"Nashville following Memphis's Example" - TN's largest cities focus on creation of parks and green spaces downtown along their waterfronts
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| site of former Thermal Transfer Plant, Nashville |
The Commercial Appeal article was a jolt - but it sure felt good for Memphis to be singled out as progressive and pointed to as the state
leader. Sometimes in Memphis we forget that we already have an almost
connected system of parks and greenways along our waterfront, something other
cities are in the process of creating.
For most of their histories, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Nashville turned their riverfronts entirely over to commerce, industry or highways that left the water largely inaccessible to the public. Nashville took its first steps toward altering that in the early 1980s, when it opened Riverfront Park, terraced down to the Cumberland River from the foot of Broadway. Now that 6-acre Riverfront Park on the west bank (downtown side) is being extended to include the former Thermal Transfer Plant, a trash-burning generator of steam and electricity torn down in the 1990s. The site, now surrounded by a chain-link fence, will be transformed into a 3.5-acre amphitheater bowl with seating for 6,500, a large green space, more greenways, and a promenade.
On the east bank, there will be a new 5-acre park between the Cumberland and LP Field that will include green space, pedestrian and bike paths and a new landing for paddlers and boaters. It will connect with the recently finished Cumberland Park play area to the south, which is also the current start of the Cumberland greenway.
The east and west banks of the Cumberland River are connected by the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said the $35 million to $40 million in projects, which includes an amphitheater, “will make the river truly the center of our city and an already thriving downtown even more compelling than it already is."
Operations and maintenance of the waterfront parks and greenways will be handled by the Metro Parks and Recreation Department.
For most of their histories, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Nashville turned their riverfronts entirely over to commerce, industry or highways that left the water largely inaccessible to the public. Nashville took its first steps toward altering that in the early 1980s, when it opened Riverfront Park, terraced down to the Cumberland River from the foot of Broadway. Now that 6-acre Riverfront Park on the west bank (downtown side) is being extended to include the former Thermal Transfer Plant, a trash-burning generator of steam and electricity torn down in the 1990s. The site, now surrounded by a chain-link fence, will be transformed into a 3.5-acre amphitheater bowl with seating for 6,500, a large green space, more greenways, and a promenade.
On the east bank, there will be a new 5-acre park between the Cumberland and LP Field that will include green space, pedestrian and bike paths and a new landing for paddlers and boaters. It will connect with the recently finished Cumberland Park play area to the south, which is also the current start of the Cumberland greenway.
The east and west banks of the Cumberland River are connected by the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said the $35 million to $40 million in projects, which includes an amphitheater, “will make the river truly the center of our city and an already thriving downtown even more compelling than it already is."
Operations and maintenance of the waterfront parks and greenways will be handled by the Metro Parks and Recreation Department.
Nashville, following Memphis' example, plans large additions to its riverfront parks Tennessee's largest cities focus on their rivers
By Richard Locker
Monday, September 2, 2013
NASHVILLE — Nashville Mayor Karl Dean unveiled plans last week for the creation of new parks and green space on both sides of the Cumberland River downtown, with construction starting this fall.
The mayor said the $35 million to $40 million in projects, including an amphitheater, “will make the river truly the center of our city and an already thriving downtown even more compelling than it already is.”
The Nashville plans are the latest in the re-making of downtown riverfronts in Tennessee’s largest cities — projects that, like San Antonio’s Riverwalk, transformed the urban waterfronts into natural attractions for locals and visitors alike. The projects have opened the rivers and their banks to playgrounds, concerts, picnicking, boating, strolling, relaxing and other recreation.
Memphis led the way, nearly 200 years ago, when its founders laid out the new town and set aside ample land on the Mississippi River bluff for a public promenade and parks. The city added Mud Island’s museum, amphitheater and scale-model of the Mississippi River in about 1980, followed by Harbor Town. Beale Street Landing is in the works.
For most of their histories, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Nashville turned their riverfronts entirely over to commerce, industry or highways that left the water largely inaccessible to the public. Nashville took its first steps toward altering that when it opened Riverfront Park, terraced down to the Cumberland River from the foot of Broadway, in the early 1980s.
Chattanooga’s redevelopment of both the north and south banks of the Tennessee River, starting with the Tennessee Aquarium in 1989, has been perhaps the most successful and spectacular. The project spurred a downtown resurgence, including an arts district and a new ballpark for the minor league baseball team.
The conversion of the old Walnut Street Bridge into a pedestrian-only structure led to creation of Coolidge Park on the opposite side of the river, where visitors can dip their toes and kayak in the water, cool off in elaborate fountains, bask in the sun, picnic and ride an iconic carousel.
