The Phased Approach: Where We Are Now

 

We are currently progressing through Phases One, Two, and Three of a five-part plan.

 

Phase One – Commitment

EEUMC is working with developer Aaron Armstrong, who also lives right here in East Nashville, just down the road on Holly Street.

• The proposed agreement would give neighbors until December 20, 2025, to raise $600,000 to purchase Parcel 40(half of “the park”).

• After December 20, if the funds are not raised, Aaron will be obligated to purchase the land for development before year-end, as the church has made clear they must secure these funds by then.

• Aaron received signed documents from the church agreeing to the above at noon today.

 

Phase Two – Lead Pledges and How To Give

• We’ve reached back out to everyone who previously pledged and currently have $282,500 in commitments.

• We need serious financial pledges now to close the gap. While gifts of $5,000+ are ideal at this stage, every contribution matters.

• Current average gifts are around $11,000. Multiple fundraising consultants—representing nonprofit, political, and corporate sectors—strongly advised that we secure at least 50% ($300,000) in pledges before launching a broader public campaign. Therefore we still need $17,500 before we are able to launch publicly. We need this before EOD next Wednesday, September 10th. If you feel compelled to give at a level of $1,000 or more please let us know asap. 

• If we raise these funds by the 10th - we will transition to the following:

  • Any donation above $1000 will be given to our "holding" nonprofit while we are in the process of establishing our own. You will contact Katie and Shannon to send a check. If we do not raise all the money by December 20th - your check will be re-distributed back to you upon request or given to another East Nashville charity. 

  • For any donation under $1,000 we will set up a GoFundMe account and you can contribute there. If we do not reach our goal, we will redistribute those funds upon request (minus the gofundme fees) or they will be given to another East Nashville charity. 

 

Phase Three – Public Campaign

Once we hit the 50% goal, we will need several volunteers and below have listed all the roles that we need to fill. THIS WILL TAKE EVERYONE HELPING IN SOME WAY. In bold are the roles that need to be filled. Please let us know by Friday the 12th what role you are willing to take on. (Any Lead that is bolded is still a role we need to fill.)

Roles & Needs:

• Nonprofit Set up Lead - We need someone to take the lead to set up a nonprofit or working with a specific neighbor who has offered to let us use their 501c3 to collect funds while we are working to secure our own. We will also need someone to research how to collect funds under $5,000 that are tax-deductable that can also be re-distributed if we do not raise the full amount. Katie Lentile has been overseeing the research of this thus far, but we definitely need another volunteer to take the lead due to other focuses Katie is working on. 

• Tim Maddux and Katie Lentile are currently working on creating a basic website to keep everyone updated and a place to direct people to learn more and give. 

• Katie Lentile and Shannon Sullivan are currently working on a giving level tier system - (ex. Brick pavers with names, permanent sign in the park, park benches in memory or honor). We currently have the outline of this strategy, but need a volunteer to take the lead to research and provide an easy to process outline to include on the website. 

• Katie Lentile has been overseeing fundraising strategy for $5,000+ gifts and will continue to do that. 

• Fundraising Lead -  a volunteer lead to take over fundraising strategy and to be the point person for all gifts under $5000. 

• Katie Lentile and Shannon Sullivan have overseen all communication and will continue to take on those roles. 

• Field Ops Leads - We will need 3 volunteer leads to take on the roles of field operations, distributing flyers, knocking on doors, getting the word out to the entire East Nashville community. 

• Katie Lentile will oversee media relations - if anyone enjoys speaking on camera to TV please let us know and Katie will line different people up for quotes and speaking engagements. 

• Thermometer for Park - We need a lead volunteer to take on this role to create this. 

• Printing Donation - We need a lead volunteer to find a printer for us that will allow us to print things at little to no cost – I believe we have one in the neighborhood, but cannot remember who that was. 

• Events Lead - someone who can spearhead different events and partner with the fundraising lead ($5,000 and below) to ensure we have events and be able to recruit hosts that want to have events at their home or for meetings. 

• Financial/Trustee Lead - We need a volunteer that will oversee the financials and bank account. 

•  

Phase Four – Purchase & Stewardship Planning

• Form a Friends of Holly Street Park nonprofit, complete with a board and bylaws.

• Finalize the purchase agreement..

• Build partnerships with land trusts or similar organizations to ensure long-term stewardship and funding for ongoing maintenance.

 

Phase Five – Stewardship

Once purchased, the park becomes a protected private green space open to the public.
Potential programming could include:

• Movie nights

• Tomato Fest gatherings

• Seasonal festivals and events

• Play structures or gardens

• Open green space for relaxation and recreation