Fri
Feb 15 2008
12:13 pm
Pedaling Third Creek Greenway
By: Brian A.

A couple weeks ago I got my bike all muddy cycling the Third Creek Greenway at Tobler Lane, thanks to a huge mud hole that enveloped the path near the creek. Last week the mud mysteriously disappeared. Turns out a fellow greenway user took the initiative to clean off the trail. Hat tip to HandsomeRyan!

If you haven't been near the Cherokee Boulevard connector in a couple years, you might not recognize the place. Not only did the city restore the meandering nature of the creek, but they also cleaned out most of the undergrowth. It looks vastly different.

For the first time in a few months I rode all the way down to Neyland Drive. Along the way it occurred to me that Tyson Park sure looks a lot cleaner than it used to.

But the most dramatic visible change was along the creek as it passes through the UT campus. I'm not sure if it's because of the above-mentioned project or some other work, but the water actually resembles a creek now. It won't be winning a beauty award any time soon, but it's a far cry from the superfund site that existed a year ago. Perhaps my nose was numb from the nippy air, but I didn't even smell any hazardous waste.

Thumbs up for the improvements.

Topics:
gonzone's picture

Sounds good

Submitted by gonzone on Fri, 2008/02/15 - 4:43pm.

I have got to come down there and ride that trail one day soon.

It's pretty cool that someone took it upon themselves to clean up the muddy area. My kind of folks.

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
Hunter S. Thompson

Factchecker's picture

...the most dramatic

Submitted by Factchecker on Fri, 2008/02/15 - 1:37pm.

...the most dramatic visible change was along the creek as it passes through the UT campus.

Are you talking about the stretch between Tyson Park and Neyland Drive, near the Robertshaw site and under Joe Johnson Blvd.?

I agree it's vastly improved, but we wondered if it's just the low winter level which has been exaggerated by the drought. Time will tell, I guess.

Brian A.'s picture

Yes, I'm talking about this

Submitted by Brian A. on Fri, 2008/02/15 - 1:58pm.

Yes, I'm talking about this section.

I've not been down there much during the winter, so it's possible there's a seasonal dynamic to this.

What I do know is that before the place looked (and smelled)like a floating garbage dump, and now you can actually see water flowing.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

michael kaplan's picture

"they also cleaned out most

Submitted by michael kaplan on Fri, 2008/02/15 - 4:05pm.

"they also cleaned out most of the undergrowth"

including the bamboo grove. gone. ecologically, i don't know if that's a good or bad thing, but i do miss it visually.

smalc's picture

Last time I was there I

Submitted by smalc on Fri, 2008/02/15 - 4:24pm.

Last time I was there I noticed they didn't get all the bamboo and it's making a comeback.

Factchecker's picture

No doubt the water's the

Submitted by Factchecker on Fri, 2008/02/15 - 5:28pm.

No doubt the water's the clearest and cleanest looking I've ever seen it. Never considered it was due to the work on the stretch nearer Sutherland, but that would make me feel better about all the disruption.

mbradley's picture

I still get a bit uneasy

Submitted by mbradley on Sat, 2008/02/16 - 12:25am.

I still get a bit uneasy about my boys wading into the creek to fetch the stray rugby ball...

Tennessee v. North Carolina at 1:00 on Saturday. If you are riding through, take a break and catch some of the action.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

TN Progressive

TN Politics

Knox TN Today

Local TV News

News Sentinel

    State News

    Wire Reports

    Lost Medicaid Funding

    To date, the failure to expand Medicaid/TennCare has cost the State of Tennessee ? in lost federal funding. (Source)

    Search and Archives