logo
New Nashville Downtown Arboretum showcases urban trees

New Nashville Downtown Arboretum showcases urban trees

Axios21-05-2025

The Nashville Downtown Arboretum, a green initiative that shines a light on the city's downtown tree canopy, officially launched Tuesday.
Why it matters: The arboretum includes more than 3,000 trees planted along sidewalks, boulevards and in other public spaces.
How it works: The arboretum will be managed by the nonprofit group the Nashville Downtown Partnership in collaboration with the Nashville Department of Transportation.
QR codes near more than 110 trees will offer passersby the chance to learn about more than 50 tree species represented in the downtown area.
Details on the project are also available on the arboretum's website.
Zoom out: The project was years in the making and reflects the city's broader efforts to grow and sustain the tree canopy.
"Our urban tree canopy provides visual proof that we can grow responsibly, sustainably, and preserve this critical form of infrastructure," Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said. "I can't wait for Nashvillians to experience it."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

My neighbors and I served Nashville for years. Now we can't afford to live here
My neighbors and I served Nashville for years. Now we can't afford to live here

Yahoo

time10 hours ago

  • Yahoo

My neighbors and I served Nashville for years. Now we can't afford to live here

Editor's note: Letters to the editor reflect the views of individual readers. Scroll to see how you can add your voice, whether you agree or disagree, or click on this link to fill out the form. We welcome diverse viewpoints. I've lived in Nashville since 1997 and in the same Hillsboro Village apartment since 2005. I'm a former public school teacher, a single parent, a cancer survivor, and the founder of an English language school for Japanese expats. Over the years, I've watched my rent rise from $700 to $1275, and a new hike is coming this summer that I'm bracing for. Each hike has been hard, but this latest one may finally push me out. Opinion: If Nashville is a welcoming city, why are so many of its residents struggling? I've paid on time, year after year — likely covering the full mortgage by now — but as a renter, I have no housing security. My landlord is fair and is simply passing along the rising cost of property taxes due to the recent reassessment. But for long-time residents like me, that cost could mean losing our homes. I'm not alone. My neighbors include teachers, city employees, and other long-time Nashvillians, all struggling to stay rooted. Opinion: TN desperately needs more housing. Why would lawmakers sabotage a good solution? We voted for leaders who promised action on affordable housing. We're still waiting for proof that there's a place for us in this new Nashville. What kind of Nashville are we building if the people who serve, teach, and care for our community can no longer afford to live here? Leo Katz, Nashville 37212 Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@ Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Who wants a New Nashville that pushes old Nashvillians out? | Opinion

Congressional committees announce investigation into Nashville Mayor
Congressional committees announce investigation into Nashville Mayor

