$10M for 24 capital projects: Nashville participatory budgeting winners released

Results from Nashville’s participatory budgeting process have been released. Ranging from million-dollar park improvements to increased library resources to funding for historical tours on Jefferson Street, 24 projects have been selected.

The results wrap up a prolonged process that saw 35 finalists (one for each Metro Council district) selected from over 1,300 submissions.   

This round is the first time participatory budgeting has gone citywide. A total of $10 million — dollars that were funded through the American Rescue Plan — was allocated toward the project. Previous years have seen the process limited to specific neighborhoods and significantly less funding.

Because the latest round’s process was supported by COVID relief funds, it was intended to support communities most impacted by the pandemic. The project employed a “Social Vulnerability Index,” which considers things like socioeconomic status and race. This helped guide how much money was allocated to certain projects.

This round, a total of 13,121 voters cast unduplicated ballots, either via paper ballots or online. As each voter was allowed to support up to five projects, 56,615 votes were cast in total, across the 35 projects. Metro Councilmember Erin Evans posted the results to her website, after winners were emailed to the council on Monday.

In total, 24 projects will be funded, though two other projects from the original list will also receive funding through NDOT.

A remaining $10,000 will remain un-allocated. It is being retained until closer to projects’ completion, in case any require additional funds.

The winning projects include:

District 1: Updates to Timothy Park: Replace aging playground equipment, update basketball courts with new surface and new goals, and repave the walking loop.

District 2: Add traffic calming measures on 24th Avenue North to slow traffic and improve safety.

District 4: Add traffic calming measures on Holt Road between Nolensville Road and Edmondson Pike to slow traffic and improve safety.

District 5: Updates to McFerrin Park: Replace aging playground equipment, including accessible options, and add bus shelters at Dickerson Pike and Grizzard Avenue.

District 7: Add a covered bus shelter at Stratford High School for students who commute via WeGo.

District 9: Add resources to the Madison Branch of the Nashville Public Library, including resources about Central Asia and a musical instrument lending program. Provide additional computer access and Internet training. Install a native-plant pollinator garden.

District 10: Add resources to the Goodlettsville Branch of the Nashville Public Library, including resources about Central Asia and a musical instrument lending program. Provide additional computer access and Internet training. Install a native-plant pollinator garden.

District 11: Add traffic calming measures and crosswalks on Terry Lane and Tyler Drive near Tulip Grove Elementary and DuPont Tyler Middle School to slow traffic and improve safety.

District 12: Update playgrounds at Ruby Majors Elementary and Dodson Elementary School.

District 14: Add resources to the Hermitage Branch of the Nashville Public Library, including resources about Central Asia and a musical instrument lending program. Provide additional computer access and Internet training. Install a native-plant pollinator garden. Fund a partnership with Autism TN for adult sexual-education workshops.

District 15: Upgrade traffic light equipment and software on Lebanon Pike between the Wilson County line and First Avenue downtown to improve traffic efficiency.

District 16: Updates to Coleman Park: Replace aging playground equipment, improve play surface, and add a shade structure.

District 17: Updates to Dudley Park: Replace aging and broken playground equipment.

District 18: Place historic markers to highlight the African-American history of the Belmont-12South area. Install benches on Blair Boulevard and Natchez Trace.

District 21: Develop directed historical tours on Jefferson Street spotlighting North Nashville and the contributions made by its residents and the history of Nashville’s “Black Wall Street.”

District 23: Add traffic calming measures on Brook Hollow Road between Charlotte Pike and Highway 70 South to slow traffic and improve safety.

District 24: Fund an “Apprenticeship U” program in collaboration with local employers, Nashville State Community College (NSCC) and Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT).

District 26: Install pedestrian safety improvements at the Harding Place and Nolensville Pike intersection, including improved crosswalks, signage and blinking lights.

District 27: Updates to Whitfield Park: Install shade structure, extend the greenway to Oakley Drive, install inclusive playground equipment, replace signage, and install picnic tables and a water station.

District 28: Updates to Antioch Park: Install a regulation soccer field, and establish a soccer equipment rental program.

District 30: Add traffic-calming measures on Tampa Drive between Interstate 24 and Harding Place to slow traffic and improve safety.

District 31: Add traffic-calming measures on Sunnywood Drive, Oakfield Grove and Autumn Oaks to slow traffic and improve safety.

District 32: Updates to Southeast Community Center Park: Install shade structure, add two round picnic tables and standalone benches.

District 34: Add traffic-calming measures on Hobbs Road at Julia Green Elementary to slow traffic and improve safety.