I am in a deeply committed, borderline unhealthy relationship with this park. I've spent an irresponsible amount of my life here and it keeps turning me into an endurance athlete against my will. First 100+ mile bike ride? Here. First ultra marathon? Here. At this point I'm one trail run away from qualifying for something I didn't sign up for. I also golf here more than a retired grandpa in Florida. Like, aggressively. If you need a tee time, sorry, I might already be there. I've made friends, ran races, had full character development arcs, and I see the same deer so often that we're basically on a "head nod" basis. I've named them. They know my schedule. One of them owes me money. Honestly, Nashville Parks should either sponsor me, put my name on a bench, or issue a restraining order. read more

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Shelby Park in East Nashville has quickly become one of my favorite parks to hit up for a weekday evening or weekend afternoon walk! I have been making my way to all the Metro parks and Shelby Park sits high on my list right now, and for good reason! The park is well equipped with all the park staples and even a few specialty areas. I come here for the trails, as I love wandering around the park, through the woods, by the golf course and around the water. Just something about it all that makes the walks a bit more enjoyable. In addition to the trails the park offers the classic park offerings such as playgrounds, gazebos and sporting fields. The park is well kept and clean. All parks are a bit worn and dated, but it is not enough to detract from the park itself. Nashville does a good job keeping the parks in good working order, as well as clean. Overall, I am a fan of Shelby Park! read more

This is a wonderful park! It has paved and unpaved trails. We had our dog and walked 4 miles. Huge trees, lakes, ducks, geese, blue herons, next to the Cumberland river, playground, baseball fields and more! It's a great place to spend some time! read more

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It's a nice baseball park with decent restrooms. There is plenty of bleacher seating available. Bring your own snacks because the concession stand may not be open. read more

Shelby Park - Baseball Field - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Was looking to get out in nature and some family members who live out here recommended this greenway. I oopsied and parked at the big lot at the top of hill (first left turn after you enter), which was for the frisbee golf zone. But it did have a port-a-potty. So I had to walk all the way down past the golf park and baseball diamonds and picnic area just to get to the trail to begin my hike. But that's okay. The Nature Center is nearly immediately to your left after you go under the railway bridge. After that it's a long stretch of paved trail through trees, hugging the riverbank. Lots of changing colors this time of year (November) which was nice, but few places to catch a good view of the river unfortunately. Spotted several deer along the way who weren't too troubled by humans. There are a few offshoots here and there for a more primitive hiking experience, but nothing crazy by any means. Pretty even elevation the entire way. Encountered other hikers, bikers, and even someone on roller skates enjoying the crisp fall day. Wish there were a few more signs up to let you know where you were at in the park. If you go far enough, you'll end up at the Cumberland River pedestrian bridge (with some neat statues), which takes you over into the Two Rivers Park, part of another greenway (Stones River Greenway) for further hiking and exploration. After reaching this point I turned back to retrace my steps. I was doing a good pace but the whole trail only took three hours to traverse. Bring a water bottle (there are no fill stations or fountains that I could find). read more

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Lots of love for this expansive East Nashville park! Shelby is a beautiful spot to visit year-round, and has so many different activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy. My husband and I love to bring our dogs here for weeknight walks. Understandably, Shelby can get a bit busy on weekends - but we've never had trouble finding a parking spot (unless you're in the Shelby Bottoms area of the park). There are plenty of walking and bike paths throughout, a dog park, golf courses, playgrounds, and even baseball fields (although these are not open to the public). Locals who haven't yet visited Shelby Park ... what are you doing?! Get out here and enjoy one of the wonders of Nashville. read more

Shelby Park is a beautiful gem in East Nashville. I have been enjoying my strolls through the park during these perfect fall weather days. There's always plenty of parking and filled with great space for those who are looking to ride bikes, run or take a nice stroll with friends. There is a dog park but I haven't taken my dog there yet but will definitely aim to do so one day. I highly recommend this park for those looking for a not so crowded park alternative in the city read more

Huge park in the east Nashville area. It a great place to jog and bike and getting away from the chaotic downtown area. It has a huge dog park and lake with walking and biking trails. I would recommend renting a bike to explore the park units entirety. Its a bit too large to walk from end to end read more

Cute little park to take a nice nature stroll! We went towards sunset and it was beautiful to see the sky change. Not many people were around, so it was quite peaceful and quiet. It was a nice little getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was amazing to see all of this land. read more

