Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Advertisement
    • Contact Us
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Advertise With Us
    • Home
      • COVID-19 Resource Center
        • Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ PSA Radio
      • Featured
    • News
      • State
      • Local
      • National/International News
      • Global
      • Business
        • Commentary
        • Finance
        • Local Business
      • Investigative Stories
        • Affordable Housing
        • DCS Investigation
        • Gentrification
    • Editorial
      • National Politics
      • Local News
      • Local Editorial
      • Political Editorial
      • Editorial Cartoons
      • Cycle of Shame
    • Community
      • History
      • Tennessee
        • Chattanooga
        • Clarksville
        • Knoxville
        • Memphis
      • Public Notices
      • Women
        • Let’s Talk with Ms. June
    • Education
      • College
        • American Baptist College
        • Belmont University
        • Fisk
        • HBCU
        • Meharry
        • MTSU
        • University of Tennessee
        • TSU
        • Vanderbilt
      • Elementary
      • High School
    • Lifestyle
      • Art
      • Auto
      • Tribune Travel
      • Entertainment
        • 5 Questions With
        • Books
        • Events
        • Film Review
        • Local Entertainment
      • Family
      • Food
        • Drinks
      • Health & Wellness
      • Home & Garden
      • Featured Books
    • Religion
      • National Religion
      • Local Religion
      • Obituaries
        • National Obituaries
        • Local Obituaries
      • Faith Commentary
    • Sports
      • MLB
        • Sounds
      • NBA
      • NCAA
      • NFL
        • Predators
        • Titans
      • NHL
      • Other Sports
      • Golf
      • Professional Sports
      • Sports Commentary
      • Metro Sports
    • Media
      • Video
      • Photo Galleries
      • Take 10
      • Trending With The Tribune
    • Classified
    • Obituaries
      • Local Obituaries
      • National Obituaries
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Featured

    Cheekwood Opens New Children’s Garden

    Article submittedBy Article submittedMarch 5, 2020Updated:March 5, 2020No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit Email
    The new Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden at Cheekwood opens Saturday, March 7, 2020.
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    NASHVILLE, TN — On Saturday, March 7, Cheekwood will open a new permanent destination for its youngest visitors, offering inspiring discovery, exploration, and play with the realization of the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden. Since the groundbreaking in 2018, construction of the new two-acre garden, designed for the young and young at heart, is near completion. A team comprised of garden planner and designer Tres Fromme of 3.Fromme Design and the Nashville-based landscape architecture firm of HDLA and general contractor The Carter Group have led the project. 

    Nestled between the Howe Garden and the Frist Learning Center – Cheekwood’s education hub – the garden’s special interactive features will be a welcoming and accessible reflection of Cheekwood’s year-round beauty, encompassing gardens, art, and history. The garden will be complemented by the newly renovated education center which now features a family friendly café and offers picnic amenities as well. Highlights as follows:

    • The Serpentine Stroll serves as the connector of the garden, leading visitors in discovering each area of this special new family destination. The design meets Outdoor Accessibility guidelines created by the Federal Access Board while preserving the site’s majestic trees.

    • Springing from a Lily Pool at the garden’s central Plaza, a Creek flows through a Willow Thicket in the heart of the Children’s Garden, winding down a gentle hillside where children can view sunning turtles in a Turtle Pond, which was been ecologically-curated in consultation with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The Creek area also features custom designed turtle sculptures by award-winning fine artists Ring Studio.

    • Inspired by the historic architecture of the Frist Learning Center, a Studio Pavilion will serve as a centerpiece of the garden, featuring a balcony, secret passageway, and pairs of “water paintings” for creative exploration and artistic discovery. The architectural gem will also be a focus for programs and activities.

    • Inspired by a historic well behind the Frist Learning Center, an interactive Wishing Well will surprise and delight visitors with whimsical water effects. 

    • A shaded Labyrinth Glade, highlighting the history and mystery of another era, will capture the imaginations of children and adults, and a Woodland Ramble that will feature a plank passage, a stump meander, and a rope bridge.

    • An enclosed area called Little Woods, designed with Cheekwood’s youngest visitors in mind, will feature a series of special features, from a Tea House and Fairy Garden, to a Story Tree and Little Adventure Path, to a Digging Quarry and splashing “Duck” Puddle, featuring additional custom duck sculptures by artists Ring Studio.

    • At the base of the garden, a Stage will highlight children’s performances, both featured and impromptu, and a Rolling Lawn will invite both concerts and cartwheels.

