Holding a large pair of scissors, Mayor Freddie O’Connell cut the ribbon on the River North Greenway, a 1,056-foot walkway that will allow those on the East Bank to walk alongside the Cumberland River.
The East Bank, previously consisting of older industrial plants and parking lots, is being redeveloped into a mixed-use neighborhood by the city government, meaning the area will prioritize residential living and physical businesses. This new walkway, located near a planned campus for tech company Oracle, is part of Nashville's larger plan to expand the East Bank’s public areas. The current goal is to create 118 acres of public parks and green space there, according to O’Connell.
"Our shared vision is for a place that shows respect for the river
and allows us to enjoy its beauty," O'Connell said. "We want public spaces that are welcoming for all, with safe connections that unite with surrounding neighborhoods."
The new greenway runs along the Landings at River North development home to Shake Shack, apartments and other businesses.
For Eric Ellis, a longtime East Bank resident, the new developments represent a positive change in Nashville's development.
“When I moved to Nashville 10 years ago, the only thing around here … was that old Neuhoff building with trees growing out of the top of it,” Ellis said. “Living (here) … you sort of feel like you’re living in the future of what’s getting ready to happen to Nashville."
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: See Nashville's new East Bank walkway alongside Cumberland River
