NASHVILLE TO DEDICATE DOWNTOWN ARBORETUM ENHANCING URBAN CANOPY AND PUBLIC GREEN SPACE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The City of Nashville is proud to announce the official launch of the Nashville Downtown Arboretum, a new green initiative to highlight the beauty of the tree canopy, along with its educational benefits, right in the heart of downtown. The dedication ceremony with community leaders will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, followed by guided tours and the official launch of the interactive website.
The Arboretum, managed by the Nashville Downtown Partnership in collaboration with the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT), marks a major milestone in the city’s commitment to sustainability and public space enhancement. This visionary project has been in development since 2022 and reflects the collective efforts of a wide network of civic and environmental partners.
Partners instrumental in bringing the arboretum to life include: Metro District 19 Council Member Jacob Kupin, Metro Beautification and Environment Commission, Metro Parks and Recreation, Metro Water Services, Missouri Botanical Gardens, NDOT, Nashville Downtown Partnership, and the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council.
The dedication ceremony will feature remarks from Mayor Freddie O’Connell, a longtime advocate for the project dating back to his time as Metro Councilmember for the downtown district.
“This ribbon-cutting is the culmination of years of work and planning that highlights the value of collaboration. The simple act of planting a tree is something that always provides a return on your investment,” Mayor Freddie O’Connell said. “Our urban tree canopy provides visual proof that we can grow responsibly, sustainably, and preserve this critical form of infrastructure. I can’t wait for Nashvillians to experience it.”
The arboretum features a diverse collection of trees planted throughout the public right of way—along sidewalks, boulevards, and gathering spaces—making it the first downtown arboretum to be accessible 24/7. Blending nature seamlessly into Nashville’s bustling cityscape, this urban arboretum offers beauty, shade, and a cooler, more walkable downtown for all.
“The arboretum offers visitors and residents of Nashville the unique experience to walk among hundreds of different trees and greenery spread throughout downtown,” said Diana Alarcon, the Director of NDOT. “I’m proud of our collaboration with the Nashville Downtown Partnership to highlight these beautiful green spaces to our city.”
In addition to the physical presence of more than 3,000 trees with over 110 marked specimens of the more than 50 unique tree species, the Downtown Arboretum also includes an online guide. Anyone can explore online at nashvilledowntown.com/arboretum. Marked trees include a scannable QR code to instantly access detailed information about the tree species and the broader arboretum initiative. “This is really an exciting addition to the downtown neighborhood,” said Tom Turner, President and CEO of the Nashville Downtown Partnership. “The arboretum further reinforces that, in addition to being a world-class downtown, this neighborhood is a thriving ecosystem of greenery and green spaces that enhance quality of life for all who live, work and play here.”
Event Details:
Dedication Ceremony & Ribbon Cutting for the Nashville Downtown Arboretum (invitation only, media allowed) with optional arboretum tours to follow
Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Church Street Park (600 Church St)
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About Nashville Downtown Partnership
Organized in 1994, the Nashville Downtown Partnership is a private-sector nonprofit corporation and membership organization whose core purpose is “to make Downtown Nashville the compelling urban center in the Southeast in which to LIVE, WORK, PLAY and INVEST.” For more information, visit nashvilledowntown.com.
About Nashville Department of Transportation
The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) builds and manages a safe, reliable public network which elevates the quality of life and prosperity in Davidson County. To report a non-emergency issue affecting a Metro Nashville street, visit hub.nashville.gov.