Shelby Park - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I have always been a fan of Shelby Park! I think it's a nice little scenic hidden gem. Such a beautiful greenway, plenty of fields for baseball or softball, golfing, a nice lake with ducks to feed, a dog park, and just some all around lovely views. I played here a lot as a little girl, jogged here often as an adult, and now I got to take my toddler here to play on the playground. It's not the absolute nicest park in the entire world, but honestly I think it's the nicest park on the east side of town. I really think the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center and Greenway are the star of the show for this park. The view of the river is beautiful. Definitely go for a walk along the greenway if you have the time! read more

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Shelby Park is a behemoth of a park in East Nashville. It has 361 acres of land, and includes a community center, playgrounds, a dog park, multiple baseball fields, two gold courses, boat launch for Cumberland River, fishing options for Sevier Lake, tennis courts, a basketball court, a disc gold course, and paved and unpaved trails for walking and bike riding. It shares a border with Shelby Bottoms Park, which has over 900 acres. So the land known as Shelby Park was originally a farm owned by James Shaw. James Shaw sold the land to David Shelby in 1788. David gifted the land as a Christmas gift to his son, Dr. John Shelby, in 1818. Dr. John Shelby himself lived quite a life, being the first Caucasian baby born in neighboring Sumner County, Tennessee (and supposedly middle Tennessee, but that is rumor and unproven). Many things in East Nashville named "Shelby" are name after him. He died in May of 1859. The city of Nashville was pressured by many citizens groups, and newspaper editorials, to purchase the 150 acres of land for a park, which they did, for $40,000 in 1909. Adjacent tracts of land were purchased in the subsequent years, cumulating to the 361 acres we know now. One set of renovations was completed in 2012, and a second set of renovations was completed in 2014. With our visit, we started at the dog park, went along the trail to the edge of Sevier Lake, took a left and walked around the two baseball fields, then looped around the little league fields to the entrance of Shelby Bottoms Park, before we came back. This expenditure took us about an hour and a half, and was a 5 mile walk, with 11,000 steps on my Fitbit. All and all, we really enjoyed this park, as it seems to have something for everyone. read more

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Beautiful park and great views of the river. Some of the signs are hard to read for a first timer. read more

Shelby Park - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Soooooo I was minding my business walking down the river walk and a doe crossed my path. I immediately thought, ' this would be a great Instagram picture. ' So I pull out my phone to get a picture from a safe view because you know, nature. Any who, I proceed to take a picture and looked into the shrubbery where the doe first appeared and seen a buck staring at me! It was so scary and exciting at the same time. So I speed walk past the lovely couple and continue on the trail. I keep looking over my shoulder like I'm in a scary movie. I was too scared to keep going so I turned around to walk back to my car. Seems like it took forever! Anyway, I seen another stag bigger than the previous one in the bushes staring at me so I took off running! All in all, I'll be going back. The view was beautiful just pay attention to your surroundings. read more

This is a beautiful trail to enjoy nature. There was a great amount of shading from the trees to shield me from the sun. I found it to be well kept, quiet, and tranquil. I was definitely refreshed after getting a workout in. read more

This nature park is located along the river with beautiful views and piers overlooking the water. It also has a children's playground with natural areas that reminded me of an outdoor learning classroom. The trails are wide enough for bikers and walkers to share the path. Great spot to connect with nature! read more

Shelby Park seriously has it all, nature center, ball fields, walking and cycling trails, river views, wooded paths, a super cool rustic yet trail trestle and whaaa?? A golf course?! This amazing park has all of the amenities and convince of of any urban park, yet you can walk a ways back and discover a network of well maintained- even paved trails, that whisk you away through gorgeous natural habitat full of songbirds, robins and tiny sparrows. As a visitor to Nashville, I was completely impressed with its parks and green spaces, then Shelby Park just took the cake. As a runner and cyclist living in urban Miami, seeing a park like this makes me want to pack up and promptly move into this neighborhood! I can only imagine just what a treat it is for runners, cyclists, walkers and the lucky pooches who get to experience this park on the regular. I mean there are just so many route options for runs! Wow! My pup would just love the variety of sniffs he could have on so many different trails. I was visiting in the winter and can't wait to come back and see just how fully gorgeous this park is when in full bloom. Any city could hope to have parks this expansive and naturally beautiful! read more

