About Friends of Shelby
OUR MISSION
To preserve, enhance, and promote Shelby Park and Bottoms
for everyone to appreciate and protect.
Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms is working to create a world-class park, by restoring and preserving its historic importance, protecting its environmental resources and providing amenities for active and passive recreation for all the people who use the park. The parks are an oasis of green space in the heart of Nashville. In working to preserve and enhance the park, Friends of Shelby serves neighborhood and city residents, local businesses, schools, and other organizations, as well as all park visitors from both inside and outside the community.
What we do
In partnership with the Metro Nashville Parks Department, Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms works to engage the community in park beautification and the maintenance of park features, create and promote park programs and activities, and advocate for continued funding to fulfill the Shelby Park Master Plan.
Your attendance at events, participation in volunteer programs, donations, and membership all support our efforts and help us do more every year.
OUr TEam
STAFF
Rebecca Ratz, Executive Director
As Executive Director Rebecca oversees community outreach, programs and projects, and development for the organization. Rebecca came to Friends from the Metro Parks Department where she spent seven years as a project manager in the Planning and Facilities Development Division. A Lockeland Springs resident, Rebecca is a licensed landscape architect who enjoys gardening and sharing her prickly pear cactus with neighbors every year.
Grant England, Community Programs Manager
Grant is a nature fanatic and outdoor recreation enthusiast on a mission to reconnect people to the land and water. As the Community Programs Manager, he runs the schools and nature education programs, leads community recreation activities, and helps direct Friends of Shelby's volunteer efforts. Grant is a Vanderbilt alum and taught in Metro Nashville Public Schools. He has also worked in conservation and adventure sports and is thrilled to merge these experiences to support Shelby Park & Bottoms. Grant lives in Inglewood with his wife, son and daughter. Their favorite things to do in the park are run (especially on trails), ride bikes, play frisbee and look for salamanders at Cave Spring.
CD Paddock, Community Outreach and Volunteer Leader
CD is the Community Outreach and Volunteer Leader, and helps ensure that the community is able to join the organization in protecting Shelby Park and Bottoms. Hailing from a rural town in Iowa, they were lucky to grow up surrounded by nature and community which instilled the belief that everyone deserves equal access to the outdoors. CD further developed their passion for community engagement while helping coordinate a community garden and farm in Washington State. You’ll often see CD walking in the park with their fiancé and their two dogs, or at community events near 5 Points where they live — make sure to say hi if you do!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Kobi Ankumah
President
Jason Hitchcock
Vice President
Jessica Wilmoth
Treasurer
Nicole Ceccacci
Secretary
DIRECTORS
Brian Poynter
Robert Knotts
Melissa Bednarik
Peter Westerholm
John Niedzwiecki
Many Pellegrin
Hunter Groves
Mary Fulcher
Cage Spoden
Kat Campbell
Ally Lanahan
Adam Forgacs
William Aaron
Jeff Rupright
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Monique Odom
Director, Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation
Clay Capp
Council Representative, District 6
Emily Benedict
Council Representative, District 7
NASHVILLE YOUNG LEADERS COUNCIL INTERNS
Marion Hudson