33 replies to this topic

[soverbey]

Which city has a better riverfront for activities, concerts, etc. More public space in the CBD along the river.

[Rural King]

I would say either Memphis or Nashville, not sure who a I would rank better.

[qwertycc]

Memphis, with Chattanooga a close second.

[flith]

soverbey, on May 16 2006, 10:19 AM, said:

Which city has a better riverfront for activities, concerts, etc. More public space in the CBD along the river.

Chattanooga has a 10 day festival, Riverbend on the river front.  I think it draws 25k on the closing night, and a total attendance of 400k for the entire festival.  Those figures are old though.  I haven't kept up with it.  I not familiar with Nashville or Memphis' riverfronts.

[Bears]

I've never been to Chattanooga's riverfront but I hear its nice. Memphis' RDC is getting advice from them. Does Chattanooga have something similar to Mud Island?

[brownhound]

Chattanooga has a phenomenal downtown waterfront.  Nashville's is, I'm sad to say, a real dump--there's trash along the banks of Cumberland between downtown and the CBD; landscaping is no where to be found; the world's largest downtown scrap heap lies nearby; and the homeless have overtaken its shores for makeshift homes.  Sadly, I don't see anything changing in the near future; sure, there's Shelby and Gatway bridges and the new Sounds ballpark, but this area is just wretched!

[HABANERO7]

Having been at the waterfront of all 4 of Tennessee’s Major Cities in the last 2 years IMO Chattanooga and Memphis have the most going on at the waters edge with Chattanooga possibly in the lead with the completion of the 21st century waterfront project and the Renaissance Park coming soon. Knoxville and Nashville both are using their waterfronts but not at the level of Chattanooga and Memphis…

My rank:
1. Chattanooga
2. Memphis
3. Nashville
4. Knoxville
(Clarksville also has a very nice waterfront)

Concerning the Downtown Chattanooga Riverbend Festival:

“Festival attendance speaks of Riverbend's success, with capacity crowds in excess of 650,000. Many individual evenings see over 80,000 people attend the festival.

Now celebrating its 26th year, Riverbend has grown to become Chattanooga's most beloved event, and it ranks in the top 10% of festivals in the country. Riverbend recently won two national awards from the International Festivals and Events Association.”

http://www.riverbendfestival.com/

Riverbend happens from June 9 - June 17, 2006
This year’s nightly headliners will be:

Friday night: Hank Williams Jr.
Saturday night: Jagged Edge and Angie Stone
Sunday night: Kenny Rogers
Monday night: Bessie Smith Strut Night (Nothing on the main stage)
Tuesday night: FFH and Audio Adrenaline (Christian Night)
Wednesday night: Los Lonely Boys
Thursday night: Sugarland
Friday night: Trisha Yearwood
Saturday night: The Allman Brothers Band

[fieldmarshaldj]

brownhound, on May 16 2006, 01:51 PM, said:

Nashville's is, I'm sad to say, a real dump--there's trash along the banks of Cumberland between downtown and the CBD; landscaping is no where to be found; the world's largest downtown scrap heap lies nearby; and the homeless have overtaken its shores for makeshift homes.  Sadly, I don't see anything changing in the near future; sure, there's Shelby and Gatway bridges and the new Sounds ballpark, but this area is just wretched!

I wouldn't be that harsh in my assessment. Nashville's riverfront fronting downtown is not what it was when I was a kid 25 years ago when it consisted of a huge hulking empty garage at the foot of Broadway rising right out of the river and a hideous, steep dirt embankment next to it. You had to board the old, smaller riverboats from that garage after walking down a nasty short driveway that led from 1st, and it was about as dreadful a place to land as it was during the Civil War. The area of today's Riverfront Park between the Shelby Street and Woodland Street bridges is far more scenic and pleasant today, DOES have landscaping reaching up to 1st, and is only expected to get better with development. Nashville's riverfront in 2006 is not 1981 anymore.

I would agree, though, that as you get further away from downtown, many areas look as forlorn and depressing as they did 25 years ago, and hopefully will see future efforts to develop them and make them more desirable places to visit and live.

[qwertycc]

As far as events go, don't forget that the majority of Memphis in May happens on the river at Tom Lee Park.

Memphis in May

And Mud Island River Park, Ampitheater, and Museum is a nice addition, as are Jefferson Davis Park and Riverside Drive/Riverfront Trolley.  The Beale St. Landing project should be on its way and will modernize the riverfront.

