Demolish Greer, Convert It To Park: Briley

NASHVILLE, TN -- In his first major policy announcement, Nashville Mayor David Briley proposed demolishing Greer Stadium, the former home of the Nashville Sounds, and converting the land to park space to honor the slaves who helped build Ft. Negley, a major Nashville Civil War site.

Standing in front of the disused stadium, without a tenant since the Sounds' move to First Tennessee Park in Sulphur Dell, Briley said he will ask the Metro Council for $1 million to tear down the stadium and begin the restoration process for the land.

Former Mayor Megan Barry pushed a plan to turn the site into a mixed-use development but met significant pushback from historic preservationists and others - it marked a rare moment of cooperation between the NAACP and the Sons of Confederate Veterans - who wanted the land's history maintained. An archaeological survey confirmed widely held speculation that the property contains potentially thousands of graves of slaves, freedmen and other African-American workers who helped build Ft. Negley.

“While the Cloud Hill proposal could be a great idea on another property in Nashville, the highest and best use of this site is to restore it to a historical park that can be enjoyed by Nashvillians and visitors alike,” Briley said. “I am grateful for all of the Nashvillians who have expressed a passion for doing just that and who will lend their voices and support in the coming months to make this vision a reality.”

Ft. Negley was built during the Union occupation of Nashville between 1862 and 1864. It is the only inland stone fort used during the Civil War.

Briley said once the stadium is demolished and grass seed planted, he'll ask the Metro Historical Commission to complete a report on how to convert the 21 acres into "an active park that honors the history of the site."

“We have a unique opportunity to bring the community together to design a park that will honor the sacrifice of the slaves who died building this fort while providing active park space in a growing neighborhood that will be enjoyed by residents for generations to come," Briley said.

Photo via Office of the Mayor