A Vision for North America’s Next Great Trail

Throughout 650+ miles, the spirit of the Tennessee River will be experienced in a whole new way.

Students from our Schools of Landscape Architecture and Architecture are helping develop a long-term project that will provide a new way of experiencing, appreciating and understanding the Tennessee River and its 40,000-square-mile watershed that touches four states.

The Tennessee River Project, led by Brad Collett, goes beyond a studio assignment.

Following students’ trek along the Tennessee River in 2016 to build foundational research about the watershed and the precedent-setting Watershed Summits in January and September, students have since designed proposals that reimagine ¿ì»îÊÓƵ’s urbanized waterfront landscape and are developing a long-term project focused on the creation of a multi-modal trail running the length of the Tennessee River.

This is America’s next great trail.

The trail will be like no other.  It will engage the user on foot, canoe or kayak and bike, giving a full appreciation and experience to weekend warriors, outdoor enthusiasts and the occasional visitor.

Working with a team of partners including the National Park Service, Tennessee Valley Authority and Tennessee State Parks, faculty and students are developing ideas for this transformative project, a system of experiences that will stretch from ¿ì»îÊÓƵ to Paducah, Kentucky.

The 652-mile trail will

  • promote awareness of the river’s value, beauty and fragility
  • catalyze new investments in transportation, restoration and conservation and
  • reignite a spirit of regional collaboration across the valley.

Once completed, the trail will provide an unprecedented level of public access to the river and invite new tourism and economic development to the four-state region touched by the river.

How you can help

  • Join the Tennessee RiverLine Partnership
  • Volunteer to set up community meetings
  • Become an ambassador to inspire others
  • Volunteer to help build portions of the trail
  • Donate funds to the Tennessee RiverLine Partnership

paddle boards at the river Students selfie at the river A man stands in front of a full-wall map of the Tennessee River and surrounding areas talking to a group of students at a table in the foreground. bike and chairs along the river A group of students stands on the riverwalk in front of the river with the Nashville skyline in the background. Paddlers on the Tennessee River Looking across the river at downtown Nashville, TN, with a riverboat in the foreground. Students looking out at the river Cover of Tennessee RiverLine brochure shows student looking over the Tennessee River with fog walking along the river at sunset Tennessee River Project exhibit Snoopers Rock by Tennessee River Students stand around a large, open tank of juvenile fish listening to a man give a presentation.

Related Projects


Tennessee River Google Trek 

Tennessee river bridge

Tennessee River Project 

Aerial sunset photo near the Hiwassee and Tennessee Rivers A group of students stands at one of the locks along the river. The inside front cover of Hydro Lit.
Gallery

HydroLIT 

drone image of an East Tennessee riverfront hydro lit A bicycle and three red chars line a railing in front of the Tennessee River at sunset
Gallery
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