    • Special horticultural areas include a native Tennessee Woodland Walk, edible landscape plants in the Hungry Hedgerow, and an immersion in the Sensory Walk.

    • A second phase of the garden will include a Welcome Garden and Nature’s Library, a platform for literary and educational programing focused on nature, inspired by the Mansion’s historic interiors.

    “We are thrilled to bring a permanent family feature to Cheekwood for the enjoyment of thousands of children and families who visit each year,” said Jane MacLeod, president and CEO of Cheekwood. “As an extension of our mission to stimulate the mind and nurture the spirit, the garden will provide children a joyful and immersive experience with nature, increasingly absent but vitally important for today’s youth.”

    Richard Bracken, Foundation family representative, said: “We were inspired by the idea of a Children’s Garden for Cheekwood, particularly as we heard how children’s gardens have positively impacted other leading botanical gardens throughout the country. We are delighted and honored to be part of this important project for the Cheekwood campus.”

    Following the generous $4 million lead gift from The Bracken Foundation made in 2016, Cheekwood established a task force – comprised of leading experts and community stakeholders – dedicated to the research and development of the garden. Focus groups were held for creative brainstorming and discussion, including parents, educators, and members of the Cheekwood staff, to inform goals and objectives for the garden. Members of the task force traveled to leading Children’s Gardens throughout the country, including the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, The Morton Arboretum, Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, and The Huntington Library, Art Collection & Botanical Gardens.

    A cornerstone of The Cheekwood Campaign, the lead gift from The Bracken Foundation was structured as a challenge to raise an additional $2 million in endowment funds for the garden’s long-term care and maintenance. The challenge was met and exceeded with generosity from at least 80 ‘Founding Families’ (donors of $5,000 and above), with major support provided by an Anonymous donor, HCA Healthcare, proud education sponsor of Cheekwood, Sally & Jim Hunt, the Scarlett Family, the Sandra Schatten Foundation, Sherri & Barry Stowe, Becky & Jimmy Webb, Barbara & Rick Turner, Janet & Jim Ayers, and Anne & Joe Russell. Cheekwood will continue to seek support for the construction and endowment of the garden and invites interested parties to participate at any level.

    The new Children’s Garden will be open during Cheekwood’s operating hours, and will also offer a new art program, Tots!, with unique art and garden activities for toddlers on Tuesdays – Saturdays from 10am – 2pm. Tots! is including with general admission or Cheekwood membership. 

    For more information about the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, visit www.cheekwood.org. 

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Article submitted

    Related Posts

    APSU student shines at Governor’s Conference on Hospitality & Tourism

    October 21, 2025

    Truist Charitable Fund awards $150k grant to MTSU College of Education for Tennessee Teach Back Initiative

    October 20, 2025

    Titans and QB Cam Ward are dedicated to two ideals: Growth and Development

    October 19, 2025

    National Civil Rights Museum Celebrates Freedom Award Honorees, Voting Rights Anniversary, and Announces Expansion of The Legacy Experience

    October 18, 2025

    The rise of Aftyn Behn in Tennessee

    October 16, 2025

    Meharry Medical College’s GREAT Health Study Launches on Vibrent Platform, Marks New Era in Community-Embedded, Genomic Research

    October 15, 2025

    Comments are closed.

    Advertisement
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZODr-6rxyI
    Business

    Toys“R”Us Opens Holiday Pop-Up at Tanger Outlets Nashville as Part of National Expansion

    October 18, 2025

    FUNdraising Good Times Nonprofit heroes hidden in plain sight

    October 10, 2025

    Amazon Web Services partners with Nashville Innovation Alliance to address Tennessee’s technology talent demand

    October 5, 2025
    1 2 3 … 390 Next
    Education
    Education

    Truist Charitable Fund awards $150k grant to MTSU College of Education for Tennessee Teach Back Initiative

    By Karli SuttonOctober 20, 2025

    MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Education has received a $150,000 grant from Truist Charitable…

    Meharry appoints leader of Diaspora Human Genomics Institute

    October 16, 2025

    TSU Homecoming 2025: What you need to know

    October 8, 2025

    Meharry launches study to build world’s largest African ancestry genetics database

    October 7, 2025
    The Tennessee Tribune
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Store
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact
    © 2025 The Tennessee Tribune - Site Designed by No Regret Media.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Our Spring Sale Has Started

    You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/