Planting Trees in Sylvan Park

The Sylvan Park Neighborhood Association has been actively working to maintain our established neighborhood trees, replace dying/dead trees, and plant new trees.  We’ve been partnering with local horticulturists, nonprofits and neighbors to provide ongoing support for our Sylvan Park tree canopy.

Recent efforts to-date have included working with the Nashville Tree Foundation and Metro Water Services for volunteer tree pruning events, the removal of several dead trees, and the addition of 101 new public right-of-way trees in the past three years!

How Can I Have Free Trees Added to My Yard in 2025?

The Metro Water Services Department (MWS) offers free trees to interested neighbors for planting within the public right-of-way. If our neighborhood requests just twenty (20) trees, we’ll qualify under this free program! Each tree will be provided, planted by professional crews, mulched, watered for 2 years, and pruned by MWS (if necessary) at no cost to property owners! I want to encourage you to join me in ordering one or more free trees!

WHY SHOULD I ORDER FREE TREES FOR MY RIGHT-OF-WAY?

Just this year, researchers at the University of Louisville published a clinical study concluding that living in a tree-filled neighborhood may be as beneficial to the heart as regular exercise. And a Harvard School of Public Health study previously showed that regularly spending time around trees provides a wide range of human health benefits -- from lowering stress, to improving cognition, to boosting longevity.

Trees not only beautify and add value to our homes, but they also provide temperature-lowering shade, air quality improvements, lower utility costs, wildlife habitat, noise reduction, water filtration, erosion and stormwater control, and even traffic speed reduction.

Our neighborhood’s tree canopy is a vital part of Nashville’s ecosystem. But each year, we lose trees to storms, development, age, and other causes. Nashville’s most recent Urban Tree Canopy Assessment revealed our tree volume had declined by 674 acres between 2016 - 2021. That’s the size of five Centennial Parks! And the West Nashville community planning area – where our neighborhood is located – is not meeting tree canopy goals. But we can help restore Nashville’s tree canopy while beautifying our homes in the process!

IF I WANT A TREE IN MY PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, HOW DO I ORDER?

If you think you may be interested, send me an email (May Smythe – maysmythe@gmail.com) before February 1, 2025 with the following information:

  1. Your name

  2. Street address

  3. Phone number

  4. Email address

  5. The number of trees you would like in your public right-of-way area.

Afterward, you’ll be contacted to select your favorite tree species (from an inventory of over 100 varieties) and to confirm your exact planting location(s). MWS will then verify underground utilities clearance through TN-811 and traffic sightline clearance through the Nashville Dept. of Transportation. Planting will begin in the Spring of 2025.

HOW CAN I LOCATE WHERE THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY IS IN MY YARD?

The public right-of-way generally runs adjacent to the street, extending a few feet into the adjoining yard. Here are some easy methods for identify the right-of-way along your property:

  1. Generally, the space between the sidewalk and street (the “planting strip”) is typically within the public right-of-way.

  2. Another approach is to locate your water meter cover. The public right-of-way generally consists of the area from the street up to that meter.

  3. If you want to be absolutely certain, you can also check your property boundaries on the Metro Planning Department website using these simple steps:

    1. Go to hkps://maps.nashville.gov/ParcelViewer/. A disclaimer labeled “Parcel Viewer” will pop up. Click “Continue.”

    2. In the top right corner, click on the magnifying glass icon (“Search” button).

    3. Several tabs will appear in the middle of the screen. Select “Address or Intersection” and enter your street address.

    4. In the top right corner is an icon resembling four squares (labeled “Basemap Gallery” when hovered over). Click it and select the “2023 Aerial Imagery” option. This provides the most recent aerial view of your property.

    5. Generally, un-shaded areas between the street and your home are within the public right-of-way.

 Questions? Contact...

                              May Smythe - maysmythe@gmail.com