Our Mission
Our mission is to preserve, protect, enhance and activate the William Edmondson Homesite Park and Gardens as a living legacy to groundbreaking African American sculptor William Edmondson, and to foster a creative, vibrant, and safe public space for all of Nashville to enjoy.
Highlights
‘WE FEST’ 2026 ARTS FESTIVAL
ARTISTS APPLY HERE! (EARly bird discount thru 7/31!
CALL TO ARTISTS IS OPEN! Our Fifth Annual William Edmondson Arts & Culture Fest (“WE Fest”) is the nation’s only art and music fair that honors William Edmondson. It’s held the last Saturday in October, coinciding with the anniversary of his 1937 history-making exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. The FREE community event in the park features an art fair, music and performances, kid’s activities, food trucks and more. It spotlights diverse Nashville artists and craftspeople, with a focus on African American and other historically-underrepresented artists. WE Fest 2026 is Saturday, October 24, from 10AM to 4PM.
WILLIAM EDMONDSON HISTORIC SITE
Groundbreaking artist William Edmondson created his work at his home at this present-day public greenspace, carving his limestone figures under the shade of a studio shed and displaying them in his yard. You can stand in the shade of the oak trees he planted, in the very spot where he created his work under “divine instruction”, and take in the sights, sounds, and scents of nature that inspired his work, while reading the state historic marker that honors his achievement.
EDGEHILL HEROES ARBORETUM
Watch us grow! Since 2020, with the help of the Nashville Tree Foundation, Metro Water Services and other partners, we’ve planted dozens of unique tree species, earning a Level 1 Arboretum status from Tennessee Urban Forestry Council. In Spring, 2024, we planted more than 25 additional trees, including a major expansion onto the adjacent grounds of the Edgehill Branch Public Library! This grew our total unique species count: planted, labeled and identified, to over 60 on our seven acre site. This is enough to elevate us to Level 2 status, a big milestone!
HONORING EDGEHILL HEROES
Take a walk in the park and you’ll notice many of the trees are adorned with special medallions to honor historic Edgehill figures who were important to the development of Nashville and the nation. Come learn about this historic African American neighborhood, home to groundbreaking artists, musicians, architects, civil rights heroes and community leaders. The history of the park and of the Edgehill community is rich!
EDGEHILL MEMORIAL COMMUNITY GARDEN
The Edmondson Homesite Park & Gardens is home to Nashville’s oldest, and one of the largest, community gardens in the city, providing garden plots for neighbors including residents of the Edgehill Apartments public housing. In addition, the garden supplies space where volunteers grow food for distribution in The Store, a community nonprofit serving Edgehill.
Events and Celebrations
This October 24, 2026, we honor William Edmondson with our fifth annual WE Fest, a free Arts & Culture Festival in the park. This annual affair brings together artists, food vendors, musicians, and kid’s activities. Other community activities all year include the annual Edgehill Eggstravaganza egg hunt, and more.
Edgehill Heroes Arboretum
Edgehill neighborhood has a rich history as one of the city’s oldest historically African-American neighborhoods. The Edgehill Heroes Arboretum honors ancestors who have ties to the neighborhood, with historic medallions adorning our trees. Many of the Edgehill Heroes, such as William Edmondson, musicians DeFord Bailey, activist Callie House, and architect Moses McKissack, are nationally-renowned. Use your mouse to zoom, scroll, click and navigate our interactive Arboretum map and learn more about our 60+ unique tree species!
Community Greenspace
The Edmondson Homesite Park features a multipurpose playing field, a walking trail, and fitness track. The park is maintained by neighborhood volunteers. Community groups, students from nearby Belmont and Vanderbilt University, neighbors and more enjoy recreation in the park. It’s the practice field of the Music City Mizfits, Nashville’s woman’s tackle football team. Recently we partnered with Nashville Soccer Club to open a youth soccer pitch where neighborhood children can play and learn fundamentals under the supervision of adult coaches.
