A grand opening event is in the works for the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway. This is phase one of The Trust for Public Land’s project, which includes a bridge stretching 190 feet across the South Chickamauga Creek and connecting new sections of the Tennessee Riverwalk.
Construction on the project began in May of last year and is scheduled to be completed by spring.
The Trust for Public Land will host a three-day event to celebrate the completion of the project.
The festivities will kick off Thursday, April 7, with educational programs. Students from Hamilton County’s public and private schools as well as the home school community will be invited for guided educational tours of the area, where they will learn about the environment, wildlife and history of the region. A ticketed outdoor cocktail reception is scheduled for later that evening and will feature a nationally recognized guest speaker who will discuss the details of the project.
The following day, Trust for Public Land staff will visit neighboring businesses with information about the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway.
The three-day event will culminate with a day of family fun on Saturday, April 9. The afternoon will begin with the South Chick Sunriser 5K race, a standup paddleboard race, a bike parade put on by Art120 followed by live bluegrass music, a community art project, outdoor yoga classes, canoe and kayak rentals, food trucks, children’s activities and more.
Rick Wood, Tennessee director for the Trust for Public Land said, “The progress made on the Riverwalk with the addition of the new greenway connector is a huge asset to the community. Not only does it expand the outdoor experience, but also gives people access to more parks within walking distance. We share the community’s excitement in officially opening the bridge in April and look forward to the festivities.”
More information about the South Chickamauga Greenway Project and the grand opening festivities can be found at www.tpl.org/southchick.