Update: Nashboro Village Not Ready to Give up Promised Golf Course for Park

Karen Johnson

A 144-acre golf course in Nashboro Village could very soon belong to Metro government, and not everyone's happy about it.  That's because the city plans to turn all 18 holes into a park. (link)


This could be a big challenge for Karen Johnson. It will be interesting to see how she handles it. In my opinion Karen Johnson is one of the council members worth watching. She is smart, attractive and charismatic. While obviously liberal she has friends across the political spectrum. And while she is Black, like Joe Biden said about Barack Obama, she "is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy." Well, not "guy" but otherwise you could say that could describe Karen. I predict that if Karen wants it, she could obtain higher office. Maybe "Mayor Johnson?"

Karen has so far distinguished herself by taking a free market position and auguring that a new cab company, Volunteer Cab, should be allowed to enter the market. In my view, that already makes Karen one of the "good councilmen."

Personally, unlike the comment of some of the park opponents, I think a park is an asset to a neighborhood not a detriment. However, many people pay a premium to live on a golf course. I can understand why those who bought in Nashboro Village to be on a golf course would not want to swap a golf course for a city park. With a $595,000 price  tag and a threatened tax increase this year, all councilmen should be very conservative about spending this type of money.  Half a million here and half a million there and soon you are talking about real money.

Immediately after posting the above I found this on Karen's blog:

Metro Will Not Purchase Nashboro Golf Course

Posted: Jan 06, 2012 1:27 PM CSTUpdated: Jan 06, 2012 7:12 PM CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Metro has pulled the plug on a plan to buy the Nashboro Village Golf Course, just one day after a community meeting raised big concerns.

On Friday a Metro Councilwoman sent a letter to Metro Parks asking them to withdraw legislation that authorizes the purchase of the Nashboro Village Golf Course- and Parks Director Tommy Lynch says he will comply with that request

The letter from councilwoman Karen Johnson stated that based on turnout at Thursday night's community meeting, it "is the strong preference of the neighbors" to have local attorney David Waynick purchase the property.

Metro Parks had planned to buy the property, which closed in November, to use as an open green space as part of the Open Space Plan the city adopted two years ago.

The $595,000 purchase price for the Nashboro Golf Club would come out of a $5 million previously set aside for open spaces that includes private donations from The Land Trust of Tennessee.

Those who live in the area felt that the purchase and transformation will destroy their property values and ruin their neighborhood.

Smart move, Karen.

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