NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Mayor Karl Dean and the Nashville Sounds today announced a parking plan for fans attending games during the 2015 season at First Tennessee Park, the city's new minor-league ballpark located in Sulphur Dell north of downtown.

"We want our fans to have the most enjoyable experience possible at First Tennessee Park during this inaugural season, and we know that starts with a parking and transportation plan that ensures trips to the ballpark will be as smooth as possible," Mayor Dean said. "Our project team has worked closely with the Sounds, Nashville Downtown Partnership, Metro Police, Public Works and the Metro Transit Authority on this plan, and I want to thank all involved."

The parking and transportation plan was presented to the Nashville Sports Authority earlier today.

Fans are strongly encouraged to park at the Metro Courthouse Garage at 101 James Robertson Parkway at the Historic Metro Courthouse as their first option and take a free shuttle to First Tennessee Park. Game-day parking in the Metro Courthouse Garage will be $5, the same amount fans paid to park at Greer Stadium.

There are 800 game-day parking spots available at the underground Metro Courthouse Garage. The free shuttles are operated by the Nashville Downtown Partnership and will run approximately every 10 minutes from the courthouse to a drop-off area at First Tennessee Park at Fifth Avenue North and Harrison Street. To pick up the shuttle, fans should take the garage elevator or stairs to Public Square Park and walk to the horseshoe driveway at the garage entrance. Information is at www.parkitdowntown.com/sounds.

Shuttle service will begin 90 minutes before the start of each game and will cease approximately half an hour after the end of each game. The entrance gates to First Tennessee Park will open 90 minutes before the start of the game.

There will be no ballpark parking in the immediate vicinity of First Tennessee Park during the 2015 season. A parking garage for 1,000 vehicles adjacent to First Tennessee Park is under construction by the State of Tennessee and will be available for game-day parking during the 2016 season.

"Our goal is to ensure that our fans have a top-notch experience related to Sounds games during our inaugural season at First Tennessee Park, which begins with parking and entry to the ballpark," said Sounds owner Frank Ward. "We're thankful to the many entities who have collaborated with us to put this plan in action, and we will continue to communicate with our fans and supporters in the weeks leading up to our April 17 Opening Day."

The ballpark project team will host a community meeting on Monday, March 16 at 5 p.m. at the Sonny West Conference Center in the Howard Office Building, 700 Second Avenue South, about the parking and transportation plan.

The parking and transportation map will be available at www.nashvillesounds.com/parking.

Additional parking and transportation options include the following:

Some employee parking lots owned by the State of Tennessee will be available to fans on game days for free. These lots include approximately 1,900 spots and are located on the west side of James Robertson Parkway and near the Nashville Farmers' Market. On weekdays, these lots will be available after 5 p.m. Vehicles should not be left overnight.

Paid parking will be available in private lots around First Tennessee Park. Information regarding these lots may be found at www.parkitdowntown.com/sounds.

The Music City Circuit, a free downtown circulator operated by the Metro Transit Authority, will drop off fans at the Fifth Avenue North and Harrison Street drop-off area at the ballpark. Downtown and Gulch-area residents and workers who ride the Blue and Green Circuits will find this option convenient. These buses run approximately every 15 minutes, and buses will run until approximately one hour after the game ends. In addition to current Monday through Saturday service, the Music City Circuit will also run on Sundays throughout the spring and summer to accommodate Sunday games.

Fans can ride a city bus to the Music City Central transit station and either walk or ride the Music City Circuit to the ballpark. Information about bus routes is at www.nashvillemta.org.

Nashville BCycle is the city's bike-share program. Fans can hop on a BCycle located around the city and pedal to the BCycle station at First Tennessee Park. More information at www.nashville.bcycle.com.

ADA parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis at the corner of Fifth Avenue North and Harrison Street for persons with state issued license plate, placard or decal.

Fans should parks in these designated areas. Metro Police will station officers throughout the ballpark vicinity to provide general traffic assistance and control for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Ticket information for First Tennessee Park and information about parking for Sounds suite and season ticket holders for the 2015 season is at www.nashvillesounds.com.