Introducing The Barn at Mill Ridge Park
In 2019, Friends of Mill Ridge Park was selected to participate in the Innovation Catalyst with Cause Impact and the Center for Nonprofit Management. With a local, multi-disciplined team, we envisioned the preservation and renovation of an extant old barn into a new community space, called The Barn at Mill Ridge Park, where our community can gather for:
1. year-round nature and agricultural programs,
2. gardeners’ and farmers’ markets, and
3. public and private events.
The program and schematic design, developed by architect Amanda Shadowens of Shadowens Studios, allows for multiple types of small and large gatherings. The service type functions are located along the north saddle bag of the barn nearest the parking area for ease of loading and unloading. In the center is a large gathering space, which can serve group sizes ranging from 75 at a dinner style event up to 200 standing. In the south saddlebag, there are three classrooms, each seating 15 people at tables. The Barn will open to expand interior spaces and allow for free and uninhibited movement to the exterior lawns from the classrooms and central gathering space. We expect that creating this indoor space at Mill Ridge Park will increase access and exposure to the outdoors and all its benefits for our community.
Now, in 2024, we are on our way to building the vision for The Barn into our reality thanks to the major contribution from The Frist Foundation who under the leadership of CEO, Corinne Bergeron, invested $1.1 million dollars. While we continue to fundraise and gather input for The Barn, we will establish an operating agreement with Metro Parks and partner with Belmont University faculty and students to refine the operating plan. Your input, helping hand, and donations will help build The Barn at Mill Ridge Park.