Although Knoxville has perhaps the most scenic river, after the Mississippi — because the Tennessee River there is also the broad and placid Fort Loudon Lake — its redevelopment has been more modest because of busy five-lane Neyland Drive winding along the river’s edge through most of downtown. But the city has opened attractive greenways along the river and the modest Volunteer Landing.
Now Nashville is pushing to catch up with Memphis and Chattanooga. The plans Dean unveiled extend the 6-acre Riverfront Park on the west bank (downtown side) of the Cumberland south to the 12-acre site of the former Thermal Transfer Plant, a trash-burning generator of steam and electricity torn down in the 1990s. The site is now surrounded by a chain-link fence but will be transformed into a 3.5-acre amphitheater bowl with seating for 6,500, a large green space, more greenways and a promenade.
“The thermal site is the last great vestige of open space in downtown Nashville. I can’t think of a better use for such beautiful green space that all Nashvillians will be proud of and enjoy,” the mayor said.
On the east bank, Dean announced plans for a new 5-acre park between the Cumberland and LP Field that will include green space, pedestrian and bike paths and a new landing for paddlers and boaters. The new park will connect with the recently finished Cumberland Park play area to the south, also the current start of the long Cumberland greenway. Both sides are connected by the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge.
Construction of the new park on the east bank starts this fall. Much of the west bank projects will be completed by 2015, the mayor said.
“By making our riverfront a destination, it creates energy and excitement in the city,” he said.
The mayor said the $35 million to $40 million in projects, including an amphitheater, “will make the river truly the center of our city and an already thriving downtown even more compelling than it already is.”
The Nashville plans are the latest in the re-making of downtown riverfronts in Tennessee’s largest cities — projects that, like San Antonio’s Riverwalk, transformed the urban waterfronts into natural attractions for locals and visitors alike. The projects have opened the rivers and their banks to playgrounds, concerts, picnicking, boating, strolling, relaxing and other recreation.
Memphis led the way, nearly 200 years ago, when its founders laid out the new town and set aside ample land on the Mississippi River bluff for a public promenade and parks. The city added Mud Island’s museum, amphitheater and scale-model of the Mississippi River in about 1980, followed by Harbor Town. Beale Street Landing is in the works.
For most of their histories, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Nashville turned their riverfronts entirely over to commerce, industry or highways that left the water largely inaccessible to the public. Nashville took its first steps toward altering that when it opened Riverfront Park, terraced down to the Cumberland River from the foot of Broadway, in the early 1980s.
Chattanooga’s redevelopment of both the north and south banks of the Tennessee River, starting with the Tennessee Aquarium in 1989, has been perhaps the most successful and spectacular. The project spurred a downtown resurgence, including an arts district and a new ballpark for the minor league baseball team.
The conversion of the old Walnut Street Bridge into a pedestrian-only structure led to creation of Coolidge Park on the opposite side of the river, where visitors can dip their toes and kayak in the water, cool off in elaborate fountains, bask in the sun, picnic and ride an iconic carousel.
Although Knoxville has perhaps the most scenic river, after the Mississippi — because the Tennessee River there is also the broad and placid Fort Loudon Lake — its redevelopment has been more modest because of busy five-lane Neyland Drive winding along the river’s edge through most of downtown. But the city has opened attractive greenways along the river and the modest Volunteer Landing.
Now Nashville is pushing to catch up with Memphis and Chattanooga. The plans Dean unveiled extend the 6-acre Riverfront Park on the west bank (downtown side) of the Cumberland south to the 12-acre site of the former Thermal Transfer Plant, a trash-burning generator of steam and electricity torn down in the 1990s. The site is now surrounded by a chain-link fence but will be transformed into a 3.5-acre amphitheater bowl with seating for 6,500, a large green space, more greenways and a promenade.
“The thermal site is the last great vestige of open space in downtown Nashville. I can’t think of a better use for such beautiful green space that all Nashvillians will be proud of and enjoy,” the mayor said.
On the east bank, Dean announced plans for a new 5-acre park between the Cumberland and LP Field that will include green space, pedestrian and bike paths and a new landing for paddlers and boaters. The new park will connect with the recently finished Cumberland Park play area to the south, also the current start of the long Cumberland greenway. Both sides are connected by the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge.
Construction of the new park on the east bank starts this fall. Much of the west bank projects will be completed by 2015, the mayor said.
“By making our riverfront a destination, it creates energy and excitement in the city,” he said.
posted on 2/03/2014 | Permalink
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