Shelby Bottoms Nature Center & Greenway

The kids love it and it is such a beautiful area. My son always finds a new friend when we go to the nature play area.

My all time favorite Public Park. Many Childhood memories from playing Jesse Neely Little League Football games. The train is iconic. A Park that offers a variety of experiences.

We were visiting Nashville from out of state and stopped here during our visit . We only had a little time the first day but made a point to come back the next day when we had more time . It was a wonderful place to come with young children. It’s free to enter the park and the nature center. The nature center itself has a lovely indoor area with a great kids room that has lots of books , activities and a coloring area. They also have clean restrooms and a water fountain. There is a kids play area outside that entertained my kids for hours. There is lots of sand, dirt and water play so be prepared for your kids to get messy (we didn’t care they had so much fun) . If we’d had more time I would have liked to explore more of the greenway trail. It is stroller and bike friendly. If you are traveling with kids on a budget, this is a great spot to come!

We’ve been going here for years for the greenway and the playground (one of the funnest playgrounds in the city for the kids -all natural!) and have always had a great time. We went there yesterday for a field trip with my kids homeschool co-op on the nature center’s homeschool day and it was even better. Our naturalist (alas I cannot remember her name!) was super informative and great at answering the kids (and my) questions. We saw a garter snake and learned about a ton of plants and animals that live in the wetlands around the park. This park is truly a gem, great nature and recreation for pretty much anybody.

I love Shelby Bottoms Park! The trails are super accessible and very dog-friendly. It’s an easy, relaxed walk without a ton of hills, and everything is well-shaded, which makes it perfect even on warmer days. The paths are nice and wide, so you never feel crowded. Plus, there’s a great playground area for the kids. Such a beautiful space to enjoy nature! 🌿🐾