Mars and Nashville Yards Partner to Create Pet-Friendly Community in Downtown Nashville

Multi-Year Agreement Includes the Launch of the IAMS™ Bark Park, a Dedicated On-Site Dog Park Located Within Ascension Saint Thomas Landing

Only 40% of urban pet parents consider their neighborhoods pet-friendly, highlighting a clear gap in how cities are designed for pets and their families. 

A first-of-its-kind partnership for Mars, the multi-year collaboration with Nashville Yards will support a more pet-friendly, thoughtfully designed 19-acre urban space.

The partnership advances Mars BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program by shaping more pet-friendly urban environments.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (April 14, 2026) – Mars, Incorporated, a leading pet care company behind brands that pets and pet owners love, including IAMS™, PEDIGREE®, TEMPTATIONS™, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, BANFIELD™, and BLUEPEARL™ and more, has entered into a strategic partnership with Nashville Yards, a 19-acre mixed-use development that includes The Pinnacle music venue, located in the heart of downtown Nashville. Spearheaded by AEG Global Partnerships and Southwest Value Partners, Mars will serve as the official pet food partner of Nashville Yards, including naming rights to the on-site dog park, branded as the IAMS™ Bark Park.

The IAMS Bark Park will serve as a thoughtfully designed on-site dog park that creates space to connect pets, owners, and the broader community. The park will officially debut with a grand opening celebration on Sunday, April 19, alongside a spring farmers and artisan market on campus known as Nashville Yards in Bloom. The event will include a ceremonial ribbon cutting and remarks from leaders across Mars and Nashville Yards followed by a day of community programming – inviting guests to explore the new park, shop local vendors, and meet adoptable puppies from Wags & Walks Nashville. 

"Our partnership goes far beyond a traditional sponsorship – it's about fundamentally enhancing the quality of life for everyone who lives, works, and plays at Nashville Yards,” said Charles Robert Bone, Managing Director and Partner, Southeastern United States, Southwest Value Partners. “Mars brings deep expertise in creating pet-friendly environments, and we're thrilled to work with their team to further establish Nashville Yards as a model for a best-in-class mixed use development in the urban core.”

"From our earliest conversations with Mars, there was a clear alignment around elevating the pet and pet owner experience at Nashville Yards," said Scott Emery, vice president, AEG Global Partnerships. "With their expertise guiding execution, that commitment is now embedded throughout the entire campus in ways that meaningfully enhance everyday life for pets and their people."

A first-of-its-kind collaboration for Mars, this partnership establishes Nashville Yards as a blueprint for how cities can better accommodate pets and their owners in a multi-use space.

"As pet parenthood continues to rise, cities and developers have an opportunity to respond in more intentional ways," said Mindy Barry, Chief Marketing Officer, Mars Pet Nutrition North America. "Pets thrive when their environments are designed for movement, play, and connection. That’s why we’re advancing more pet-friendly communities—bringing this to life through the IAMS™ Bark Park, where active lifestyles and high-quality nutrition come together to support pets’ everyday health.”

What does this partnership mean for Nashville?

This partnership tackles a growing challenge for city-dwelling pet owners. As pet ownership rises, 11% of urban pet parents feel limited by where they can go with their dogs. With its North America Pet Nutrition headquarters based in nearby Franklin, Tennessee, Mars is deeply invested in solving this problem at home. From morning walks to after‑work drinks, Nashville Yards creates a welcoming, walkable environment where pets are part of the experience, not an afterthought.

The collaboration with Nashville Yards brings the Mars BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program to life by:

·       Integrating Pet-Inclusivity in Design: A pet-friendly campus that integrates pets into everyday routines, select office spaces, and environments designed for living and working with pets.

·       Enabling Movement and Play: Featuring 7+ acres of open space including 1.5 acres of urban parkland and the dedicated IAMS™ Bark Park— the development encourages active and healthy habits, play, and connection between pets and pet parents.

·       Creating Seamless Pet-Friendly Experiences: From dog-friendly hotels to outdoor dining, patios, and on-site food trucks, the development makes it easy to include pets in social moments—with seamless transitions from day to night.

How is Mars promoting pet-friendly cities?

This project is part of Mars global BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program, which was launched in 2017. The program helps cities and neighborhoods better support people and their pets through:

• Grants and Donations: Mars has contributed over $2 million in grants and pet food donations.
• Free Resources: The company has developed tools to help local planners improve shelters, parks, housing, and businesses for pets.
• Global Commitments: In 2025, Mars expanded the program globally to increase access to more green spaces and pet – friendly places, with a goal of benefiting 10 million people and pets worldwide by 2030.

What amenities will be available for pets and their owners at Nashville Yards?

As part of the collaboration, pet-friendly amenities will be integrated throughout the daily life of the district:

• Welcome Gifts: New residents will receive pet-focused welcome gifts.
• Hospitality: The pet-friendly Grand Hyatt Nashville and Union Station Nashville Yards hotels will feature tailored engagement for guests with pets.
• Community Programming: Ongoing initiatives and events will promote pet-friendly urban living.

To learn more about Nashville Yards, visit www.nashvilleyards.com or follow @NashvilleYards on Twitter and Instagram.