Metro is taking a significant step forward with Fort Negley Park improvements, following the release of new renderings and secured funding.

The Fort Negley Master Plan finalized in 2022 outlines the project in two phases. The first phase is expected to cost $12 million and includes the following elements:

New pathways
New interpretive plazas and promenades
Memorial lawn at the former Greer Stadium site
Repairs to the fort, including a “redesigned pedestrian experience”
Archaeological study of the Bass Street Community within the park's northern section

Additionally, a memorial wall will sit adjacent to the lawn to recognize the “laborers, soldiers and refugees that built, served, and sought refuge at the fort.” The Union fort, constructed in 1862, was the largest inland fort in the Civil War.

Construction could start as early as next spring and is expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete. A second phase that is not currently funded seeks to expand the interpretive center with additional programming space, “context appropriate play elements,” and an outdoor classroom.

“The [improvements] rest on bedrock of three guiding principles: preserve and maintain the Fort Negley site, reveal and honor its history, and connect and engage with the public at a local, regional, and national level,” the plan states.