$300,000 Lowe’s Grant to Transform Elizabeth Senior Center in North Nashville

Nashville, TN --- Nashville Parks Foundation has been selected to receive a $300,000 grant through Lowe's Community Impact program to support a major renovation of Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation's Elizabeth Senior Center, strengthening a longtime North Nashville resource for older adults.

The Elizabeth Senior Center is one of 100 community projects nationwide selected to receive a Lowe's Community Impact Grant in 2026. The investment will help update the facility from the ground up, improving the spaces where older adults gather for recreation, meals, social connections and access to important community resources.

"When we can show care for the places where people spend time, we're showing care for the people who spend time there," said Mayor Freddie O'Connell. "This amazing community center has five great women leaders portrayed on the outside that I hope people will come see for themselves, and soon we'll have new technology access and quiet spaces for the people that spend time their regularly. And I love that our Office of Advancement and Strategic Partnership worked with Parks and the Foundation to make it happen."

The renovation at the center includes new flooring, paint and ceiling tiles throughout the building, along with the division of one large room into two smaller spaces to provide greater flexibility and a place for private conversations. A new shared computer lab will give older adults a dedicated space to access technology and stay connected, while updated restrooms and a fully renovated kitchen will improve some of the center's most frequently used amenities.

"Our goal is to give our beloved seniors a place they can be proud of, one that reflects the outstanding programming, sense of community, and care they already experience at Elizabeth. This investment is a wonderful opportunity to make the physical environment as welcoming and vibrant as the people who use it every day," said Metro Parks Director Monique Horton Odom.

Elizabeth Senior Center is the only designated facility exclusively for seniors managed by Metro Parks. Hadley and East Park Regional Community Centers offer day-long programs and dedicated spaces for seniors, while nine neighborhood centers offer satellite programs.

"With this grant, we can invest in an updated facility that will allow the older adult residents of North Nashville to enjoy improved meal services, have access to a safe and high-quality facility, and benefit from increased connections to citywide services based out of Elizabeth Senior Center," said Jane Grimes Meneely, Executive Director of Nashville Parks Foundation.

The Nashville Parks Foundation has been instrumental in improving community centers and Parks throughout the county. Recent projects have included:

• Watkins Park Pump Track - The bike park is easily sustainable with low maintenance requirements, making it easy to manage and enjoyable long-term without a financial burden on the local government. The pump track was created in partnership with Watkins Park Community Center, The Oasis Bike Workshop, Southern Off-Road Bike Association (SOBRA) and local foundations.
• Cleveland Park Community Center Recording Studio - A music studio providing opportunities to explore, create, and record music for free was funded at Cleveland Park Community Center. The funds support the design, equipment, and staff for after-school recording which exposes youth to a variety of musical instruments as well as opportunities in the music industry.

• Fort Negley Master Plan - NPF partnered with private funding to establish a long-term vision for the preservation, interpretation, and development of the property as a public park encompassing 64 acres.

The $300,000 investment is part of Lowe's Community Impact Program's five-year, $100 million commitment to revitalizing and restoring hometowns across the country. In 2026, Lowe's will invest $10 million in Community Impact Grants and an additional $10 million to support more than 2,000 associate-led impact projects that will improve community spaces nationwide.

For more information about Lowe's Community Impact program and to follow the progress of projects across the country, visit Lowes.com/HowWeHelp and follow #HowLowesHelps on social media.

For more information about Metro Parks Senior Recreation Programs and services, visit: Metro Parks Senior Recreation Page

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ABOUT NASHVILLE PARKS FOUNDATION

Founded in 2015, the Nashville Parks Foundation enhances Nashville's parks for everyone through philanthropy, advocacy and community partnership. In alignment with Metro Parks, the Foundation directs private support to Metro-identified priorities to expand access, strengthen park spaces and deliver meaningful community impact. Learn more at nashvilleparksfoundation.org.

ABOUT METRO PARKS:

It is the mission of Metro Parks and Recreation to sustainably and equitably provide everyone in Nashville with an inviting network of parks and greenways that offer health, wellness and quality of life through recreation, conservation and community. The Parks Department offers a variety of facilities and programs throughout Davidson County. Currently, Metro Park oversees nearly 16,000 acres of open space, including 189 parks and 100 miles of greenway. The department offers after school programs for kids, senior programs, special population programs, cultural arts classes, fitness classes, dog parks, a variety of trails, nature programs, sports leagues, ice hockey, art galleries, and much more

Media Contact:
Jackie Jones @ (615) 862-8400 / (629) 305-7075
Heather Hyland @ (615) 862-8400 Extension 72928