Riverwalk impresses local leaders
By Gregg Mayer
Dispatch Staff Reporter

Editor's note: Dispatch staff writer Gregg Mayer accompanied local leaders who this weekend visited Chattanooga and Franklin, Tenn., seeking ideas to use in developing Columbus' riverfront area. Mayer's account of the Franklin portion of the visit will be in tomorrow's Dispatch.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Nov. 21) - After visiting an impressive $33 million stretch of white-washed sidewalks along the Tennessee River in this city, Columbus leaders discussed the possibilities of developing a master plan for a similar riverwalk along the Tennessee-Tombigbee.

Several Columbus leaders, including Mayor George Wade and Main Street Inc. president David Sanders, went to Tennessee this weekend seeking new ideas about developing park areas along the Tombigbee River and renovating and reusing the old river bridge at Riverside Park.

The Chattanooga Riverwalk, an in-progress development of 22 miles of 10-foot wide sidewalks along the Tennessee River stretching between Chickamauga Dam and Moccasin Bend is a continuous circuit of parks and trails passing through downtown, including going past the three-quarters of a mile Walnut Street Bridge, the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. Only about eight miles of the riverwalk has been completed thus far.

"There are a lot of similarities here between Chattanooga and us as far as the river and bridge are concerned," Sanders said. "We need to develop a master plan, something tangible, that shows what could happen with the Tombigbee River.

`"Riverside Park is a start."

Jim Bowen, vice president of River Valley Partners, a nonprofit organization geared to develop downtown Chattanooga, said the riverwalk project was started in 1982, mostly with private money.

"These type of things don't happen overnight," Bowen said. "It takes a lot of time and a lot of planning. We work hard and you're seeing the fruits of our labor."

The project's centerpiece, the Walnut Street Bridge, a $4.5 million restoration, serves as a link between the north and south shore developments in the city. At one time, the 1891 bridge was going to be torn down. Today, the city and county spend $2 million annually to maintain and secure the bridge.

Garnet Chapin, chief architect for the Walnut Street Bridge, said it's one of the most popular recreation spots in Chattanooga.

"Someone is on here almost 24 hours a day," Chapin said. "The way we really got it developed was selling the people on the idea of the bridge itself."

Underneath the blue Walnut Street Bridge is a small amphitheater Chapin designed using leftover wood from the project.

"This is one of my favorite spots," Chapin said. "You can use if for small productions, anything really."

On the north shore of the bridge, Coolidge Park is under development on the site formerly occupied by the Naval-Marine Reserve. The four-acre park will feature a working carousel and water fountains like the ones used in downtown Atlanta that spray water into the air on passersby. It's scheduled to open next October, Bowen said.

"I believe if you have a positive attitude, these type of things can happen," said George Irby, director of Columbus federal programs. "We have similar projects that can be done."

Like Riverside Park in Columbus, Bowen said about 90 percent of the riverwalk floods once or twice a year. The sidewalks and lighting in the park are designed to withstand the water.

"All it takes is a little cleaning off and you're ready to go again," Bowen said.

Along the riverwalk is the Bluff View sculpture garden, dotted with yellow ginkgo trees, featuring art such as the bronze mountain goat poised along the cliff near a runoff stream, or the statue of a father and son clinching one another. Most of the artwork is for sale, starting with price tags near $20,000.

" I would like to see more art in Columbus," Sanders said. "I'm not talking about big, just in small green places here and there."

The entire Riverpark in Chattanooga - which includes the bridge, sidewalks, recreation areas, and everything else - receives almost 80 percent of its funding privately. Other funds come from local, state and federal coffers.

The entire Chattanooga riverfront development, including the Tennessee Aquarium, a 3-D IMAX theatre, the Riverpark, and commercial properties totals over a $355 million investment.

"There is no way the government can do this on it's own," Bowen said. "But the government needs to help."

Mayor Wade said if something like this is going to happen in Columbus, then it will be the result of a similar venture, anchored by a master plan.
'The secret of the whole thing is a master plan," Wade said. "Keep everybody focused on the same thing. The community has really got to see it as something healthy.