Clarksville is weaving together a comprehensive network of greenways that promises to transform how residents move through, experience and connect with their community. Through a strategic partnership between the Aspire Clarksville Foundation and the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Health Foundation, the region is advancing multiple trail projects that prioritize pedestrian connectivity, outdoor recreation and public health.
Foundation built on health and wellness
The greenway development initiative represents more than infrastructure, it’s an investment in community wellbeing. The Health Foundation’s funding has enabled Aspire to acquire key land parcels and initiate trail construction across the city and county, creating accessible outdoor spaces that encourage physical activity and provide safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists.
The recently completed Crossland Trail extension, which connects Valleybrook Park to neighborhoods south of Crossland Avenue, has already documented triple the pedestrian activity since its October 2024 opening. Eco-counter technology installed along the trail recorded 1,315 users in just over a month.
Strategic connections taking shape
The city is advancing five separate greenway projects with Health Foundation support, each designed to address specific connectivity gaps:
The Crossland Extension completed its one-third mile stretch ahead of schedule, providing crucial pedestrian access between Valleybrook Park and Liberty Park. The project included not just the paved trail but also furnishings, signage and monitoring technology to track community usage patterns.
The Taylor Section along Kraft Street will extend the existing greenway toward the former Vulcan plant site. Notably, this section will feature interpretive signage developed with the Taylor family, whose history is intertwined with the Red River’s industrial past.
The Madison Street to Ashland City Road corridor represents an ambitious 1-mile connection currently in the design phase. Aspire’s recent land acquisition completed the necessary parcels for this leg, with topographic and schematic design work progressing toward completion by year’s end.
Greenways are more than recreation
These greenways deliver benefits that extend beyond exercise opportunities. They provide safe pedestrian routes in areas where sidewalk infrastructure may be limited, connect residential neighborhoods to parks and community resources, and create spaces for social interaction and community gathering.
The integration of monitoring technology offers valuable data on usage patterns, helping planners understand how residents utilize these facilities and justify future investments.
Building momentum for greenways
As completed sections open and generate enthusiasm, they create momentum for additional development. The visible success of projects like Crossland Trail demonstrates tangible value to residents and policymakers alike, potentially easing the path for future funding and land acquisition.
The partnership model between Aspire and the Health Foundation has proven effective in advancing projects that might otherwise languish due to competing municipal priorities. By handling land acquisition and initial development costs, the foundations enable the city and county to focus resources on construction and long-term maintenance.
With multiple projects in various stages of completion, Clarksville is steadily building a greenway network that will serve generations to come: creating healthier, more connected communities where residents can walk, bike and experience the outdoors without leaving their neighborhoods.