How it started - In 1991, Mayor Bredesen and the Metro Council created the Greenways Commission, a division of Metro Parks, to plan and develop a greenway system throughout Davidson County.  Recognizing the essential role of the private sector and public participation in realizing the plan, members of the Commission and other concerned citizens established Greenways for Nashville in 1994.

A little more about greenways may be learned when you listen to a September, 2011 radio interview of Executive Coordinator, Renee Bates, conducted by Barbara Dab on her 104.5FM radio show Zone about Town. The paragraph begins, "Get Out and Take a Walk," accessible by clicking here. 

Our mission - The mission of Greenways for Nashville is to create, develop, protect, preserve, and promote greenways systems in Nashville.  We advocate (1) preservation and protection of natural, scenic and cultural areas; (2) development of community recreational facilities in the form of Greenways and related areas; and (3) acquisition of land for preservation as greenways and related areas.

Who we are - GFN is a non-profit, citizen-based coalition of individuals and groups - a "friends" group to the Commission - which is dedicated to facilitating land acquisition and greenways development through fundraising, advocacy, and special events. Seven of the twenty-one member board of directors serving GFN are also citizen representatives on the Greenways Commission; this overlap ensures good coordination and communication between GFN and the Commission.