Shelby Park - Nature center & trestle - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Because parks don't exactly have addresses, I was forced to use the same street address and phone number for Shelby Park as was used for the Shelby Park Golf Course. However, the two are very separate entities, each of which has a lot to offer based on its own merits. I absolutely love Shelby Park. There is no better place on the East Side (and perhaps in the entire city) to have a picnic or a lovely afternoon stroll. The park is very well maintained, and it has dozens of ball fields as well as several ponds and walking and bike trails. There is a small island where countless varieties of geese and other birds meander about waiting to be fed by the families and couples that frequent the park. There is always plenty of parking, and there are several pavilions available for parties and barbeques. You can get anywhere in the park on foot, and there is plenty of open space for exploring or playing a pick-up game of football. I only have one small caveat regarding Shelby Park. The area west of the train tracks is typically filled with families and friends picnicking, fishing or playing frisbee. While Shelby Bottoms (the area east of the train tracks) is more expansive and a beautiful place to take the dogs for a walk, its patrons are sometimes a bit more questionable. This isn't to say that Shelby Bottoms isn't a wonderful place to take a stroll during the daytime. However, based on stories and the experiences of my friends, I recommend not going at night and bringing someone along with you if you are there in the evening. read more

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Shelby Park is my new sanctuary. I plan to go frequently to collect my thoughts, walk my pups, and to just take a whiff of fresh air. Fellow Yelper Elly C actually informed me that there is an entry point to the park nearby her new home off of Porter Rd. We jumped in the car with our pups and made the very short yoyage from my home near Riverside. There it was... tucked away at the end Welcome Drive, a quiet and unpresumptuous entry lush green grass, trees, wildlife, and trails. Runners, pets, rollerbladers, and bikers all share both the paved and unpaved trails. Both times that I have been the park was never overly crowded which I happen to enjoy. It's nice to duck out of the business of the world every now and then. It should also be noted that the park is also well manicured and full of convenient benches and trash cans. I am very curious to check out the Cornelia Airpark Trail and would love to plan a whole day here to wander around and see where I end up. read more

I'm particularly annoyed with myself for only having been here 3 times in my 12 months of living in Nashville, East Nashville no less. This place is in my own backyard, a wonderful place for open space and exercise and here I am sitting on my fat butt writing about it rather than walking through it. For those of you not from Nashville, let me explain. Shelby park is associated with Shelby greenway, which is an entire stretch of dedicated parkland and trails along the east bank of Cumberland river, right in the heart Nashville. Not many cities can boast about this sort of thing, Nashville can. Shelby park sits at one end of this greenway and features a nature center, community center, baseball diamonds, golf course, man-made lake etc. Once you find the trail head you can walk, bike, run right next to the river or on any of the small trail loop offshoots. I once saw a deer down here, the middle of Nashville. I mean this place is really awesome, really special, a must if you live Nashville. read more

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I am lucky enough to live only blocks from this revitalized park that over the past 3 years has been revamped the best Mayor that Nashville has ever had. Great space and use for the pups and people alike. read more

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This is a good park with a small lake, long bike/pedestrian trails, and some nice scenery. The park is mostly flat except for the golf course area on the western side. The greenway is nicely paved for bikers, joggers, walkers, inline skates, etc. and has occasional views of the river. Some of the park has nice tree cover and other parts have just shorter scrub growing. There are some unpaved paths through the scrub, but every time I've visited they looked muddy and minimally used. The best part of the park is that it's part of the Music City Bikeway, and therefore connected to several other greenways. There are a few benches for quiet moments of reflection or breath-catching, but not as many as some other parks in the area. A few scenic overlooks help make up for it, and the nature center has several picnic tables and benches. Overall, it's a good place for a long walk, jog, or leisurely bike ride. read more

While this is a fairly nice park, the tragedy lies in the maintenance. If I create a park on the river, sure it will be a nice park. I have ponds, ducks, people playing frisbee, dog parks, bikers, etc. What is not to like? What makes a nice park is not only the scenery (people don't build parks like these in ugly areas) are the amenities and maintenance. While the main maps remain unharmed, many of the markings throughout the park are defaced with vandalism. Some are so bad they are almost impossible to read. This is a major disappointment due to the historical significance of such an important river. Considering so many people are enjoying this park, I would expect to see more trash receptacles, water fountains, and dog bags along the trails. I noticed many plastic dog bags of waste thrown along the side which will only find its way into the river. I did love the bike paths (which were paved) and the beautiful train trestle near Riverside Drive. Not to mention the size of the park which is an excellent addition to the city. read more

Shelby Park - Shelby Park - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Don'y judge a book by its cover, well in this case a park... Its a little escape from the busy city tucked perfectly to get away without a long trip. During the week its not too busy which is a great time to bring your fur babies and on the weekend perfect for the humans. There are multiple paths to walk, jog and ride your bike with plenty of space for everyone. The lake has very friendly ducks and slightly passive aggressive geese, but then again I'm not a huge geese fan so I may have taken their presence negatively. The park itself has many activities from golf, baseball parks, playgrounds and a nature center. There is plenty of parking but like any other public place be aware of your surroundings and leave your valuable out of sight. There are plenty of port a potties although I am not a fan of public restrooms let alone port a potties the city does a good job at keeping them clean for those who really must use them. read more

