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Parks board approves temporary parking agreement with Cheekwood to allow transition to on-site parking
Summary
The Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation voted to approve a memorandum of understanding allowing Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art to use designated Metro Parks property temporarily while it builds on-site parking, following public comment and a presentation by Cheekwood leadership.
The Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation voted by voice to approve a memorandum of understanding that allows Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art to continue using designated Metro Parks property for visitor parking while the nonprofit builds parking on its own land.
The vote came after a presentation from Jane McLeod, president and CEO of Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, and more than an hour of public comment from neighbors, Cheekwood trustees and community partners. McLeod said Cheekwood "is supportive of the MOU recommended by the Metro Planning Commission" and told the board the institution is "fully committed" to moving parking onto Cheekwood's property per the Planning Commission's recommendations.
The MOU is a phased transition plan with milestones the board said must be met. Legal counsel described the item as "really a transition plan to get Cheekwood patrons parking on Cheekwood property," noting that the agreement includes milestone dates and a phased approach. During board discussion, Commissioner Scott Barnes said he had "some concerns about the details of the MOU" and asked about the board's ability to make edits before the next meeting; staff and counsel said amendments could be considered at a future date.
Why it matters: Cheekwood is a major cultural and revenue-generating site for Nashville; the institution said 65% of its revenue is gate-related and that its programs — including Cheekwood in Bloom and Holiday Lights — fund operations. The MOU is intended to balance continued public access and the department's stewardship of parkland while Cheekwood funds and constructs permanent parking on its property.
What speakers told the board: McLeod described Cheekwood as a 55-acre nonprofit that relies on visitor-generated funds and said the institution has already started implementing traffic-demand measures and is documenting compliance with prerequisites tied to the MOU. Public commenters included former Cheekwood director Bob Brakman, trustees and community partners who alternately urged protection of Warner Parks and supported Cheekwood's outreach work and need for a phased transition.
Several residents and stakeholders urged caution in how parkland is used and monitored. Pat Stacy and others criticized the traffic-study methodology used in the Belle Meade Highlands Design and Mobility Study and urged a more thorough follow-up analysis. Cheekwood trustees including Virginia Lazenby and Alberto Gonzales emphasized Cheekwood's cultural programming and outreach to diverse communities; Rebecca Shaw described the importance of Cheekwood's Holi event to Indian families.
Board response and next steps: Board members said they welcomed the MOU's clarity, exhibit and timeline while reserving the right to propose edits. The board chair, Michelle Cummings Steele, thanked everyone for input and reminded the public the parks board governs parks land only. Legal counsel and staff said the board can consider amendments in future meetings and that the MOU is intended as a time-limited tool to facilitate Cheekwood's transition off parkland. The MOU as described in the meeting preserves the East Lot and other designated areas while the West Lot had been removed from prior agreements because of "the threat of a lawsuit from a Lucley descendant against the city," according to McLeod.
Votes at a glance: The board's motion to approve the MOU passed on a voice vote ("Aye"). The transcript records no roll-call tally or recorded individual votes; board members signified approval when asked.
The board asked staff to accept proposed edits and to return with any changes; Commissioner Barnes requested time to propose recommended edits about enforceability and timelines. The board also asked parks staff to provide an internal scope and timeline for any additional study related to the Belle Meade recommendations at a future meeting.
The parks board meeting packet includes the MOU exhibit, a binder of Cheekwood's compliance materials, and references to the Belle Meade Highlands Design and Mobility Study and Metro Planning Commission recommendations.
