❓ Local company in cahoots with Russia

🚰 Permits Required to Give Out Water at Parks

Street outreach groups supporting our unhoused neighbors living on Metro Parks property must now apply for a permit to distribute supplies, like food or water. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🦢 Swan Ball Moves to the Warner Parks

The Swan Ball, a charity event formerly held at and benefitting Cheekwood, will move to the Warner Parks in 2025 to benefit Friends of Warner Parks. In their ongoing lawsuit, Cheekwood has filed a motion to prevent the organizers from using the Swan Ball name, which they have owned since 1963. [Nashville Scene]

🏞️ Cumberland Park to be Renamed Wasioto Park

On Tuesday, the Parks and Recreation Board accepted a recommendation from the Indigenous Peoples Coalition of Nashville to rename Cumberland Park as Wasioto Park, to honor the Shawnee name for the river. The next step in the process will be a community meeting for input. [The Tennessean]

🇷🇺 Local Firm in Cahoots with the Russian Government?

A U.S. indictment of Russian propaganda efforts names Nashville firm Tenet Media as a funnel for Russian government-controlled media meant to covertly shape public opinion. [Nashville Banner]

Located just west of Bellevue in Williamson County, Fairview is a quaint but lovely small town, perfect for nature lovers. It’s also home to several fun places for kids to play, and a handful of fantastic eateries. Here’s my advice for how to spend a day in Fairview.

🌳 Get in Tune with Nature

Bowie Nature Park is a beautiful park with over 700 acres of forest and 17 miles of trails. We typically park at the nature center, then either hike the trails behind it to Joann’s Outdoor Classroom and the Memorial Walkway — which has footprints in the trail with lots of little animal statues — or we go across the field in front of the center, where the giant squirrel, raccoon, and tree mosaic sculptures are.

My favorite trail, however, is around the lake. We always spy frogs and turtles, and of course the numerous geese, who can frankly get a little intimidating if you have food.

🛝 Lots of Fun for Kids

Bowie Nature Park is also home to a fantastic playground. The new playground opened in 2022, and it’s swiftly become one of my daughter’s favorites. She especially loves the zipline (although it seems to be frequently out of order). There’s plenty of other playground equipment, from tire swings to a bouncy park ranger jeep and a musical area. It’s enclosed, and there’s a smaller play structure for toddlers.

If it’s packed, and it frequently is, you can also try out the playground at Fairview Ball Park. It’s much smaller, but cute and often pretty empty. We went there a lot when my daughter was a toddler. The smaller structures are good for younger ages.

Both playgrounds have picnic tables.

Tennessee Toddles is one of the few indoor playgrounds in our area. It’s 6,000 square feet of fun with lots of soft play structures and bouncy areas, perfect for a rainy day.