Nashville Mayoral Candidates to Talk Land and Water at Public Forum

How will the “It City” — the booming entrepreneurial, tourism and music hub that is Nashville – continue its astonishing growth and yet not lose its leafy green soul in the process?



That is a central question the city’s eight mayoral candidates will contemplate in a public “Land and Water Forum” at the Cumberland River Center in the Bridge Building on Wed., April 22, from 8 to 9:30 a.m.  The forum will be moderated by WPLN Nashville Public Radio’s assistant news director Blake Farmer. The event is sponsored by four nonprofit conservation groups: The Cumberland River Compact, Greenways for Nashville, The Land Trust for Tennessee and The Nature Conservancy.
 


Maintaining and improving Nashville’s natural beauty and environmental assets will be a key issue in the city’s upcoming mayoral election in August 2015. A city’s urban environment, green space and water quality have major impacts on the health, productivity and economic welfare of its citizens.  With half a million people projected to move into the greater 10-county Middle Tennessee region in the next two decades, there will be increasing demands on the city’s natural resources.



“This forum will provide an opportunity for all the candidates to share their views on conservation and the environment with the public,” said Gina Hancock, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee.  “And it will offer the public the chance to challenge the candidates about key issues that affect Davidson County.”

“Mayor Dean’s creation of the Green Ribbon Committee on Environmental Sustainability was an early and bold action to ensure that Nashville would retain its authentic characteristics for generations to come,” said Jeanie Nelson, president and CEO of The Land Trust for Tennessee. “Development and conservation must be discussed concurrently so that Nashville remains a place where families want to live and businesses want to locate. The visionary momentum of prior administrations must continue.”



“Nashville now has a unique opportunity to be among the first cities to commit to fishable and swimmable streams and rivers with abundant green space while growing the economy at an unprecedented pace.  We hope each of these candidates will embrace that challenge,” said Mekayle Houghton, director of the Cumberland River Compact.



“Priority investment in Nashville’s green infrastructure is critical for the economic and environmental vitality of our city,” said Emmie Thomas, executive director of Greenways for Nashville. “Parks, open spaces and greenways matter to Nashvillians, and this forum is an opportunity to hear the candidates’ views on the management of our valuable environmental assets.”



The public is encouraged to submit questions to the Land and Water Forum in advance via the Web at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15qKnIYrH49qKcVleOQLroXml-Hf_SoY7LB8kmrChldo/edit?usp=sharing&pli=1#gid=0 .



The Land and Water Forum is a free public event, taking place at the River Center in the Bridge Building. RSVP at http://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2015/03/31/mayoral-forum-land-and-water-public-forum/



The Cumberland River Center is located at 2 Victory Ave, Nashville, TN 37213. Free parking is available in Parking Lot R of LP Field in front of the Bridge Building.



About the Sponsors



The Cumberland River Compact improves the health and enjoyment of the Cumberland River and its tributaries through education, collaboration and action.



Greenways for Nashville raises awareness of and private support for Nashville’s Greenways Initiative.



The Land Trust for Tennessee protects Tennessee’s natural and historic landscapes, both public and private, to make Tennessee a better place to live, work and play.



The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Chapter conserves the lands and waters on which all life depends



The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org