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Yahoo

Congressional committees announce investigation into Nashville Mayor

Two Congressional committees announced a federal investigation into Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell on May 30, accusing the mayor of obstructing a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in the wake of a major immigration operation in early May. The Committee on Homeland Security—chaired by U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee—and the Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives, sent a letter demanding investigative materials from the mayor as part of a federal effort to conduct 'oversight of state and local jurisdictions that endanger American communities through efforts aimed at thwarting the work of federal immigration officials.' The move comes after weeks of public pressure by U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, who held a press conference on Memorial Day weekend calling for the investigation. 'While the state of Tennessee has outlawed sanctuary policies, recent actions from your office threaten to chill immigration enforcement in the City of Nashville and Davidson County,' the letter reads. 'Accordingly, we write to request information about how your recent actions, including a directive to Nashville and Davidson County employees to disclose their communications with federal immigration officials, affects the robust enforcement of immigration law.' Until May 30, O'Connell has declined to comment on Ogles' calls for a congressional investigation. At the mayor's weekly news conference with Nashville reporters, O'Connell said his office intended to 'appropriately respond' to the requests listed in the letter from members of Congress. He also said he's not concerned about the investigation finding any wrongdoing. 'I am not particularly concerned,' O'Connell said. 'We're going to, again, respond appropriately to all inquiries. We have been guided by a full understanding of state and federal law and will continue to be.' More: What to know about how Mayor O'Connell responded to Nashville ICE operation Nashville is weeks removed from the weeklong immigration enforcement operation, during which ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol made 468 traffic stops and arrested nearly 200 immigrants. The ICE sweeps were concentrated in south Nashville, in neighborhoods around Nolensville Pike and Harding Place with a large population of immigrants and Latino residents. Friday's letter condemns O'Connell's public statements of opposition to the ICE operation, as well as a community charity fund that, while announced by O'Connell at a May 5 press conference, is run by a community nonprofit and does not utilize taxpayer funds. More: D.C. Republicans pile on Nashville mayor over ICE response — and imply more action in city It also expresses 'concern' about a previously standing executive order updated by O'Connell requiring city departments to report communications with federal immigration officials to the mayor's office. The order, titled Executive Order 30, isn't new — in fact, it's well over a year old, having first been issued in January 2024. But it's reemerged in the wake of the ICE operation because O'Connell amended it to allow for a shorter timeline for reporting. Regardless, the order is a key focus in the investigation. 'This Executive Order could have a chilling effect on the ability of local law enforcement to communicate freely and candidly with federal immigration employees,' the letter states, adding that there is 'real potential that your Executive Order could have the effect of diminishing ICE enforcement operations.' The letter lists three key requests for the city, all concerning documents created between May 1 and the receiving of the letter: All documents and communications referring or relating to the amendment of Executive Order 30 All documents and communications referring or relating to ICE enforcement actions in the City of Nashville or Davidson County All documents and communications 'between or among Metro employees and non-Metro employees, including but not limited to non-governmental organizations, referring or relating to the arrest of criminal aliens in the City of Nashville and Davidson County' The information is tagged with a June 13 deadline, and is signed by Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement Tom McClintock, R-California, Ogles and Green. 'Today, with the full support of Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, we're taking action," said Ogles, in a press release regarding the investigation. "If Mayor O'Connell wants to spy on federal agents doing their job, then Congress is going to investigate him for obstruction.' The letter came a day after the city of Nashville was added to a federal list titled 'Sanctuary Jurisdictions Defying Federal Immigration Law,' which was posted on the Department of Homeland Security's website. There are only two 'sanctuary jurisdictions' listed in Tennessee — Nashville and Shelby County. DHS says each jurisdiction will receive formal notification of its non-compliance with federal statutes. It's not immediately clear why Nashville — or any jurisdiction in Tennessee — is included on the list, given that neither has self-identified as a sanctuary city. In Tennessee, sanctuary cities have been banned for about seven years, and another state law passed earlier this year criminalizes local officials who support sanctuary policies for immigrants. O'Connell also commented on Nashville's appearance on the list at his May 30 news conference. He passed out copies of the state law to reporters and said Nashville complies with 'every single component' of the law and, by definition, is not a sanctuary city. O'Connell added that Nashville does not have — and has never had — a policy violating the state law. He said the city has asserted over the past several weeks that it has no legal authority related to immigration enforcement and does not impede law enforcement action. 'I'm puzzled about the criteria they used to include Nashville (on the list),' O'Connell said. 'We are not and never have been a sanctuary city. If you look at the state law that defines a sanctuary city policy there are six factors, and we do not and never have had a policy that violates any of those factors. I'd be interested to learn what criteria they're using.' The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@ by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him at ahornbostel@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Congressional committees announce investigation into O'Connell, city

Amid ICE criticism, Nashville makes list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions' by Homeland Security
Amid ICE criticism, Nashville makes list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions' by Homeland Security

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Yahoo

Amid ICE criticism, Nashville makes list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions' by Homeland Security

Nashville is included on a new list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions' that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security claims are violating federal immigration law — despite Nashville not being classified as a sanctuary city. DHS appears to have published the list on May 29. According to the DHS website, a 'sanctuary jurisdiction' is a city, county or state that is 'deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities.' The website says so-called sanctuary jurisdictions are determined by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions and legal protections for undocumented immigrants. There are only two 'sanctuary jurisdictions' listed in Tennessee — Nashville and Shelby County. DHS says each jurisdiction will receive formal notification of its non-compliance with federal statutes. 'DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens,' the DHS website reads. It's not immediately clear why Nashville — or any jurisdiction in Tennessee — is included on the list, given that neither has self-identified as a sanctuary city. In Tennessee, sanctuary cities have been banned for about seven years, and another state law passed earlier this year criminalizes local officials who support sanctuary policies for immigrants. Meanwhile, though some local officials have criticized federal immigration enforcement action, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently collaborated with the Tennessee Highway Patrol to conduct a weeklong operation in Nashville, which resulted in nearly 200 arrests. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell was critical of ICE during the operation, asking repeatedly for the release of the names and charges of the individuals arrested in Nashville and updating an existing executive order requiring city departments to report communications with federal immigration authorities to the mayor's office on a shorter timeline. The latter action has come under scrutiny from Republicans in Washington, D.C., who have vowed to open congressional investigations into O'Connell's conduct and potentially even ramp up immigration enforcement actions in Nashville. Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him at ahornbostel@ Get Davidson County news delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville among 'sanctuary jurisdictions,' Homeland Security says

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store