Sunday in the Park Celebrates a Walk in the Park

On a showstopping Sunday, friends and supporters of Warner Parks convened in Edwin Warner Park’s Ridge Field to raise funds for the beloved park system. Sunday in the Park was the very first event covered by Nfocus magazine in its inaugural issue in November 1993. Founding editor Herbert Fox noted that “smartly hatted women and nattily groomed men gathered for a grand picnic.” This year was no different, as many took note of the autumnal hues donned by the stylish revelers. It was an afternoon to remember.

As guests arrived, most made their way through the tent — decorated with native grasses and flowers — to enjoy mimosas and bloody marys in the not-too-hot, not-too-cold noon sun. Co-chairs Jodi Banks and Amy Richards both love the parks and were honored to serve as this year’s chairs. Once guests were seated, board chair Govan White took the stage to set the tone for the afternoon. Govan remarked that “in 1987, a group of loyal Nashvillians started Friends of Warner Parks to help support the park system and return it to its natural glory.” The work of the founders has helped create a park system that is beloved by locals and a marvel to visitors. In the past three years, Friends of Warner Parks has planted 10,000 trees in the park and removed 40 acres of invasive plants. The big news of the afternoon was the announcement of the Percy Warner Golf Course Restoration and Renovation project. Built in 1938, the course has had few capital improvements. Through a public-private partnership, Metro Parks and Recreation, the Tennessee Golf Foundation and Friends of Warner Parks plan to restore the Percy Warner Golf Course and surrounding landscape and to promote access to the game for all communities.

After the remarks, Becca Stevens called the lively crowd to silence as she read “An Ode to Walkers” while her husband, Marcus Hummon, played melodious chords to enhance the words. Guests then enjoyed an autumn luncheon by Kristen Winston Catering as a gentle breeze wafted through the landscape.