Chattanooga River Walk

The past week, I have been exploring the new River Walk, the completion of which was celebrated last weekend. In the rain. I waited for sunshine, and was rewarded with several consecutive days without rain or threat of same this week.

I know that many question the motivation and usefulness of the various greenway projects here in Chattanooga, and they make some good points. Faced with a disintegrating job base and stagnant economy, for us to build leafy walkways through miles of marsh and industrial development does seem distracted and unfocused.

The result, however, delights me in spite of the sober objections of the critics. At long last, it is possible to walk from downtown to Chickamauga Dam without dodging cars, with the benefit of enjoying a variety of wild flora and fauna. Mostly flat, the walk winds from wetlands into riverfront stretches and then threads its way between all sorts of industrial buildings. The mix is very illustrative of the Chattanooga area in total.

I approve. I look forward to many long walks, punctuated with the sight of herons and mallards lifting off from early morning riverfronts shrouded in mist. Turtles laying eggs in the muddy riverbank (I saw one this week) and wild life coexisting with the ravages of urban development. I like it.