That is the most common question we get from families with young children who come for all kinds of opportunities to Casa Azafrán, but especially from the teachers, parents and children in Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Casa Azafrán Early Learning Center.
We are happy to announce that playground –and a beautiful public park next to our community center– is coming soon thanks to another public-private partnership!
Read this article from The Tennessean about it.
Thanks to the support of Mayor Karl Dean, Metro Council and Metro Parks, we are acquiring two parcels next to Casa Azafrán, representing a $600,000 investment from our local government. Closing on the purchase of the property will be finalized next week. Conexión Américas is already hard at work raising $500,000 from private donors to turn a car repair shop into a beautiful park and neighborhood asset. The LP Foundation has made the first contribution toward the park. The new park will be operated and maintained by Metro Parks and will be open, just as Casa Azafrán, to the entire neighborhood (and anyone else who might want to drive over).
The new park will connect visitors and neighbors with each other, with nature, with public art, and with opportunities for physical activity. And green space is lacking in Southeast Nashville. In fact our neighborhood has the fewest open green spaces and parks in the county.
We are working with a diverse group of partners to make this public park a reality. The Nashville Civic Design Center provided the preliminary concept plan, the Nashville Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is providing technical assistance, and the Land Trust for Tennessee is our conservation advisor. And soon business owners on the Nolensville corridor, neighbors and Casa Azafrán visitors will have opportunities to help shape the vision for the park.
More than a park
According to Renata Soto, Conexión Américas’ executive director,
“This public-private partnership represents a timely opportunity to spark community engagement for a new vision for the entire Nolensville corridor, especially in light of the improved bus service investment coming to Nolensville Pike in the Fall of this year.”
Already on a bus route, Casa Azafrán will remain a stop on Nolensville Pike’s upcoming Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Lite. Building upon the recent successful partnership between Conexión Américas and Metro Public Works to improve pedestrian safety with a new crosswalk (and Nashville’s first bilingual signal) in front of Casa Azafrán, the transit/park investment presents a timely opportunity to reimagine the street network for drivers, transit users and pedestrians. According to Renata,
“Conexión Américas’ vision in establishing Casa Azafrán goes well beyond what happens inside the walls of the nonprofit collaborative. We are committed to being a catalyst for other investments in the economic development, cultural vitality and community-building efforts of Nashville’s International District.”
Arts and artists at the center
The Nashville Public Library/StoryCorps, Humanities Tennessee and four local artists are partners in the vision for engaging neighborhood residents through an integrated strategy that includes an oral histories project bringing together immigrant high school students and elder native residents; the creation of a mural on the northern exterior wall of Casa Azafrán (which faces the future park); and the creation of a large-scale sculpture that will permanently reside at the park. And with dreams of a small amphitheater that would take advantage of the topography of the property, we encourage you to stay tuned for the announcement of another exciting partnership with one of Nashville’s cultural jewels.
But first, we must raise $500,000 to make it all happen!
Interested in helping? From $20 to $100, every contribution makes a difference. You can donate here. And please follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out about opportunities to share your vision for this park and for Nashville’s International District.
Read more from our May 2015 Newsletter
Two Milestones for Casa Azafrán
A lot of work and a little luck. Host an Escalera intern this summer.