Town receives $3 million from the state for Wolf River pedestrian bridge
Post Date:05/23/2022 2:56 PMThe Town of Collierville received news that the state of Tennessee would provide $3 million toward a greenbelt connector bridge spanning the Wolf River. State Representative Kevin Vaughan brought the project before the 112th General Assembly after hearing about the community’s desire for the greenbelt expansion.
Currently, there are 19 miles of Greenbelt trails providing scenic walkways, bike trails, and outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the Town of Collierville. These funds will aid in the construction of a pedestrian bridge that will give visitors access to over 3.5 miles of primitive trails on the north side of the Wolf River.
“I am proud to support the investment in our local parks and waterways,” said Representative Vaughan. “Collierville’s greenbelt system is enjoyed by all segments of our community. I’m really excited about being able to open up more areas around the Wolf River for enjoyment by the public. Improvements to the greenbelt system like this project really scored well in focus groups convened by the Collierville Chamber of Commerce. I really appreciate Mayor Stan Joyner and Town Administrator James Lewellen for being supportive of our efforts.”
Town leaders have discussed the possibility of installing a bridge over the Wolf River since the Corp of Engineers made improvements along the Wolf River in 2009.
“An abundance of outdoor recreation is one of the valuable assets the Town offers our community. We are grateful for Representative Vaughan supporting Collierville at the state level to secure this funding to improve our greenbelt system for residents and visitors to enjoy,” said Mayor Stan Joyner.
This pedestrian bridge will be one piece of the long-term plans mapped out in the Collierville Greenbelt System Master Plan. As of right now, the exact location of the bridge is to be determined. In addition to this bridge, the Town is currently working with design consultants about the available options and projected costs of making the trail connection from the river overlook at WC Johnson Park to the Germantown Wolf River Greenway.
“Our greenbelt system is designed to not only protect and preserve our natural areas, waterways, and wetlands but to offer our community residents the chance to interact with these natural areas. The proposed pedestrian bridge at WC Johnson Park will provide both recreational and educational opportunities for Collierville and surrounding areas. This project will be a tremendous asset to the Town of Collierville,” said Greg Clark, Director of Parks and Community Services.
