NEWS RELEASE

February 17, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS Jackie Jones @ 862-8400 Ext. 304 Barry McAlister @ 862-8400 Ext. 320 Community Meetings Scheduled to Update Metro Parks’ Master Plan Nashville, TN ---The Metropolitan Parks Department has scheduled five community meetings to give area residents an opportunity to help update the city’s Master Plan for Parks and Greenways. The meetings, planned for various sections of the city, are scheduled for the following dates and locations. Monday, February 25, 2008 6:30 p.m. at Hermitage Police Precinct, 3701 James Kay Lane, Hermitage, TN 27076, Phone: 615-880-1776 Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at Una Elementary School, 2018 Murfreesboro Road, Antioch, TN 37217, Phone: 615-360-2921 Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at Z. Alexander Looby Center, 2301 Rosa Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208, Phone: 615-862-8454 Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 6:30 p.m., Warner Parks Nature Center, 7311 Highway 100, Edwin Warner Park, Nashville, TN 37221, Phone: 615-352-6299 Monday, March 3, 2008 at 6:30 p.m., Parkway Baptist Church, 505 Cuniff Parkway, Goodlettsville, TN 37072, Phone: 615- 865-2325 Citizens unable to attend the meetings can easily provide their input to the plan by logging on to the Parks’ Department website at www.nashville.gov/parks or writing the Parks Department in care of Master Plan Update, Post Office Box 196340, 37219-6340. The Parks and Greenways Master Plan was adopted by the Metro Parks Board in November 2002, after a year-long public process. Since then, implementation of the plan has resulted in a variety of new projects and addressed system-wide deferred maintenance. To date, Hadley, East, and Hartman community centers have been completed, and the Coleman Community Center will open this spring. The new Parkwood Neighborhood Center has opened, as has the replacement for the McFerrin Neighborhood Center. The South Inglewood center will open this spring as well. Additionally, the Watkins, Kirkpatrick, Looby, Morgan, Napier, Easley, West, Elizabeth, and Cleveland centers have undergone renovations. More than 90 new playgrounds have been constructed at elementary schools and parks under the plan, and the city's first skate park, along with new amenities at Wave Country are complete. Three new nature centers will be completed by the summer, and Fort Negley has been opened with a new interpretive center. Golf courses have seen considerable improvements as well. McCabe was totally renovated, while irrigation systems at Harpeth Hills and Two Rivers were improved, and a new clubhouse constructed at Two Rivers. Master Plan Community Meetings Metro Parks - February 17, 2008 The first phase of new youth soccer complex was built near the airport, and improvements at Harpeth and Heartland soccer facilities were also completed. Sports fields were improved at West, Whitfield, Cedar Hill, and Seven Oaks parks, and a complete renovation of the Warner sports fields is currently underway. New parks have been added to the system at Public Square, Caldwell, Una, and Brookmeade, and Bells Bend and Beaman Parks opened to the public after capital improvements. The department has developed 36.5 miles of trail with approximately 14 miles are under development (planning, land acquisition, design or construction in progress). The greenway initiatives anticipate continued trail development along the Harpeth River Whites Creek, Richland Creek and Mill Creek greenways, and an extension from the Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge to Opry Mills. In addition the Riverfront Redevelopment Plan has been completed, which envisions additional parkland downtown. The Metro Board of Parks and Recreation does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, or disability in admission, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities. For TTY (relay service), call 1-800-849-0299. For questions, concerns, or requests regarding the American Disabilities Act call 862-8400.