Trails

Clarksville has a system of urban trails that someday may all be connected. In the meantime, progress is being made on various sections.

• Clarksville Greenway: Last year, a new pedestrian bridge was installed for the Greenway that will eventually connect the 3.5-mile walking trail at the end of Pollard Road to a 1.2-mile extension to Heritage Park.

The 600-foot bridge was designed to mimic a train trestle, keeping with the Rails to Trails theme of converting old railroad beds into walking paths. It closed indefinitely this summer for repairs to the surrounding slopes.

• Upland Trail: The Upland Trail in downtown Clarksville is another prime example of the Rails to Trails motif.

The 1.7-mile walking trail that winds along Spring Street behind the Riverview Inn connects the Riverwalk and McGregor Park to an overlook bridge at Valleybrook Park, 213 Crossland Ave.

The overlook bridge and a bridge over Commerce Street are old railroad trestles.

Between the two bridges will be the Spurline Trail, envisioned as more of a small park than a walking trail. Located just above Commerce Street and west of Montgomery County Jail, the site will become what developers call a "pocket park." It will feature sitting areas, an overlook of downtown and a connection to the Upland Trail.

Another pedestrian bridge, which was installed in 2000, connects the Upland Trail to the Riverwalk by spanning busy Riverside Drive.

• Riverwalk: The Riverwalk runs along the east bank of the Cumberland River from the pedestrian bridge through McGregor Park to the pavilion and playground.

Last year, the city opened an extension that takes the Riverwalk north to the Red River. The extension consists of a 12-foot wide sidewalk, park benches, picnic tables, lighting and landscaping.

Further expansion is planned in that direction with a pedestrian bridge over the Red River that would connect to a mile-long trail leading to Fort Defiance, the site of an historical Civil War-era fort.

To the south, plans are to extend the Riverwalk to Liberty Park, which is under construction at the northwest corner of Riverside Drive and Highway 48/13.

An 80-foot pedestrian bridge has been installed at the marina site to connect the Riverwalk with a 2.6-mile walkway around the marina and adjoining park.

Future plans

Planners hope to connect all the trails into a greenway system that will stretch from Heritage Park at Peachers Mill Road and 101st Airborne Division Parkway to the marina.

The system might also be expanded to Fort Campbell and farther east.

In the future, abandoned railbeds extending south to Cheatham County could be converted to walking trails and connect with the Clarksville Greenway.