Fannie Mae Dees Park, popularly known as Dragon Park for the iconic mosaic dragon (which is actually a sea serpent), recently got renovated with a brand new playground. My daughter and I decided to check it out to see what we thought.
But First, Dragon Park’s History
The park is named after activist and nurse Fannie Mae Dees, who protested against a 1970s urban renewal project that would tear down the home she shared with her mother, as well as her entire neighborhood. Despite community protests, Metro Council approved the University Center Renewal project, and the neighborhood was destroyed for Vanderbilt’s expansion and the ‘revitalization’ of the community.
However, one plot of land remained undeveloped. The council decided to turn the spot into a park, and Councilwoman Betty Nixon proposed the park be named after the land’s most ardent defender: Fannie Mae Dees. Unfortunately, Dees was no longer alive.
Fannie Mae Dees Park opened in 1978. Chilean-born artist Pedro Silva, well known for his community-created mosaic sculptures in New York City parks, was enlisted by Metro Parks to create a unique sculpture for Fannie Mae Dees Park that would help unite the community. While the community created the mosaics, Silva sculpted the 200-foot dragon from wire and cement. It was finished in the early 1980s and restored in 2016.
Dragon Park’s New Playground
Want to slide? Be prepared to climb. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
Dragon Park’s playground was closed earlier this year to make way for a new playground. It reopened about a month ago.
My family decided to try it out on a sweltering Sunday afternoon — probably not the best time of day to go. We parked at Harris-Hillman School and walked up the hill toward the dragon. My daughter raced ahead as soon as she spied the playground and was already climbing by the time we adults made it there.
First, let’s talk about the positives.
- The new playground is a kid climber’s paradise with lots of rope obstacle courses to climb that lead to play structures and a tall slide.
- A separate toddler play area has two play structures, a small slide, and a merry-go-round.
- The artificial grass makes it accessible for kids and adults who use mobility devices.
- There are two accessible swings, an accessible merry-go-round, and additional interactive elements on the ground level for kids in wheelchairs.
- They kept the many picnic tables in the shade, so parents can watch their kids without sweating too much.
- Many favorites remain: the picnic shelter is perfect for birthday parties (there seems to be a party every time we go), the dragon remains a highlight, and the climbing hill and lookout behind the dragon are still great places for imaginative play.
But not everything was great.
- The old playground had a ramp to the main play structure, but the new playground does not. There is a ramp for the toddler’s main structure, but unfortunately, that’s it.
- No more seesaw.
- The bathrooms are still pretty gross.
- The parking continues to suck at busy times.
Overall, while there are some great additions to the playground, I wish every play structure had been accessible, especially considering it’s right by Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Will we go back? Absolutely. I will always be delighted by that dragon.
