In Brentwood, Tennessee, the past year was marked by a mingling of historical preservation and forward momentum as the community celebrated milestones and welcomed new leadership. The year 2025 saw Brentwood Police Department ushers in a fresh era with Jim Colvin hailed as the new Chief on February 24, detailed by the City of Brentwood's year in review. Not long after, Jason Gage settled into the role of City Manager in April, bringing his extensive experience from previous cities to Brentwood.
Change touched the Brentwood City Commission as well, with the addition of three new faces. As per the city's review, Nelson Andrews took on mayoral duties, with Commissioners Janet Donahue and Kim Smithson Gawrys inaugurated in the spring, followed by Stevan Pippin’s appointment in the summer. Historical events and local leadership transitions, however, were just part of the broader Brentwood narrative, as mentioned on the city's website.
The bicentennial of Ravenswood Mansion on May 18 was a cause for community gathering, with live entertainment and speeches—a nod to the families intertwined with the Mansion's storied past. In another act of honor towards heritage, the Brentwood Historic Commission unveiled the BrentVale Pavilion in June, constructed from the wood of the nearly two-century-old BrentVale cabin that had been dismantled for safety reasons.
Embracing modern needs, the City's IT and Community Relations departments revealed a revamped website in June for streamlined user interaction, specifically catering to quick and easy information access. This online refresh was paralleled by physical developments such as the safety and preservation plan for Old Smyrna Road, where residents endorsed a pedestrian trail transformation while adding a new road, as disclosed by the city's release.
October brought to light Brentwood's depth of community connection with the unearthing of a time capsule filled with momentos—a tangible link to the aspirations of residents from a quarter-century past. And as the year drew to a close, the opening of Windy Hill Park last Saturday offered new recreational opportunities, highlighting the land's aviation heritage with aptly themed play areas and murals.
