I was born in Clarksville but have resided in Murfreesboro since 1995 with a 15 year residency in Nashville in between. I was very recently back in Clarksville for a visit and discovered a new portion of the Riverwalk Greenway. The portion I discovered is called the Upland Trail. Having experienced both the Greenway systems of Clarksville and Murfreesboro leads me to make some personal comparisons.
The Clarksville Riverwalk has won International Acclaim and is the more publicized of the two. However, it is nice trying to compare two Greenway systems which are vastly different.
Currently, Murfreesboro's system is much longer and seems to be much more a nature oriented trail than Clarksville's system. The Murfreesboro system meanders through the woods along the Stones River and Lyttle Creek and is almost entirely underneath forrest growth. There are some beautiful natural panaramas to be found along that trail. Personally, I think Murfreesboro's system is much more beautiful than Clarksville's.
Clarksville's system has a much more urban feel. Despite being the shorter of the two (to date), it seems much more expense has gone into its construction which features an elaborate pedestrian bridge across Riverside Drive as well as an ampitheatre, museum, period lighting with sound system and other features. I love the way an old railroad tressel was converted into a pedestrian bridge across Commerce Street downtown and the view of downtown from this vista will provide photographers some nice opportunitys for urban landscapes (the new bank being built on the Public Square is quite an imposing figure from the railroad tressel pedestrian bridge!).
Clarksville's Riverwalk supports night time use since it is lighted whereas Murfreesboro's system is closed at Sundown. However, Murfreeboros system allows bicyclists and leashed pets which are both off limits to Clarksville's system.
Murfreesboro's system features the nature which was already present whereas Clarksville's system is largely landscaped.
So, for anyone who has experenced both of these systems; Which do you prefer? Personally, I prefer Murfreesboro's system strictly for the beautiful nature vistas such as the portion along Lyttle Creek. However, Clarksville's system is still in the throes of being born and the scope of the overall project is quite large and will eventually (possibly) include a marina and restoration of Fort Defience.
