Nashville deal adds 300 acres to planned Beaman Park expansion

A 300-acre forest purchase near Bull Run Road in northwest Davidson County is headed for a planned expansion of Alvin G. Beaman Park, but the land is not yet confirmed as open to visitors.

The Conservation Fund acquired the property in a deal that closed July 10, 2026, according to Axios Nashville. Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office publicly announced the arrangement July 24. Under the agreement, The Conservation Fund will temporarily hold the land before transferring it to Metro Nashville Parks for permanent public ownership and management.

What was acquired

The property is part of the Highland Rim Forest, a significant forest landscape in northwest Davidson County. Metro said the acquisition will help protect tree canopy, wildlife habitat and streams while preserving a large tract near an existing public park.

Officials also framed the forest as part of Nashville’s flood-resilience infrastructure. Forested land can slow stormwater, filter runoff and help protect water quality. Those benefits matter in a region where heavy rain and flooding concerns affect residents, roads and public services.

How the deal was financed

Axios reported a purchase price of $3.2 million based on Register of Deeds records. The financing and funding support described by Metro included:

• $1 million committed by Metro Nashville.
• $1.08 million from the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund.
• A $1 million lead gift from the Beaman Family.
• $3.2 million advanced through The Conservation Fund’s revolving fund.

The revolving-fund amount was financing advanced by The Conservation Fund, not an additional public contribution identified in Metro’s announcement. In 2025, the Metro Council approved an application for a Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund grant to The Conservation Fund in partnership with Metro Parks. That resolution described the proposed acquisition as approximately 308 acres adjoining Beaman Park.

What happens next

The practical next steps are the transfer of the property to Metro Nashville Parks and planning for how it will be managed as part of Beaman Park. That process could address maintenance, conservation practices, signage, public access and recreation.

For now, residents should not assume the newly acquired acreage is open to the public. The available announcement and park materials do not confirm an opening date, new trailheads, new facilities or a construction schedule for the property.

Visitors should continue using Beaman Park’s existing designated trailheads and visitor information. Metro Parks currently lists three hiking trails totaling 14.6 miles and three trailheads at the existing park.

Beaman Park already covers about 2,300 acres, according to Axios Nashville. The additional forestland would create a substantial expansion once the planned transfer and management steps are completed. Future Metro Parks updates should clarify when the ownership transfer is final, how the property will be incorporated into park planning and whether public access or new trails will be added.

Sources

• Nashville Mayor's Office: 300-acre Beaman Park acquisition announcement
• Metro Council Resolution RS2025-1556
• Axios Nashville: Metro acquires 300 acres of forest to expand Beaman Park