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Mayor Kincannon: Key Riverwalk Connection is 'Critically Important'

Imagine walking or bicycling a wide, continuous, tree-lined riverwalk along the entire 3-mile-long South Waterfront.

The City and its private redevelopment partners are almost halfway there in building the riverwalk.

And thanks to funding recommended by Mayor Indya Kincannon and approved by City Council on March 18, a design plan is being finalized that creatively overcomes one major barrier, right smack dab in the middle of the riverwalk pathway.

Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson Inc. will be continuing work on a design to construct a key connection between two existing sections of riverwalk. The new connection - to be in place within two years - detours greenway users past the elevated Norfolk Southern rail line, just west of the Henley Bridge.

A new riverwalk connector will link this section of greenway at 303 Flats with a separate section at Cityview, on the other side of the elevated rail line.

More importantly, the new connection will make possible a 0.8-mile seamless greenway that connects One Riverwalk, 303 Flats, Cityview and eventually the new 348-unit Livano Knoxville communities, as well as new development that will come further downriver once a planned pedestrian bridge is built.

"This riverwalk connection is critically important because it links the east and west sections - what's built now, and what sections will be coming in future years," Mayor Kincannon said.

"For the City to create a South Waterfront worthy of the Vision Plan - a continuous, public greenway right on the water, from stem to stern - it's absolutely crucial to build this connection."

Another interesting aspect about the design of the connector: It will make that section walkable, bikeable and ADA accessible.

Currently, there's a significant elevation change between the Henley Bridge and Cityview. Pedestrians now have to get off the riverwalk and traverse the steep hill on West Blount Avenue via a sidewalk that goes underneath a railroad trestle.

It's a tough hill to climb or descend on foot - and it's impossible for someone with mobility issues, or a bicyclist, to safely maneuver.

"The elevation change at this location makes it challenging to navigate with the current on-grade options along Blount Avenue," Urban Wilderness Coordinator Wes Soward said. "But the design creatively incorporates a switchback, which makes the slope more gradual and creates riverwalk accessibility for all users."

This photo, taken from Henley Bridge, shows the riverwalk elevation change at this spot.

This photo, taken from Henley Bridge, shows the riverwalk elevation change at this spot.

This photo, taken from the Henley Bridge, shows the riverwalk elevation change at this spot.

Vice Mayor Tommy Smith, who represents the 1st District on City Council, is excited about the "missing link" connector becoming a reality.

Miles of unbroken riverwalk, he says, is "impressive" - and it reflects a new way of thinking about the Tennessee River that's local and unique to Knoxville.

"This generation is looking at the river differently than past generations did," Smith said. "There's recreation. Beauty. Quality of life.

"The north side of the river already has a greenway, and the south side is moving to mirror that. There's harmony, with different ways to move back and forth across the river. These investments will allow for the next chapter to unfold."

Posted by evreeland On 01 April, 2025 at 8:46 AM