Dear friends,

I’m thrilled to share some very exciting news about the future of Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.

Cheekwood has developed plans for a state-of-the-art Parking Pavilion and Welcome Plaza, and like everything our community has come to expect from Cheekwood, it incorporates the highest level of creativity and aesthetic standards, in service to our community and all those who visit.

Designed by the nationally recognized architectural firm, Hastings, this beautiful new facility will fulfill a functional parking need while respecting the estate’s historic landscape, botanical gardens, and renowned vistas. It will provide parking for 750 vehicles, and include several EV charging stations, an easy ride share drop-off and pick-up area, a new ticketing center, an expansive 28,000 square-foot green roof, new gardens, and a sustainable rainwater harvesting system. The project is anticipated to cost $25 million, and we are following a strict timeline to ensure its completion in 2027, to meet the construction milestones of our current agreement with Metro Parks.

For over 40 years, Metro Parks has generously provided adjacent parkland outside Cheekwood’s entrance gates for overflow parking during high-volume days. This agreement enabled our programs to flourish, and we are forever grateful for it. However, the arrangement will end in 2027, and Metro has asked Cheekwood to create a new permanent parking solution on our own property.

We invite you to support Cheekwood in our efforts to bring this new Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza to realization, as the programming you have come to love is dependent upon it. This summer’s Enchanted Castles, Cheekwood Harvest, Holiday LIGHTS, El Día de los Muertos (and exhibitions like Chihuly at Cheekwood) all these and more are dependent on parking. We are counting on the support of the community we love to help make this urgent vision a reality.

As our plans unfold, we are committed to updating our members, visitors, neighbors, and other friends on our progress. For more information about Cheekwood’s exciting future (and to learn how you can be a part of it), visit <cheekwood.org/parking-pavilion>.

I also invite you to join our ‘Love Team’ to help spread the love and joy found at Cheekwood every day.

Cheekwood has evolved over the years, and yes, like Nashville, it has grown to serve you. Thanks to your support, it is still here, nearly 100 years since Mabel and Leslie Cheek first envisioned a grand home and estate that today welcomes all.

We hope you will join us in bringing this new Parking Pavilion and Welcome Plaza to Cheekwood.

With gratitude,

Jane O. MacLeod

President/CEO