Nashville Tree Foundation works to preserve and enhance Nashville's urban forest by educating the public, planting trees in urban areas, identifying the oldest and largest trees in Davidson County, and designating arboretums.
March 2011
Thanks for everyone's support
over the past 25 years
By PAT WALLACE
President, Nashville Tree Foundation
Looking back on our community as it was in 1986 when the Tree Foundation was founded and making comparisons to 2011 gives us reason to celebrate. The "greenest city in America," a challenge and commitment from Mayor Karl Dean, actually seems attainable now! The culture of recycling, green roofs, energy-use consciousness, global warming concerns, greenways, public parks, spaces for bikes, walkers and runners—all of these priorities and more gladden the hearts of NTF and those involved in preserving our natural resources. The future looks bright.
Our mission to preserve and enhance the urban forest of Nashville, to plant trees, recognize arboretums, and to educate the community are part of the sea change since 1986. We are grateful for the support from the many sources who contributed to the NTF mission during the past 25 years, including political and business leaders, government agencies such as Metro Parks, Public Works, MDHA, and many committed volunteers. We are proud to be connected with the broader mission of a green city.
Help us go green
In that spirit, our intent is to become as paperless as possible as quickly as possible. We entreat you to provide your email address here. Your address will only be used for NTF communication purposes and never released publicly. This will be a most helpful gesture on your part. Thank you.
We invite you to attend our April 13 event. Mr. Sanders, a noted conservationist, is an extraordinary resource who will educate and inspire Nashvillians.
April 2010
Betty Brown’s commitment
has been steadfast, heartfelt
By PAT WALLACE
President, Nashville Tree Foundation
Dear Friends of Nashville Tree Foundation,
This is my first opportunity to greet you as the president of NTF, succeeding Betty Brown. I know only too well what big shoes I have to fill and need you and many, many more to step up and support the goals of Nashville Tree Foundation in recognition of Betty’s contributions.
I am using my remarks at Arbor Day, March 25, where she was honored with a burr oak tree planted in Centennial Park. For those of you in attendance, please forgive the repetition.
A little history
Homecoming 1986 was the birthplace of the Nashville Tree Foundation. One of the Davidson County Homecoming Committees set its goal to plant 1,986 trees, and they planted 1,986! It was determined this Homecoming idea could and should be continued, and it was. That same year the Nashville Tree Foundation was formed.
Betty Brown, who had served on that Homecoming ’86 committee, became its first president, a role in which she continued and which she defined until 2009, almost 25 years.
(Even before Homecoming 1986, Betty co-chaired with Sandra Fulton the Century III Nashville special projects committee that adopted the design and model of a riverfront park.
Today it is a lasting result of that initiative with its arrival court at the foot of Broadway and terraced amphitheater to the river.)
A green Nashville
A lover of all things in nature, our Louisville native set her sights on a green Nashville before green was cool. With a generous gift from Victor Johnson, well-known for his love of trees and for the impact he had on Nashville’s landscape, and a small group of ardent supporters, she began a course of preserving and planting trees in her adopted hometown.
Along with planting and preserving trees, the NTF mission included education as a primary focus, and the establishment of a tree ordinance to dictate planting replacement trees when trees were cut down for commercial projects.
The mission continues today as when it was founded.
Betty’s commitment to Nashville Tree Foundation has been steadfast, heartfelt, and encompassing of all things to make the endeavor successful. Her contribution cannot be overstated. While her style is understated, self-deprecating, energetic, persuasive and empowering of others, it is she who initiated and continued a cause that once was the sole responsibility of the privately funded Nashville Tree Foundation (always with the generous help and support from Metro Parks) and now includes almost 20 public and private groups unified in the primary goal to preserve and increase the tree canopy for our city.
Thank you, Betty
I sometimes wonder what future generations will see that we “missed.” I don’t know the answer to my question, but what I do know is that they will be grateful for our foresight in saving and planting trees. Our heartfelt thanks go to Betty for leading us in that direction.
It is fitting that we plant a tree at Arbor Day in her honor. May it grow and flourish as have her ideas and visions for the future of our city, for its children and their children and future generations beyond. She will remain our inspiration.
I hope you will call me and email me with your thoughts. My phone number is 615/298-4219. Email: patwwallace@comcast.net. Please put “Trees” in the subject line.
Thanks so much for your support and interest.