The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
Freddie O'Connell, Mayor
Executive Order 27
Subject: Children’s Memory Garden of Nashville Committee
I, Freddie O’Connell, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, do hereby find, direct, and order the following:
I. Background
The Children’s Memorial Garden (CMG) was dedicated in 1996 and memorialized 35 children, linked to Davidson County, who died by violence in years leading up to that year. Since that time, the number of youth memorialized by the conclusion of 2018 has tragically reached 234.
The Origin of the CMG is traced to horticulturist Ron Smith and his, then, six year-old son, Kelby, affected by the deaths of young Adriane Dickerson, Elysia Coughlin and Jerimayer Warfield, asked his father how he could show their families he cared. This prompted Ron to reach out to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and Metro Government officials to discuss the concept of the Memorial Garden. With the support of Mayor Phil Bredesen’s Office and Parks Director, Jim Fyke, the Metro Parks Board approved the creation of the Children’s Memorial Garden in Centennial Park.
An all-volunteer Children’s Memorial Garden Working Group, chaired by Andrea Conte, was created to establish policies and guidelines for remembering children and to support the CMG.
II. Creation and Role
The Children’s Memory Garden of Nashville (CMGN) Committee is hereby established to succeed the ad-hoc CMG Working Group. The Committee’s responsibilities include:
- Oversight of the Garden and approval of physical or policy changes.
- Maintain and update Memorialization composition guidelines and requirements.
- Final determination of those memorialized.
- Publication of CMGN actions and events, in cooperation with appropriate Metropolitan Government departments.
III. Composition
A. The Mayor shall appoint up to fifteen (15) but not less than ten (10) members to the CMGN Committee.
Required members shall be:
- District Attorney General or designee;
- Director of Parks or designee;
- Director of Metro Office of Family Safety or designee;
- Chief of Police or designee;
- Mayoral Staff designee; and
- CEO of You Have The Power.
B. A term limit plan for non-required members shall be prepared by the Committee and recommended to the Mayor.
IV. Governance, Support Staff
A. The Mayor shall appoint the Chair of the CMGN committee. The Committee will establish its operating By-laws and guidelines by a two-thirds vote of its members. The Committee will oversee and approve, by a majority vote, the youth to be memorialized as part of the CMGN.
B. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department will maintain records for youth who could be memorialized in the Garden, including the names and addresses of their parents and/or guardians.
C. The Metropolitan Park Department will oversee all capital improvements and is responsible for maintenance of the Garden.
D. The Parks Department will approve any events at the Garden and oversee and process any in-kind contributions under its standard policies and procedures.
E. The Office of Family Safety shall provide staff support for the CMGN Committee.
Ordered, Effective and Issued: January 17, 2024
Freddie O’Connell
Metropolitan County Mayor