Planning Department to Host Public Meeting, Seek Input on Ecological Conservation Strategy Initial Findings

The Metro Nashville Planning Department will host a public meeting for the Davidson County Ecological Conservation Strategy (ECS) on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Sonny West Conference Room in the Howard Office Building, 700 President Ronald Reagan Way, Nashville, TN 37210.

Community Engagement to Date

Since launching in March 2026, the ECS team has worked across Davidson County to understand the health of Nashville's natural systems and gather community input. To date, the project has reached thousands of residents through a range of engagement efforts, including:

• More than 1,700 survey respondents
• 14 community pop-up events and the April 2026 Public Open House engaging over 1,300 people across Davidson County
• Ongoing work with a Technical Advisory Committee and Stakeholder Advisory Committee

What the Public Meeting Will Cover

The September 29th meeting will feature a presentation by Metro Nashville Planning staff and lead consultant, Biohabitats, summarizing results from the research phase, followed by a Q&A and interactive station discussions. Stations will cover community and public input findings, geospatial mapping and ecological analysis, peer city strategies and precedents, and emerging ECS goals, objectives, and priorities.

Community members will have the opportunity to weigh in on conservation priorities through an interactive exercise that will inform the next phase of the plan. A children's activity zone with nature-themed activities will also be available for young attendees.

Event Details

WHAT

Davidson County Ecological Conservation Strategy Public Meeting

WHEN

Tue, Sep 29 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (add to calendar: Google , Outlook , Apple )

WHERE

Howard Office Bldg Sonny West Auditorium, 2nd Avenue South, Nashville, TN, USA Map

What to Expect

A presentation of key findings from our ecological analysis, community survey, and stakeholder engagement. Q&A with Metro Planning staff and the project consultant team as well as interactive discussion stations and activities for kids.

About the Ecological Conservation Strategy

The Davidson County Ecological Conservation Strategy (ECS) is an 18-month planning initiative led by the Metro Nashville Planning Department in partnership with a consultant team led by Biohabitats and subconsultants PILLARS Development, Wilmot Inc, SCAPE landscape architecture, and Cumberland River Compact. The goal is to assess the health of Davidson County's natural resources and develop a concrete action plan, including conservation priorities, pilot projects, and policy recommendations, grounded in expert analysis and community input. The full strategy is expected to be completed by Fall 2027.

The ECS is Nashville's first countywide ecological planning effort since the 2011 Open Space Plan.

For more information and to stay updated on upcoming engagement opportunities, visit the project website to learn more and sign up for project updates.