Centennial Park

Centennial Park is an urban park covering 53 hectares in Nashville, Tennessee, with walking paths, a lake, and green spaces for recreation. The park offers sports fields, gardens, and lawns where visitors can picnic or take part in outdoor activities.

The groundwork for the park was laid in 1897 during the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, celebrating one century of Tennessee statehood. The city opened the site permanently as a public park in 1903, creating a central place for recreation in Nashville.

The name Athens of the South comes to life through a full-size reproduction of an ancient Greek building that visitors find beside lawns and the lake. Families come here to walk along paths between trees or settle on the grass while children play nearby.

Parking areas are located at several entrances around the grounds, and restrooms are available near the main paths. Drinking water stations and picnic tables are scattered throughout, allowing visitors to settle in for a stay of several hours.

The water in the lake is open to anglers with a permit, and many set out early in the morning to catch fish. Herons, ducks, and other waterbirds live around the shore, giving the site a sense of wilderness within the city.

Location: Nashville

Inception: 1903

GPS coordinates: 36.14900,-86.81200

Latest update: December 20, 2025 01:14