This is my ocean. When I was moving from Miami, many people asked me, 'Won't you miss the water? I mean, you're so close to the ocean.' Yes, from my apartment, I had a view of the bay and the Atlantic but I didn't grow up with water views. While beautiful, I could take or leave them. What pleases me eye are rolling hills, trees as far as the eye can see and green that completely envelopes you. I'd so missed this part of the country and when people ask me why, I bring them to Shelby Park. The park is a wonder in natural, Tennessee, Mid-South beauty. With rolling hills, mature trees, seedlings, running trails, steep hills, panoramic views, a golf course, baseball fields (ones equipped with huge digital scoreboards), lakes, an iconic trestle, winding river views, playgrounds, and wild animals a'plenty, what's not to love about Shelby Park? And one can enjoy all of this within the confines of the city. To enjoy this kind of scenery, one might think he has to go deep into the countryside. Nope. This nature expanse is a part of Nashville's Eastside connection of neighborhoods. There's way too much to experience to take it all in at once. Shelby Park is best to be explored either by accident or preparation. By accident: the first time I stumbled in to the park, I was driving around, exploring some neighboring neighborhoods and I took a turn in to what i thought was a woodsy neighborhood. Once I came across the lake, I was hooked. I parked my car and just wandered around, taking pictures, stopping to gawk and standing still, smiling at where I was. By preparation: studying up a bit on the park, I 'discovered' there were many trails and a nature center to experience. I have come back several times to explore each of these specific parts. I haven't quite mastered where/when Shelby Park becomes Shelby Bottoms (the land mass is overwhelmingly huge) but if you are hoofing it through the park, head toward the trestle/river and look for the path. You'll pass the nature center on your left (perhaps the beginning of the Bottoms?) and, with the river to your left, get ready to start checking out the trails. You can either stay on the main path or diverge in the woods to hike/walk the smaller, listed paths. Because I grew up in the [redacted], I have a fear of wooded areas at night but if you have even an inkling of a survival instinct, you should have the same fear. Leave the rural exploration to high noon and take the trails with someone. As purty as the green is, don't be stupid. When out of town folks come to visit me, I always make sure to bring them here. Once I do, they understand why I was eager to move and why it was easy to do so. This is my ocean. read more

Oh man, I have a love/hate relationship with this park. Or maybe just working out in general. I always hate going but once I'm there, I don't want to leave. These trails are well paved, easy to run on, quiet and parts have gorgeous views. My husband and I love to run and also ride our bikes here. Keep your eyes open for deer as we have seen tons! Great places to bring your pups or kiddos. read more

Big beautiful park! Love that you can hop on the greenway here and go for miles, walking, riding, or with your dog. You will definitely encounter other people on the path so just keep in mind to be aware of others. read more

The park is great and well maintained for the most part, it has miles of well paved surface that works for all manner of non-pedestrians. There are some issues with the place you should be aware of if you're not on foot. The little mini forest as you near the pedestrian bridge becomes slippery with leaves, mush, etc. I've slipped off the road once and on my last trip out saw a biker in his super-hero outfit almost eat it as the front wheel went out from under him. If you're skating it also is not possible to see rocks on the road at this point. For pedestrians, I do not know what is so amazing about blind corners, but they will stand in groups, taking up the whole road / not paying any attention right at the two completely blind spots. I've been witness to skaters and bikers showing amazing restraint and braking abilities as they realize there is no possible way around. Not to say bikers and skaters are not at fault for speeds going into blind corners, but man, you can be out there for 20 minutes and not see a person until you're going around that corner. Just, don't stand in groups in a corner, I think it's best for everyone concerned that people not make themselves a standing roadblock for no reason. Bikers, skaters, runners beware - this is the buggiest place ever during the summer / rain times. Bring something to guard your airholes. Walkers - stay to the right, give people room to pass you without having to yell for you to move. Bikers, skaters, joggers, etc have rights on the road also and having to scream from 80 feet away that they'll be on you in 10 seconds does gets tedious. Bikers - this is not the path if you're training for the Tour de France. Max speed is 15mph - this is about as fast as a human can run flat-out. Nobody's going to complain if you're doing 20, but this is not a 30+mph friendly pathway. Skaters - you're cool, keep on with your bad selves. Dogs - woof woof, grrr, woof, *whimper* grrroof *snort* read more

So I moved across town and upgraded my place AND park, boo-yah! Shelby park isn't huge but it does the trick. We'll usually take the bikes out for a spin on the greenway, run around the lake, walk to the dog park to check out the pups or hit the tennis courts. Shelby park is my own personal zen-den. read more

