Riverwalk Comes to Lookout Mountain

by Merrell McGinness

On August 12, the Riverwalk’s St. Elmo expansion officially opens. Organizers promise more than a ribbon cutting to commemorate this important milestone – it’ll be a two-day extravaganza.

(See schedule below)

The Blue Goose Landing addition provides an uninterrupted foot/bike path from Ross’ Landing to the foot of Lookout Mountain, where it connects with existing mountain trails. It begins at the Blue Goose Hollow Trailhead adjacent to the new Cameron Harbor Development downtown, and ends at Middle Street near Crust Pizza.



The extension highlights the rich industrial and cultural history of our area – there’s even a new app that will debut at the grand opening. The trail winds behind Alstom, PSC Metals and the abandoned US Pipe site. Highlights include an interpretive public art exhibit and amphitheater lawn, as well as passing underneath the largest crane on the Tennessee River at PSC Metals, which loads the largest hydroelectric turbines in the world onto barges for shipment.



The 3.5-mile addition cost more than $11 million and took nearly two years to build, with challenges such as an alignment shift, bank failures and long awaited approvals from railroads. The waiting will be worth it once the new section opens, which will connect our city like never before.



Currently most use the Riverwalk for recreation, but officials hope this new section will encourage a bike commuter route from St. Elmo to downtown. A connection from the Riverwalk to the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway has already opened, and construction of a connection to the Alton Park neighborhood was announced earlier this summer.



Friday, Aug. 12:

10 a.m.

Blues music entertainment, a tribute to the area where the famous blues singer, Bessie Smith, was born and raised



10:30 a.m.

Program begins, emceed by Claude Ramsey



11 a.m.

Ribbon Cutting



11:30 a.m.

Try out the new Riverwalk app narrating the unique history of the Riverwalk



5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Special event near the Riverwalk on the Springhill Suites patio and Waterside Lounge, including live music, happy hour drinks, a food truck, and special showings of the Chattanooga History Center’s 12-minute video narrated by Samuel Jackson



Saturday, Aug. 13:

BCBST sponsors a run/walk along the new Riverwalk addition early in the morning



9 a.m. – Noon

Street performers and musicians



Afternoon

Nearby restaurants and merchants offer specials throughout the afternoon



5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Entertainment, street performers, refreshments/food vendors, and a scavenger hunt.



Find a map of the Riverpark extension here