NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Mayor Freddie O'Connell has pledged resources that would make downtown Nashville's riverfront area safer.
The allocation in the capital spending plan comes after a 22-year-old tourist, Riley Strain, drowned in the Cumberland River earlier this year. Strain's body was discovered in the Cumberland River during a two weeklong search.
Months later, a New Jersey woman survived falling into the river in the same area.
"There's an ongoing assessment of overall safety," Mayor O'Connell said during a July press conference.
Over the last several months, O'Connell has spoken about what's being done to make downtown Nashville's riverfront safer. Through his proposed capital spending plan, $1.5 million of the half billion-dollar initiative could go toward just that. A spokesperson for the mayor's office said that money would be used for safety along the river and its bank. Those initiatives include fencing and other safety enhancements.
Metro councilmember Jacob Kupin told News 2 that, following Strain's death, there have been more focus on safety enhancements near the Cumberland River.
"I think that there's more and more appetite for the river engagement," Kupin added. "I've had some people worried that we're restricting access to the riverfront and that is not the case. These are taller cliffsides — that people should not be accessing the river from — that we're trying to protect and make beautiful and make a great walkway."
In addition to waterfront security, another $250,000 could also go toward a dock for emergency boat access. These are all possible changes that Kupin hoped would create a safer experience as downtown Nashville grows.
"We know that the East Bank is going to be a draw for people and it's going to bring people to our town," Kupin said. "...I think this investment speaks to the future of our riverfront."
The capital spending plan will now go before Metro Council for consideration and final approval.