
"The Metro Council advocated to make a new juvenile justice center a top priority, and Mayor Cooper answered the call to meet the unique needs of justice-involved youth with this investment," Davidson's Juvenile Court Clerk, Lonnell Matthews, said. "We are grateful that our city's leaders have embraced the vision to create the nation's first family-oriented, trauma-informed campus for juvenile and family justice. "
"Judge Calloway has done a phenomenal job as our Juvenile Court Judge. I'm happy District 2 can play a small part, by providing the space for a project that is certain to be transformational for our youth," said Metro Councilmember Kyonzté Toombs.
More Access to Neighborhood Green Space and Amenities
$30 million
Investments will increase access to public green space by 60-plus acres, starting with a new city park in one of the last communities that still has none: $1 million will fund a master plan and early design for just under 10 acres off Tusculum Road in Antioch.
"Our children will finally have a safe, outdoor space to play," said District 30 Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda. "I am thankful to District 30 residents, the Mayor and fellow Councilmembers, who made this park a top priority."
Meanwhile, $1.75 million will help open access to 53 acres of park space in Trinity Hills. A community-driven process will bring amenities to park land, which until now has remained undeveloped and closed to the public.
The plan also includes investments to:
- Grow Nashville's greenways network
- Complete construction on the long-awaited, new Old Hickory Community Center
- Repair the Napier Community Center swimming pool in North Nashville
- Add four acres to the Lockeland Springs Park in East Nashville
- Build a community meeting and events space at Two Rivers Park in Donelson
Another $1 million will fund additional repairs at historic Fort Negley – namely, stabilizing original stonework hundreds of years old at this UNESCO Slave Routes Project site. This allocation to preserve Fort Negley builds upon an equal commitment in Mayor Cooper's FY21 capital spending plan.
Big Opportunities: Enhancing Community Assets, Unlocking More Dollars
No. 1: The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
A $15 million Metro contribution will help Nashville's zoo capture a matching $15 million in private donations. Metro's contribution will fund a much-needed parking garage on the landlocked site, which sits on Metro Parks land.
The increased parking will increase guest capacity and help fuel a philanthropic campaign to complete vast new exhibits: an African Savannah and Village and African Forest.
The addition – a future home for several African species, including a family of gorillas – will bring even more visitors to the Zoo, which is a vibrant cultural and natural conservation institution and an economic engine for businesses along South Nashville's Nolensville Pike corridor.
No. 2 & 3: The Cumberland Riverfront
Funds to purchase a historic site and design a park at 88 Hermitage Avenue will create access to more green space for an estimated 18,000 downtown residents. It also sets the stage for future city assets like a waterfront boating and recreation area and mixed-use, affordable housing.
Three million dollars to create another riverfront park – this one at First Avenue and Gay Street – will enhance additional public green space in the urban core and thoughtfully serve the forthcoming Permanent Supportive Housing development. Metro will partner with the Metro Development and Housing Agency, using federal funding to support some of Nashville's most vulnerable residents.
City Essentials for a Fast-Growing Metro
$72 million
Five million dollars will enhance affordable housing initiatives through the Metro Development and Housing Agency. This includes $2 million for infrastructure participation agreements for affordable housing, continuing a new pilot program initially funded in FY21.
Investments will help fund:
- A new Fire Station No. 25 in North Nashville
- A first responder training academy for fire and police
- Projects to mitigate stormwater flooding
- Repairs and upgrades at Metro Headstart early education facilities
- Library investments, including facility improvements at Nashville Public Library's flagship location at 615 Church Street
Meanwhile, funds for the Global Mall in Southeast Nashville – an anchor in one of the city's fastest-growing areas – will help spur investment and expand use of the site, which houses the Southeast branch of Nashville Public Library, the Southeast Community Center and the publicly-owned Ford Ice Center.
Finally, $22 million helps create a cohesive Nashville Fairgrounds, with ADA accessibility, utility work, road improvements and stormwater improvements. The investment includes funding for a public plaza in the center of the Fairgrounds and an avenue that better connects Fair Park to Nashville's new soccer stadium and other Fairgrounds facilities.
Progress on Historic Second Avenue
$20 million
Mayor Cooper quickly established a Second Avenue Response and Recovery team following the destructive Christmas Day bombing. As their work continues, $20 million will fund a reimagining of the historic area – Second Avenue, First Avenue and the Cumberland River's West Bank.
The mayor's vision is to maintain the district's historic character, improve pedestrian experiences along and between First and Second avenues, enhance the streetscape and reconnect Nashville's downtown to the Cumberland River. The project – carefully crafted in sync with other public development on the East Bank, River North and at Wharf Park on the West Bank – will boost further recovery among business affected by the December blast.
So far, more than half of the area's affected businesses have reopened. The most heavily damaged buildings are being preserved and rebuilt, and more than 500 people have shared ideas for the rebuild at nine community workshops.
"From the beginning, Mayor Cooper has provided vital leadership in the recovery process for historic Second Avenue," said Tom Turner, president of the Nashville Downtown Partnership. "The investment he now proposes is much-needed and will allow the rebuilding of the area in a way that reconnects our downtown to our riverfront and honor's the area's history and purpose. We are another step closer to turning what began has a shocking and destructive event into a unifying and inspiring project."
About Metro Nashville's Financial Turnaround
Upon taking office in 2019, Mayor Cooper and Metro Finance avoided a threatened takeover by the State Comptroller and led Nashville into structurally balanced budgets in 2020 and 2021. The city now boasts improved metrics for liquidity, operations and long-term obligations.
