Why Parking and Why Now?
For over 40 years, Metro Parks has generously provided adjacent parkland outside Cheekwood’s entrance for overflow parking. As that agreement concludes in 2027, Cheekwood must now establish a permanent parking solution within its own footprint. As a non-profit charitable organization with 65% of annual operating revenue dependent on attendance, the development of permanent on-site parking is an existential issue for Cheekwood.
More than 80% of annual visitors to Cheekwood are from our local area, making the new Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza more than just a solution to an important need – but an investment in the future of Cheekwood and the Nashville community.
The Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza is slated for completion in 2027.
Donate today and help ensure Cheekwood’s Future
I Believe in Cheekwood: Where Love Grows Campaign
Cheekwood has been a cherished part of Nashville’s cultural landscape for over six decades, and our most exciting chapter is just beginning. The new Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza represents a $35 million investment in Cheekwood’s future — and we are inviting our community to be part of it.
Our fundraising goal of $26 million represents 75% of the total project cost. The people who love Cheekwood most — our members, visitors, and friends — have always been our greatest strength. As a nonprofit charitable organization, Cheekwood’s future depends on the support of our community. Your gift of any amount ensures that Cheekwood continues to serve as a cultural treasure and place of joy, beauty, and serenity for Nashville and beyond — more accessible and more vibrant than ever before.
Whether you give $50, $5,000, or more, your generosity will be felt for generations — in every family that walks through the Welcome Plaza, every child who discovers art and nature, and every quiet moment of wonder found in our gardens.
Please join us in believing in Cheekwood and investing in its vibrant future.
Donate Now and Believe in Cheekwood
Support the Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza
Frequently Asked Questions
Cheekwood’s new Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza will be a modern, dynamic asset that propels Cheekwood’s future and enhances the visitor experience. The design of the facility ensures that it seamlessly integrates into the beauty of Cheekwood, preserving the landscape and adding gardens while making parking simpler and more accessible for all Cheekwood visitors. It will feature a green roof, new gardens, a sustainable rainwater harvesting system, and a new ticketing center.
The Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza will be located west of the entry drive on the same side of the property as Botanic Hall.
The state-of-the-art facility will provide parking for 674 vehicles and include several EV charging stations and an easy rideshare drop-off and pick-up area. In combination with existing Lot A, Cheekwood will have 750 total parking spaces on site.
Yes! EV charging will be available in the Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza for guests to use.
Rainwater will be collected from the green roof, pedestrian walkways, and parking area in a series of drains and conveyed via pipes or down-spouts to storage tanks. The harvested water will then be filtered to the irrigation system and water features.
The project is planned to cost $35 million.
We are following a strict timeline to ensure its completion in 2027, timed with the end of our parking agreement with Metro Parks. It will take 18 months to build the Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza. We hope to have the grand opening by the start of Holiday LIGHTS in 2027.
HASTINGS, a nationally acclaimed firm based in Nashville, Tennessee, specializes in architecture, interior design, and urban planning. HASTINGS works throughout the United States across a diverse range of typologies – including cultural, music and entertainment, academic, commercial, multifamily, and hospitality. The firm is dedicated to delivering award-winning, sustainable designs that honor the environment and reflect local culture. HASTINGS is currently ranked the #3 architecture firm in the United States by ARCHITECT magazine and has been featured in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Wallpaper, Architectural Record, and Interior Design. Their accolades include over 100 design awards and 150 LEED certifications.
Founded in 1941, R.C. Mathews Contractor is one of Middle Tennessee’s most trusted and forward-thinking builders. Known for leadership in sustainability, concrete structures, and progressive construction methods, they deliver projects that last generations. Specializing in nonprofit and parking garage projects, R.C. Mathews has completed more than 30 nonprofit facilities and over 5,000 parking spaces in Nashville. Their portfolio includes some of Nashville’s most iconic spaces, including the Fisher Center and Frist College of Medicine at Belmont University, Vanderbilt University’s E. Bronson Ingram College, and expansions and renovations to the Ryman Auditorium, the Belcourt Theatre, and the Hermitage Hotel.
- Geotechnical Engineer: UES Geotechnical Services
- Surveyor: Cherry Land Surveying Inc.
- Civil Engineer: Barge Cauthen & Associates
- Structural Engineer: EMC Structural Engineers, P.C.
- Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Power Management Corporation
- Landscape Architect: HDLA
For over 40 years, Cheekwood has partnered with Metro Parks to expand our parking capacity on adjacent parkland just outside our gates. We are grateful to the City and Metro Parks for the longstanding agreement that allowed our many visitors to access Cheekwood. However, as that agreement ends in 2027, it is time for Cheekwood to have its own permanent solution.
With 65% of annual operating revenue dependent on attendance, the development of permanent on-site parking is an existential issue for Cheekwood. The new Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza is more than just a solution to an important need – it’s an investment in the future of Cheekwood and the Nashville community.
The I Believe in Cheekwood Where Love Grows capital campaign to raise funds for the Parking Pavilion & Welcome Plaza is officially underway. Donations can be made through our website above. Every donation brings us closer to our goal and we appreciate your support!
