NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro Council is pushing a resolution at Tuesday's council meeting that calls on city departments to address safety upgrades along the Cumberland River in Downtown Nashville.
The resolution comes more than a week after the body of missing college student Riley Strain was found in the river and days after another man suffered injuries after falling.
The resolution states that Metro is undergoing a master development on the East Bank, which will draw more people to and on the river and increase pedestrian and boat traffic along the riverfront.
The goal is to have multiple departments work together to put forth a report that that looks at the security shortfalls, cleanliness, the possibility of more security cameras where there are currently blind spots in that area and more.
On the day Strain's body was found, Mayor Freddie O'Connell said changes needed to be made.
"I've walked this stretch for decades and I can certainly imagine there being barriers that made it harder to get from the sidewalk into the areas of growth that are there right there along the riverbank," said Mayor Freddie O'Connell.
The council says the river is a centerpiece of the Metro area, especially in the Downtown core, and safety and cleanliness should be of top priority. The resolution is being voted on Tuesday.
This is a story I immediately went home and showed my boys - young athletes with big dreams. The Vanderbilt football team's success has stolen the spotlight - what I love about Steve Layman's story is he reveals the individual hardships it took to get there. As Clark Lea says, "we all have scuff marks." This team proves perseverance pays off!
- Carrie Sharp
