No shade: Half of Nashville’s parks have less than 33% tree canopy cover

The summer heat is hard to escape at many of Nashville’s playgrounds and trails.

Half of Nashville’s parks have less than 33% tree canopy cover, according to a new report from the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps. 

“I think that’s scandalous,” said Chris Leonard, the group’s board chairman. “We’re a city with a lot of good things going on, and one of the world’s first-rate urban forests. We should darn well do better than that.” 

Leonard is a parent who frequents parks with his children. He commissioned the report while watching families struggle to enjoy time outside amid longer, increasingly dangerous summers. 

Shade can lower ambient air temperatures, while also cooling surface temperatures by as much as 45 degrees, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

“The playground equipment this time of year is boiling,” Leonard said. “Every kid should have a shaded, pleasant place to play in the summer, especially in a wealthy city.” 

Nashville has 148 parks. Their shade levels in the report are based on the city’s latest five-year tree canopy study, which relied on 2021 data.

The city has since had a major ice storm that wiped out many thousands of trees, and the Nashville Electric Service changed its tree trimming policy, leading to further loss. The city’s post-ice data will come out in 2028. 

In the meantime, Leonard recommends that folks contact their local tree planting efforts, like the Cumberland River Compact’s Root Nashville project, and city leaders. They can ask for specific park plantings, dedicated park funding for trees or even the hiring of additional arborists. Nashville has one city arborist, while many comparable cities have multiple, Leonard said. 

Some of Nashville’s parks are very green and relatively cool. The top quartile includes parks with about 60% or more canopy coverage. Radnor Lake, Lockeland Springs, Beaman and Old Hickory Cemetery all have over 90% canopy cover. 

Rose Gilbert WPLN News

Radnor Lake offers some of the most popular trails in Nashville.

But the report shows most parks have massive gaps in their shade. 

The report also ranked the parks based on a “heat score,” which also includes the neighborhood canopy score, the Nashville Heat Exposure Index and the Climate and Justice Screening Tool. 

The 10 hottest parks are located near downtown’s dense concrete and asphalt:

• William Edmondson Park
• Tony Rose Park
• Kossie Gardner, Sr. Park
• Wasioto Park
• Watkins Park
• Fort Negley
• E. S. Rose Park
• Dudley Park
• Fair Park
• Berry Hill’s Columbine Park