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Parks Board approves grants, events and naming requests; upholds a one-year suspension
Summary
The Metro Board of Parks and Recreation approved several consent and standalone items including in-kind grants, event permits, and a park renaming process; the board also upheld a one-year suspension for a park patron after an appeals hearing. Most items were adopted unanimously or by voice vote.
The Metro Board of Parks and Recreation approved a series of routine and special items during its Feb. meeting, including acceptance of in-kind grants, event permits, a renaming process, and a disciplinary suspension upheld after an appeals hearing.
Key votes at a glance
- Sunnyside summerhouse gazebo (in-kind grant, approx. $25,000): The board voted to accept an in-kind grant to reconstruct the historic summerhouse gazebo adjacent to Sunnyside Mansion in Sevier Park. Tim Walker, executive director of the Metro Historical Commission, described partner funding and that Metro Historical Commission (MHC) will maintain the building going forward. Motion passed by voice vote.
- Bellevue Park renaming (initiate renaming process to "Red Caboose Park"): The naming committee recommended staff initiate the formal renaming process per park policy. The board voted to move forward with the renaming process; motion passed unanimously.
- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda in its entirety (items not individually debated were approved by voice vote).
- Michael Poindexter suspension (Park policy 3000.24): The Parks Board considered staff's recommendation to uphold a one-year suspension of Michael Poindexter from all Metro Parks and Recreation centers. Poindexter appealed in person and asked for further review; staff recommended upholding the suspension based on the department's conduct policy. The motion to uphold the one-year suspension passed by voice vote; no named roll-call votes were provided in the transcript. The board read the appeals/appeal-right language required under Metropolitan Code of Laws 2.68.0.03.
- Event and permit approvals: • Friends of 2 Rivers Mansion: Permission to host 2025 events at 2 Rivers Mansion with waivers of usage fees and related requests. Staff recommended approval; motion passed by voice vote. • Nashville Downtown Partnership: Trial Maker's Farmers Market pilot events at Riverfront Park under John Seigenthaler pedestrian bridge on specified dates in April–June 2025; staff recommended approval and the board approved. • Vanderbilt Delta Delta Delta Sorority: Charity pickleball tournament at Centennial Sportsplex on Feb. 21, 2025; staff recommended approval and the board approved.
- Grants and in-kind donations: • Hillsborough West End Neighborhood Association: Acceptance of an in‑kind grant (~$4,000) to install arboretum tree tags and signage for a Level 2 arboretum certification at Fannie Mae Dees Park; staff recommended approval and the board approved. • Centennial Park Conservancy: Grant of $15,581 to underwrite Parthenon conferences and related costs for calendar year 2025; staff recommended approval and the board approved.
- Park naming / signage: • Poplar Creek naming: Staff requested approval to officially name a creek in Bells Bend Park "Poplar Creek"; the item was deferred to the naming committee for action.
What the record shows: Most routine items were approved on staff recommendation without extended debate. The transcript records motions made and seconded, voice votes of "Aye," and occasional brief clarifying questions from board members, but no roll-call tallies were read aloud for those items. The formal procedure for appeal to Chancery Court (60 days) was recited following the suspension action.
Next steps: For items requiring additional administrative steps (renaming, MOU-related work, or deferred items), department staff will follow the naming policy and return with required documentation or a revised MOU where applicable.
