For 66 years, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens has served as a sanctuary of art, education, and nature for generations of Tennesseans. Today, that legacy is facing an unprecedented and radical existential threat, and the future of Cheekwood is in jeopardy.

A group of neighbors, led by Jackson Moore, has filed a formal legal appeal with the Metro Board of Zoning Appeals in an effort to halt construction of a Metro-mandated on-site parking facility necessary to support operations. However, their most recent tactic does not merely oppose a parking project. They are explicitly demanding that the city issue a Stop Work Order to halt all operations and public use of Cheekwood’s property.

If successful, this action would effectively shutter Cheekwood as we know it. It would prohibit public access, halt all programming that Nashvillians have made family traditions, and end free educational field trips for thousands of Nashville school children.

Cheekwood will not be bullied into closing our gates to the public by a self-serving faction trying to wall off a historic Nashville landmark for themselves. We are fully compliant with the law, and we stand firmly with Metro Nashville in our mission to serve the entire community—which includes our active support for collaborative, city-led traffic solutions like a shared-use Highway 100 access drive.

We Need Your Help to SAVE CHEEKWOOD!

We cannot fight this unprecedented overreach alone. We need the voices of our members, donors, visitors, and friends to send a resounding message of support.

We are officially launching the SAVE CHEEKWOOD Campaign and we need your help. Please go to Change.org/SaveCheekwood to learn more about the facts of this matter and sign our petition. Urge our city leaders to protect this landmark and let the Board of Zoning Appeals know that Cheekwood belongs to all of Nashville.