CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- More than 25 years ago when community leaders proposed a linear park to reconnect Chattanoogans to the river, they didn't realize all the benefits their project would have. The river that divides the city also brings together the city.Tennessee Riverpark serves as a great connector for people living here. They meet on the pathway as they do their daily walks or bike commutes to work. They train at the Chattanooga Rowing Center and socialize at picnic pavilions and waterfront restaurants. More than 600,000 people gather on the riverbanks during the nine-day Riverbend Festival in June.Tennessee Riverpark spreads across 150 acres on both sides of the river and has 13 miles of trails. It stretches about 10 miles from downtown to Chickamauga Dam. Maps show future trail extensions at Rivermont Park by Chickamauga Dam and, at the Ross's Landing terminus, on the north and south shores. Proposed greenways will link Tennessee Riverpark to most neighborhoods in Chattanooga in the years ahead.Tennessee Riverpark has had a huge impact on Chattanooga, says Ruth Thompson, events coordinator for Outdoor Chattanooga. "It is the single largest influence in Chattanooga to put more people on bicycles. It proves that if you give people a place to ride bikes, they will get on bikes. It's very simple," she says."The Riverpark was built with transportation funds. It was designed to be a transportation corridor for commuters," Thompson says.For a long portion, the Riverpark parallels congested Amnicola Highway. Now, instead of sitting in rush-hour, bumper-to-bumper traffic, some people drive part of the way, park their cars and bicycle the final stretch into downtown."That way they get a workout and save gas," she explains.This alternative is especially popular when the center city is jam-packed during Riverbend Festival or other events."You can ride your bike to town and don't have to worry about parking," says Andy B. Jones, a daily bike rider, who is known as the "Mayor of the Riverpark" because of his strong community involvement. He helps coordinate bike valet parking for major events.Tennessee Riverpark gets more usage now than ever because of a second important reason."Traffic has grown quite a bit with the increase in gas prices, not so much as an alternative route, more so the 'staycation' idea. Instead of going on vacation, they are staying in town and finding this to do. Cycling is very cheap once you get past the initial buy-in," says Ronald Driver, owner of River City Bicycles.Attractions, historic landmarks, bridges and city parks make this more than just a greenway. The Ross's Landing terminus in downtown Chattanooga features the Tennessee Aquarium, Southern Belle Riverboat, Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga Lookouts AT&T Field and a neon-lit dining/entertainment district. Just beyond classy condominiums and glitzy restaurants, markers recall chapters in Chattanooga's history -- American Indian settlement, river commerce begun by John Ross in 1816, industrial furnaces on the bluff and Civil War conflicts.From Ross's Landing, visitors continue to the Bluff View Art District and the Hunter Museum of American Art, or they can cross the Tennessee River on the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge to the North Shore and Coolidge Park. This fun and funky neighborhood and business district has its own personality, though only a half-mile separates it from downtown office towers. It's laid-back, friendly and eclectic.Coolidge Park, Chattanooga's most popular park, features an old-fashioned carousel, interactive fountains, climbing wall, picnic pavilions, promenade, hopscotch courts and open green space. The Chattanooga Theatre Center is adjacent to the park.Back on the other side, the Riverpark follows the curve of the Tennessee and extends to the Chattanooga Rowing Center and the Amnicola Marsh. Here, people realize that this urban park can be a wilderness experience, too."Wildlife is always present. I ride a lot at night, so I see rabbits, raccoons, coyotes and an occasional skunk. In the daytime there's wild turkey. I've seen snapping turtles on the trail in the marsh," says Jones. The Amnicola Marsh is a remnant of a prosperous plantation that was in the path of Gen. Sherman. The acreage is prime habitat for many species of waterfowl and other birds."It's neat that you get to ride through some suspended pathways. It gives you the illusion of riding through marshy areas. There are some nice open fields where you can hear wildlife all around you, and you feel removed from civilization. The path has some undulating terrain to it. You are up and down and there are some turns," says Driver.He rides the whole route frequently and pulls his 2-year-old son in a trailer behind his bike. "I stop along the way to give my son a chance to get out and stretch his legs and watch the boats go by. We can see big trucks going over the bridges and airplanes flying over."Along the route, people use the open spaces for flying kites, playing games, sunbathing and doing exercises. People sit on benches to read, listen to music and watch birds. Sculpture adds whimsy to the landscape.At Riverpoint, people have a scenic overlook where South Chickamauga Creek joins the Tennessee River. Vegetation muffles the traffic noise of Amnicola Highway and sounds from a nearby industrial park. Facilities at Fishing Park include a pier, boat launch, playground and picnic tables with grills. As people near Chattanooga State Technical Community College, they encounter dozens of students using the Riverpark to reach campus.The final segment features the massive Chickamauga Dam. It stands 129 feet tall and 5,800 feet wide. Dedicated in 1940, it was the fourth of TVA's projects on the Tennessee River. "When you ride up, even though it's not the pretty scenery because of concrete and electrical wires, it's still neat to see the dam and operations. It's monumental," says Driver.(Linda Lange is the travel editor for the Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee. Her blog, Explore, is at www.knoxnews.com/travel.)
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