Love love love Shelby Park! My wife and I recently bought a house and one of the biggest selling points was that it is super close to the park. During the warmer months we run through there every day and even in winter we take our dog down there at least 3-4 times a week. It is such a beautiful and wonderful place to explore. Nashvillians who haven't checked it out are truly missing out. read more

We really enjoy this park. It's nice to take pictures and see the ducks. There are several really nice trails. I've seen people walking their dogs, rollerblading, walking/running, and biking on these trails. Very nicely kept. However, the water at the pond where the ducks are is a little gross in spots. Everything is 5 star to me that I've seen so far, apart from the gross spots in the pond. read more

Shelby Park - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Boasting miles of green way, ball parks, two golf courses, a small lake, boat launches on the Cumberland, and a new nature center, a dog park, Shelby park is chalked full of cool. Located in the heart of East Nashville, you can access the park from Fatherland, Shelby, and Riverside Drives. What I love about this park are all the lovely mature trees. It's certainly my favorite park to visit during the season changes. There are picnic pavilions that you can reserve for events. There are play areas and jungle gyms for the children. The lake is beautiful with ducks to feed. I use the green way extensively. It's a wonderful place to get your children out biking. There is a small loop at the Shelby entrance that's about a mile with great places to view local wildlife. The green way goes a little over 3 miles to the new pedestrian bridge which connects you to the two rivers park and green way. The only negatives about the park is that it's old, it's been around for years and parts of it seem to be in disrepair to me. It's nothing bad but I certainly hope/expect the city to continue to invest money in this historic and relevant community park. read more

I really love this park and it's really my favorite place to go when it's beautiful day out and I just need a nice, non-challenging bike ride. My gripe with cycling in Tennessee is that's it's very hilly here and sometimes I'm not in the mood for terrain and just want a nice, flat, relaxing ride where I can enjoy the natural environment. Shelby Park's trails are just what I'm looking for. Another thing that's amazing to me are the elevated train tracks above the park. Blows my mind every time I see a train crossing. The pedestrian suspension bridge is pretty cool too. read more

Shelby Park - Train bridge over Shelby Park. - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I wish the bike trail would have more river views.... I love riding my bike along the river, but I want to see the river. What I do see are the trails where the deer come out of the woods and go back in.... I've never seen any garbage on the ground. and when Belmont baseball team used to practice at Shelby, I used to go over with my camera and take lots of photos of the baseball team, practicing.. But they're gone now..... I hear there are a lot of deer in the park, but I've never seen one alive. Saw one hacked up on the boat ramp .... I live really close to the park so I am here often.. Usually, on my bike. People are pretty courteous on the bike trail. People usually smile and wave or nod. I just wish there was more of a river view while riding the trail. read more

I suppose I judge most parks on how fun they are for running. Shelby Bottoms has a huge number of paved and unpacked trails, most of which are pretty level. I like getting my long runs in here. Some green ways (which shall remain unnamed) run parallel to rivers and can end up smelling really terrible, but I've never noticed that problem here. I've come here to be lazy, in addition to visiting for healthy reasons. It's a great place to bring a lunch or a dog, or maybe both. Love living so close by now. read more

Pretty park with so much to offer to East Nashville residents! From great grounds to walk around, a farmer's market, movies in the park, a playground, baseball fields...and on and on! What a fun park! East Nashvillians, you're lucky to have this park close to you! read more

Beautiful, clean park with a nice lake and lots of trails. I've been to the park a few times during my visit to Nashville and enjoy seeing the variety of birds and the deer. There is a playground and a sand lot for kids as well as a nature center. There are maps and benches spaced throughout the walking trails and some mile markers. I was there on a couple of days after ice and snow, but because many of the trails are paved, there was no issue with mud or standing water. There was plenty of parking when I was there, but don't know how it would be in warmer weather. Definitely recommend! read more

It's a great park lots of places to explore and good fun for the whole family! Sometimes it does have a fair amount of homeless living in it but they are generally very polite... just don't go alone latter in the evening or else things can get a little creepy but during the day it is great even a little market pops up during the summer. read more

Great park with wonderful views, bikes to rent and pedal and plenty of room to walk. Also it's in a great location for Nashville.

A really beautiful park. I would go here again for sure. I love taking photos here. No one judges us either for taking photos of stuff.

What a hidden gem! It's beautiful out there. There's a small lake with a little sanctuary in the middle for the ducks and geese. There's also walking trails and a playground in the back. I see myself coming here often. read more

Shelby Park - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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