The cache location is open from 8:00 AM until 8:30 PM and can only
be legally accessed during those times. Please plan your hunting
accordingly.
This spot used to be part of an unattractive and small parking
lot, but the city has done a great job to make this area more
practical for commuters and far more beautiful as a public green
space.
In 2003, The City of Nashville set out to renovate the 1930's
art deco style Metro Courthouse in an effort to create an open
civic space and gathering point for residents and guests to
downtown. The new civic square, which consists of approximately 7.5
acres, was transformed from a surface parking lot to a 5 level
subterranean parking garage topped with a 2.25 acre "Green" roof
deck.
Beyond being a beautiful public space, one key aspect of the
park's green roof design captures fresh rainwater in a 57,000
gallon below-grade tank where it is filtered and re-used to
irrigate the park plantings. It turns the liability of a 2.25-acre
impermeable subterranean parking garage into an asset that harvests
and recycles ground water and rainwater for the plants to use,
conserving hundreds of thousands of gallons of water each year.
The landscape architectural design also incorporates a diverse
mix of native plant materials to create this unique civic space.
Over 43 different species of plants were used in the design, 81% of
which are native to the Southeast region and 63% are native to
Middle Tennessee. The project also features several historically
significant components from the original site including reused
granite steps, historical war monuments and commemorative plaques.
All granite walls, curbs and steps along the courthouse terrace
were re-incorporated from the original site granite.
The park includes a Founders’ Pavilion overlooking the Public
Square and the Cumberland River. The pavilion is connected to the
park and the parking garage by a pair of towers representing
Nashville’s historic founders James Robertson and John Donelson.
Atop the pavilion are panels along the overlook that review and
highlight the history of the city.
Please take the time to visit the Founder's Pavilion and enjoy
learning more about the history of our city on the plaques there
before hunting this nano cache with a great view of the
stadium.
