After two years of renovations, Nashville’s iconic Dragon will reopen to the community Sunday, May 20, thanks to the support of community leaders, neighbors and volunteers.
The Hillsboro–West End Neighborhood Association (HWEN), in partnership with Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation, will kick off the Dragon’s homecoming at the first Dragon Music Sunday of the season. The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m., with remarks from Mayor David Briley, and representatives from Vanderbilt University and the Hillsboro–West End Neighborhood Association. The Dragon will then be reopened for children to play on and neighbors to enjoy once again.
After the ceremony, Centennial jamBands will perform, followed by Webb Wilder at 5 p.m. This will be the first of four Dragon Music Sundays, a longtime neighborhood tradition, of the summer. More information about upcoming shows can be found here.
The HWEN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been hard at work for over two years to raise money to restore this local icon through the Save Our Dragon campaign. From fundraising events to partnerships with local companies like Honky Tonk Brewing Co., HWEN has raised nearly $200,000 to restore the Dragon.
“It has taken a village, but all of our hard work has finally paid off,” said Martha Stinson, vice chairwoman of the Hillsboro–West End Neighborhood Association. “Thank you to all of our donors, partners and volunteers – we couldn’t have done this without you. The Dragon is back, and we couldn’t be more thrilled!”
Most of the repairs have been made; but work is still underway, so the HWEN is continuing to raise money. Additional funds will be set aside in a restricted account for ongoing maintenance to keep the Dragon healthy for years to come. You can donate online to the GoFundMe page or make a check out to Hillsboro–West End Neighbors and mail to HWEN, P.O. Box 120521, Nashville, TN 37212.
About Nashville’s Dragon
Nashville’s Dragon sculpture was commissioned by Metro Parks and installed in 1981 as the centerpiece of a new park in Hillsboro Village. It was the result of a community project led by renowned national artist the late Pedro Silva, and involved hundreds of volunteers of all ages coming together to create the colorful mosaic façade. The Dragon has been fenced off and closed for much-needed repairs since May 2016. Now let’s come together again and Save Our Dragon. For more information, visit www.gofundme.com/SaveOurDragon or www.facebook.com/SaveOurDragon/.
About Hillsboro–West End Neighborhood Association
HWEN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in 1975 to build community, preserve historic character and promote civic engagement. The neighborhood comprises Hillsboro Village, Fannie Mae Dees Park (aka Dragon Park), and the historic residential district between West End Avenue and 21st Avenue/Hillsboro Road inside I-440. HWEN, in partnership with Metro Parks, is spearheading the fundraising and restoration of the Dragon, a highly visible Nashville landmark and popular Hillsboro Village attraction. For more information, visit www.hwen.org.
About Metro Parks and Recreation
It is the mission of the Metro Parks and Recreation Department to equitably provide everyone in Nashville with an inviting and sustainable network of parks and greenways that offer health, wellness and quality of life through recreation, conservation and community. The department oversees nearly 16,000 acres of open space, including 185 parks and 86 miles of greenway.
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