Project Overview
R.C. Mathews Contractor partnered with the Civic Design Center and several local organizations to bring a new permanent parklet to Kingdom Café & Grill on Nashville’s historic Jefferson Street. Created through the Civic Design Center’s Annual Parklet Design Competition, the project transformed six existing parking spaces into a new outdoor gathering space designed for dining, live music, community activities, and neighborhood events.
The winning design, “Take a Beat,” was created by CSDG and Anecdote Architectural Experiences and inspired by Jefferson Street’s rich musical history. R.C. Mathews donated construction support, labor, and materials to help bring the design to life, with additional support from WASCO.
As the project evolved, the scope expanded beyond constructing the parklet over the existing asphalt. More than 900 square feet of asphalt and concrete were removed to make way for the permanent parklet and nearly 800 square feet of native landscaping and trees. R.C. Mathews coordinated the pavement removal and completed construction of the parklet in just over two weeks.
The finished parklet provides a new place for the North Nashville community to gather and enjoy Jefferson Street. For R.C. Mathews, the project was a unique opportunity to put our construction expertise to work while giving back to the Nashville community we have called home for more than 85 years.
Photo Credit: Civic Design Center
