Nashville To Do asked what would make Nashville a better city if it changed overnight. The answers poured in, and a few themes kept popping up again and again. Here's what the most popular suggestions had in common.
Fix The Roads Already
Potholes came up more than almost anything else. People are tired of watching the same patched-up spots crumble again a few months later. A lot of folks want to see permanent repairs instead of quick fixes that don't last through the next rainstorm.
Traffic flow was right behind it. Smarter traffic signals, better interchange design, and routing tourist traffic around the city core instead of straight through it all made the list. Nobody wants to spend an hour crawling twenty miles across town, and honestly, who could blame them?
Bring Back Some Kind Of Rail System
Public transportation was probably the single biggest wish on the list. A lot of people pictured light rail or a subway connecting downtown to the suburbs, so commuters could skip the daily grind on the interstate.
Some even dreamed bigger, tying Nashville to nearby cities like Knoxville and Chattanooga with faster rail options. It's a big ask, sure. But it shows just how much traffic weighs on people's daily lives here.
Parking, Parking, Parking
If there's one thing that unites Nashville visitors and locals alike, it's frustration over parking. Free or at least more affordable parking downtown was mentioned constantly. For a lot of people, the parking situation is the deciding factor in whether they even bother coming downtown at all.
Opryland Nostalgia Is Still Strong
A surprising number of people wished for the return of Opryland USA, the theme park that used to sit where Opry Mills Mall is today. Roller coasters, family rides, something to pull younger visitors and families back into the mix, this idea showed up again and again.
Whether or not a full theme park ever makes a comeback, it's clear plenty of visitors still miss having that kind of family-friendly draw in town.
Get Nashville A Major League Team
An MLB team came up a lot, with several people specifically hoping for an expansion team or a relocated franchise to call Nashville home. A new stadium and the buzz that comes with game days would be a welcome addition for a lot of visitors who love pairing a trip with a live sporting event.
A More Walkable, Music Filled Broadway
Several ideas centered on Broadway itself. A pedestrian only stretch during peak hours, more original live music instead of the same cover songs everywhere, and better food options beyond fast chains all came up as ways to make the honky tonk experience feel a little more special.
More Green Space
A scenic park along the Cumberland River and generally more green space downtown were mentioned as a nice counterbalance to all the new construction. Not everyone wants another block of high rises. Sometimes a shady spot to sit by the water is exactly what a trip needs.
Smoother Sidewalks And Better Accessibility
A few people pointed out something easy to overlook: sidewalks that are actually safe and smooth, especially for anyone using a wheelchair. It's a small fix compared to a whole rail system, but it makes a real difference for accessibility downtown.
