Tree Removal & Replacement for Music City Grand Prix
Latest announcement is a mixed bag for tree advocates
Mayor John Cooper’s office and the Metro Sports Authority have confirmed that 17 trees will be removed in preparation for the Music City Grand Prix auto races in August.
Nashville Tree Conservation Corps leadership was contacted ahead of the announcement, and we worked closely with the mayor’s office to seek a solution that would minimize impact and maximize tree benefits for the city.
Though news of the tree removal reminded many Nashvillians of the 2019 cherry tree debacle, in which the city agreed to cut trees for the NFL Draft at Riverfront Park, there were some bright spots in the latest announcement. The initial track design included 23 trees to be removed due to safety concerns, but under pressure from the mayor’s office, the plan was modified to reduce the toll to 17 trees. Unlike the cherry tree situation two years earlier, city officials were proactive this time around in reaching out to tree advocates in advance of the announcement.
“We were consulted and we did our best to influence the decision in the best interest of the city,” says Jim Gregory, NTCC chair.
A map provided by Mayor Cooper’s office shows the location and type of the 17 trees to be cut in preparation for IndyCar racing near Nissan Stadium in August.
The trees to be removed will be replaced at a 2:1 inch caliper replacement schedule, which will result in 157 new 2-inch caliper trees being planted. NTCC feels that the 2:1 replacement ratio is a good deal for the city at a time when we need new trees planted in our public spaces due to losses from recent storms. Nashville will lose 17 trees at Nissan Stadium but gain nearly 160 more.
Under Mayor Cooper's Executive Order #5, issued in March 2020, removal of trees on public property greater than 100 aggregate inches in diameter must be approved in advance by the Metro Tree Working Group. Both the Working Group and the Metro Tree Advisory Committee (MTAC) were given advance notice of the Grand Prix plans and both had the opportunity to review proposed tree removals.
NTCC considers this advance notice a vital aspect of managing and preserving public trees in Nashville and continues to work to see that this Executive Order is codified through the Metro Council.
Racing route
The Music City Grand Prix, a three-day event that will take place August 6-8, is part of the NTT IndyCar Series that features auto races across the U.S. and Canada. Racing in Nashville will take place on a 2.17 mile-long temporary track, also known as a street circuit, that follows a route next to Nissan Stadium, over the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge and onto 1st Avenue South. All the trees to be cut are in or along the Nissan Stadium parking lots.
The trees to be cut include 6 sweet gums, 2 red maples, 2 northern red oaks, 2 Chinese elms and 5 cherry trees.
The value of the 157 replacement trees will be around $94,000. Tree types are still to be determined but NTCC will urge the city to plant native tree species when appropriate. Many of the replacement trees will be planted near Nissan Stadium, but the Tree Corps will also advocate for a significant portion of the new trees to be planted in nearby areas decimated by recent storms, including Shelby Park Naval Hill.
Mayor Cooper's office says the Metro Parks horticulturist will work with Music City Grand Prix on tree replanting. The city arborist will also be involved, adding the new trees to the Metro tree inventory to ensure that they are watered properly in the years ahead.
If you’d like to learn more about our advocacy for trees in Nashville, reach out to us here at the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps.
