Greer Stadium's Future Up in the Air

NASHVILLE, TN — The city has scheduled two public meetings to discuss the future of Greer Stadium, the 39-year-old former home of the Nashville Sounds.

Metro says plans for the city-owned stadium property's future will be "shaped" by the input of the community. Metro planners, Parks Department officials and area Councilman Colby Sledge will be on hand to discuss the ballpark at two meetings at the Adventure Science Center on Wednesday, September 21 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, September 24 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

“Public input is critically important to this project,” Sledge said in a release. “We’ve heard a wide range of suggestions for the Greer property’s future – what we’re doing now is getting the best possible understanding of what the neighborhood wants this site to become. It’s already clear that green space will definitely be a major part of the Greer property’s future.”

Among the ideas that have emerged in recent weeks are a tennis complex, proposed by the local arm of the United States Tennis Association. That plan calls for 24 outdoor courts, eight indoor courts, a gym, walking trails and greenways.

While the Parks Department recommended demolition of the stadium which has been unused since the departure of the Sounds at the end of the 2014 season, there was at least a passing interest in repurposing it as a soccer-only facility during an ultimately-thwarted effort at relocating a United Soccer League team to Nashville from Pennsylvania; Nashville SC (née Nashville FC), which will begin USL play in 2018, has not mentioned using Greer for home games, nor has the group of high-powered executives exploring bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to town.

Ultimately, the plan is that Metro will select an applicant by the end of the year who will contract with Metro to "re-imagine" the property, followed by a community planning process to shape the development proposal.

Image via Wikimedia user NatureBoyMD, used under Creative Commons