KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee RiverLine, spearheaded by the University of Tennessee has been awarded a $500,000 Area Development grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
This funding is meant to expand river access, parks, trails and other outdoor amenities along the 652-mile Tennessee River. Brad Collett, executive director of the Tennessee RiverLine, said the project should enhance quality of life, promote outdoor recreation and drive economic growth for both rural and urban communities.
“This grant gives us an opportunity to accelerate investments in outdoor recreation infrastructure—creating river access, campgrounds, parks, and trails—connecting communities to the river,” Collett said.
The initiative will focus on improving equitable access to the river, particularly in underserved and rural areas. Infrastructure will be designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring that people with disabilities and varying skill levels can enjoy the river’s resources.
“We’re designing amenities so that those with different abilities and skill levels can experience the river,” Collett said.
The RiverLine aims to transform communities’ relationship with the Tennessee River, which historically has been viewed as a resource for industry or waste management. Instead, the initiative seeks to reimagine it as a hub for recreation, tourism and local culture.
“Communities are looking to their waterways as their front door, not their back door,” Collett said.
The project is a collaboration between UT, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and a network of local partners. It began in 2016 and has engaged 56 cities and counties across four states. The newly funded 18-month development phase will provide planning and design standards to guide riverfront infrastructure, including trails, parks, campsites, and signage.
The project is set to be launched in March of 2025.
For more information about the Tennessee RiverLine, visit its website.