Winter Storm Fern Damages Nashville Metro Parks, With Nearly 6,000 Trees Down Across Systemwide Green Space

Systemwide damage assessment underway across 189 parks and more than 100 miles of greenways

Nashville’s Metro Parks and Recreation system is contending with extensive tree loss and infrastructure damage following Winter Storm Fern, as crews continue assessments and cleanup across public parkland. The department has estimated that a minimum of 5,000 trees were killed across the system, with later internal estimates describing the toll as nearing 6,000 trees as counting and verification continued in the days after the storm.

The impact is spread across a network that includes 189 parks and more than 100 miles of greenways. Park officials have repeatedly warned that conditions on trails and greenways remain hazardous, citing downed trees, partially broken limbs still lodged in canopies, and lingering ice that can make both paved and unpaved surfaces slick and unpredictable.

Closures and restricted access remain central to public safety and recovery documentation

Several facilities were reported as severely affected in the immediate aftermath, with closures and modified operations implemented as crews evaluated damage and worked to stabilize sites. Among the locations identified for significant impacts were the Warner Park Nature Center, Beaman Nature Center, and segments of the greenway network, including the Richland Creek Greenway, where obstructions blocked access.

Within the Warner Parks area, separate assessments indicated substantial tree loss along roads and trails. Drone-based estimates at the Warner Park Nature Center placed fallen trees in the thousands along internal routes, underscoring both the scale of debris removal and the difficulty of reopening trails quickly without creating new risks for visitors and workers.

Park and greenway conditions have been characterized as hazardous due to continuing tree failures and persistent ice, prompting advisories to avoid trail use until cleared.

Facility impacts extend beyond trees to buildings, utilities, and recreation operations

In addition to downed timber, the storm disrupted utilities and damaged park infrastructure. Initial damage reports included buildings with roof impacts, locations without power, and water-related problems at nature centers. Some recreation operations—such as tennis and golf facilities—also reported closures or limited reopening schedules tied to safety checks and repairs.

As cleanup proceeds, Metro has emphasized that recovery work must be coordinated and documented, a process that can affect who is allowed into closed areas and how quickly volunteer assistance can be safely integrated.

Vegetation debris removal expands beyond parks as citywide cleanup begins

Tree damage has not been confined to park interiors. Nashville transportation officials initiated countywide storm-related vegetation debris collection beginning February 3, 2026, with multiple collection cycles planned over the following two to three weeks, weather permitting. The city’s broader removal effort is intended to complement park-specific clearing by addressing storm debris placed at curbs for pickup.

What residents should know before returning to trails and greenways

• Expect extended closures where trees remain suspended, leaning, or entangled and could fall without warning.
• Greenways may reopen in segments as hazards are removed and surfaces are evaluated for ice and debris.
• Facility hours and access can change rapidly as power, water, and structural repairs progress.

Metro Parks continues to update operational changes as assessments move from initial estimates toward a more complete accounting of losses and repair timelines.