Three years after Mill Ridge Park opened to the public in Antioch, $4 million in improvements, including a new nature center, are now in the works.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office announced the new funding in an Aug. 13 news release. Half of it comes from a National Park Service grant awarded via the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and the rest will be provided in matching funds from the Joe C. Davis Foundation.
It’ll all go toward crafting new spaces dedicated to outdoor recreation and nature education, as well as restoring several historic farm features, at the more than 600-acre regional park located near Cane Ridge High School on Old Hickory Boulevard in Southeast Nashville.
“This grant will allow us to bring
programming and opportunities to everyone that loves Mill Ridge Park,” O’Connell said in the press release. “It’s the kind of work that strengthens the bonds of a community.”
The release notes that the project will involve renovating “The Barn” at the park, turning it into a flexible indoor nature center capable of hosting classes, community gatherings, farmers markets and special events.
The funding boost comes as Mill Ridge Park’s second phase of development is still underway. The first phase spanned 15 acres and features a playground with the largest slide in Davidson County.
There’s more to come as part of phase two of development. To the east, the park’s getting a parking expansion, an event pavilion, an expanded playground and a water play area. A new parking lot is also planned to the west.
Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him with questions, tips and story ideas at ahornbostel@tennessean.com.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mill Ridge Park to get $4M in improvements, including nature center
