The Proceeds
Ring The Bell is hosted by Bells Bend Conservation Corridor, whose mission is to promote and protect the rural character of the Bells Bend area.
Proceeds will be used to execute the above mission by providing funding for conservation easements and funding programs that promote farm education, environmental stewardship, and the importance of land preservation.
About Bells Bend
Bells Bend is unique because it is only six miles west of downtown Nashville as the crow flies (14 miles by road), yet it has retained its agricultural and rural character.
The Bells Bend region has a long human history dating back to 9000 BCE, with evidence of Indigenous settlements identified through archaeological discoveries. For millennia, this landscape has been shaped by the Cumberland River, rich ecosystems, and working lands that have supported agriculture and rural livelihoods. Today, Bells Bend remains one of the last intact agricultural corridors in Davidson County, but it sits under sustained development pressure as Nashville’s urban core expands.
Bells Bend Conservation Corridor (BBCC) was catalyzed by neighbors organizing to protect this landscape from irreversible change. Early community advocacy successfully fought to prevent land in the corridor from becoming a dump - one of the first rallying efforts that brought residents together around a shared commitment to preserving green space and rural character. This organizing momentum continued as locals mobilized to resist development that would have transformed Bells Bend into “a second downtown,” fundamentally altering the corridor forever. Instead, BBCC’s work drew the attention and support of local leaders who recognized the importance of preserving open space in Davidson County. Metro Nashville’s investment in the contested area helped establish Bells Bend Park, a now beloved destination known for its extensive trails, biodiversity, and proximity to Nashville’s urban core. BBCC was officially incorporated in 2014, building on that initial advocacy and formalizing a long-term strategy to protect land, support farms, and ensure Bells Bend remains a public and ecological asset for the region.
2026 Board Members
President
Nathan Stone
Vice President
Tyler Skelton
Treasurer
Ellen Jacobson
Secretary
Katy Hansen
Brenda Butka
Sumter Camp
Karen Grubbs
Becca Ingle
Keith Loiseau
Barry Sulkin
Executive Director
Jenni Dickens
“We've gathered her bounty for centuries on end.
Her wildlife runs free in the fields that we tend.
Losing this land is like losing a friend
This is our home,
Beloved Bells Bend.”
— George West, longtime resident