A Tennessee RiverLine Initiative

Planning and Design Hub

The Tennessee RiverLine will connect residents across four states, thirty-two counties, and dozens of cities and towns through a 652-mile network of interconnected waterfront recreation experiences. The Tennessee RiverLine Planning & Design Standards will support this "River as Park" mission by offering cohesive and unified design guidance for that network, ensuring it is implemented in a way that is resilient, economically adaptable, and accessible to all.

The Planning and Design Hub is a portal intended for use by community members and stakeholders broadly to make suggestions, provide feedback, and learn more about the Planning and Design Standards development process.

Learn More about the Tennessee RiverLine Initiative ➞

The Vision

The Tennessee RiverLine Planning & Design Standards aim to outline a series of implementable, scalable, and adaptable site strategies and elements that support the programmatic mission of improving and promoting access along the full 652-mile reach of the Tennessee River.

Planning standards will be developed in a way that helps communities navigate considerations for site selection, ecologically resilient and diverse site design, permitting, execution, and long-term management and maintenance.

A sunrise from Snooper's Rock at the Tennessee River Gorge.

Project Goals

A ‘River Park’ for All

The Tennessee RiverLine will promote safe, universal access across a network of connected river experiences. The Planning and Design Standards will leverage best practices to foster connection to the river and its abundant resources, creating a safe, accessible “River as park” system.

An Engine for Economic Growth

The Planning and Design Standards will support local economic growth and investment, foster regional collaboration, and make the design and planning process accessible for users of all backgrounds. The Standards will respond and adapt to different economic capacities and support growth of the regional recreation economy and workforce.

An Enhanced & Protected River System

The Planning and Design Standards promote the protection, restoration, and enhancement of the River’s ecological health by balancing needs for access with the ecological wellbeing of the river system. The standards will address the unique considerations and needs of the region’s native, threatened, or endangered species and systems by promoting best practices, stewardship, and education.

An Asset for Future Generations

The Tennessee RiverLine is a generational project. The Planning and Design Standards will interpret and celebrate the rich cultural tapestry and sense of place and heritage of the Tennessee River Valley while providing a road map for the development of resilient recreational opportunities that stand the test of time.