Fall 2001 Newsletter

Friends of Beaman Park Receive Frist Technology Grant

A $5,000 Technology Grant for the year 2001 has been awarded to Friends of Beaman Park by the Frist Foundation. The "Friends" plan to use the funds to purchase a computer, printers, scanner, digital camera, phone and fax machine.

FOBP President Nancy Dorman noted that the group is very pleased to receive the award. "This will help us to centralize our business functions, do desktop publishing in-house, and develop our Web page," she said. "Nonprofit organizations are typically behind the curve when it comes to the use of technology. We are honored that the Frist Foundation has such confidence in The Friends of Beaman Park."

Last year FOBP received a $5,000 Award of Achievement from the Frist Foundation. One of ten area organizations to receive the honor, FOBP placed the award money in a Land Fund to be used in the future for land acquisition, conservation easements, and other land protection initiatives.

Tennessee Trails Association Awards $750 Grant

The Friends of Beaman Park were awarded $750 in grants from the Tennessee Trails Association for the purchase of trail building tools this year. The Nashville Area Chapter contributed $150. Friends also received a $600 Evan Means grant from the state wide organization. The Tennessee Trails Association is a non-profit [501(c)3] organization whose purpose is to promote hiking as a means of enjoying the natural beauty of Tennessee. Since 1997, the Tennessee Trails Association has supported the Beaman Park project by promoting hikes, volunteer labor and now, through financial contributions. The Friends of Beaman Park offer our most gracious thanks for the grants for Beaman Park

Greenways for Nashville Awarded $75,000 for Beaman Park

Greenways for Nashville was awarded a $75,000 grant for the development of Beaman Park from the Memorial Foundation of Goodlettsville, TN. This grant for the Beaman Park project will have far-reaching impact on the entire Nashville community. It is hoped that Metro government will provide a match to this grant so that additional funding will be available for Beaman Park.

When it is opened, the park will play host to miles of hiking trails and nature education programs in the tradition of Radnor Lake and Warner Parks. Beaman Park is important in our community because it protects some of the most significant natural habitat in Davidson County. This grant from the Memorial Foundation will provide significant momentum toward opening Beaman Park to the public.

Beaman Park anchors Nature Conservancy portfolio area

When it comes to protecting land and the varied natural resources it contains, many different tools must be used. Protecting the area in and around Beaman Park is no exception. The backbone of any protection initiative is planning and the Nature Conservancy has developed a process that is arguably one of the best around. In it, "portfolio" or conservation areas are designated and Beaman Park figures prominently in the protection goals for Davidson County.

Natural areas, called "portfolio sites," are areas where protection would ensure the long-term survival of sensitive species and natural communities in the region. Protection of this site requires cooperation efforts between the Nature Conservancy, government officials and the public. Portfolio areas represent the full distribution and diversity of native species, natural communities and ecological systems within each region. Primary emphasis in portfolio selection is placed on conserving the highest quality examples of ecological systems. And in Davidson County, Beaman Park perfectly fits the bill.

We are pleased to learn that Beaman Park has been identified by the Nature Conservancy for protection. This is one more endorsement of its uniqueness and a long-term tool for its protection.