[Justiceham]

Ranking:

1.Chattanooga
2. Memphis
3.Knoxville
4.Clarksville
5.Nashville

Chattanooga has done an outstanding job with their riverfront. Memphis's riverfront is a very close second and is the most urban. In my opinion, cleanliness counts and although Clarksville is smaller than Nashville, their riverfront is clean and utilized. Until that dump gets cleaned up in front of Nashville's downtown my ranking stands.

[ricky_the_great]

Chattanooga  is first for me, I believe though Memphis might be catching up in the next few years with overal attractiveness of its riverfront. Beale street Landing, new high rises, new developments on mud island,the pyramid redevelopment and the  various old liberty land rides being moved to Mud Island

[DruidCity]

Count my vote for Chattanooga's, as well: the aquarium, the art museum on the cliff, the huge pedestrian bridge, the 20-mile riverwalk, the scenic mountain views ...

[flith]

soverbey, on May 16 2006, 10:19 AM, said:

Which city has a better riverfront for activities, concerts, etc. More public space in the CBD along the river.

Why not add a poll to this subject?

[Rural King]

Gee Weez I forgot about Chattanooga's, I suppose not having been there in over 10 years does that.

I would rank them probably:

Memphis/Chattanooga (Memphis- the MS is an awesome sight so that gives it a leg up in my book, plus not bad for activities I hear; Chat - Really nice riverside development from the pics I've seen makes its riverfront physically the most impressive and inviting IMO)

Nashville (Lots of potential, pretty nice when events are going on)

Clarksville (beautiful views)

Knoxville

[sleepy]

Rural King, on May 17 2006, 12:52 PM, said:

Gee Weez I forgot about Chattanooga's, I suppose not having been there in over 10 years does that.

I would rank them probably:

Memphis/Chattanooga (Memphis- the MS is an awesome sight so that gives it a leg up in my book, plus not bad for activities I hear; Chat - Really nice riverside development from the pics I've seen makes its riverfront physically the most impressive and inviting IMO)

Nashville (Lots of potential, pretty nice when events are going on)

Clarksville (beautiful views)

Knoxville

Given the physical layout, in Memphis it's a little bit difficult to develop the riverfront with new developments since downtown is pretty well-lined with old buildings right on the edge of the bluff for about a mile up and down the river, many/most of which have been rehabbed into residential.  Below the bluff, there are no buildings, just parks and Riverside Drive--which is a lovely tree-lined avenue.

But it's not a situation where you can have buildings right on the river's edge.  And it's hard to get that intimate feel with the River since it's just so big.

I will say that the Bluff Walk is something special.

Also, one of the greatest views of the Mississippi River is going north on Riverside Drive from the I-55 exit.  The River looks like an ocean.

Edit:  Should say that I don't know enough about Chattanooga's to comment.  But I've only heard good things.

Edited by sleepy, 17 May 2006 - 12:32 PM.

[Hankster]

Chattanooga's waterfront is clearly the best in Tennessee.  No city in Tennessee has developed their waterfront like Chattanooga has.  After Chattanooga, I'd have to say Memphis, then Knoxville, then Nashville.  I believe Nashville will improve their waterfront dramtically in the next 5 years starting with the Sounds project and the the Rolling Mill Hill project.  Check out this link on the Chattanooga 21st Century Waterfront project.  This is how to do it!

Chattanooga's 21st Century Waterfront Project

[Clobber]

Hankster, on May 17 2006, 09:17 PM, said:

Chattanooga's waterfront is clearly the best in Tennessee.  No city in Tennessee has developed their waterfront like Chattanooga has.  After Chattanooga, I'd have to say Memphis, then Knoxville, then Nashville.  I believe Nashville will improve their waterfront dramtically in the next 5 years starting with the Sounds project and the the Rolling Mill Hill project.  Check out this link on the Chattanooga 21st Century Waterfront project.  This is how to do it!

Chattanooga's 21st Century Waterfront Project

Clearly?  That might be a stretch.  But it's very, very impressive.

[Justiceham]

Clearly.

Edited by Justiceham, 18 May 2006 - 10:57 PM.

[flith]

Chattanoog's Riverfront is so nice two events from Georgia have been moved to it.  The Head of the 'Hooch Regatta moved to it last year (from the Chattahoochie in Roswell/Atlanta), and Tour de Georgia has a phase that ends there also.

[Clobber]

Justiceham, on May 18 2006, 11:56 PM, said:

Clearly.

[edit:  I was going to be a jerk.  But I'll just say these are all opinions.  I still remain impressed with Chattanooga's developments.  Looking forward to the future with all of Tennessee's riverfronts].