NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A safety report highlights Nashville’s plan to improve safety along the Cumberland River just over a year after the disappearance of Missouri University student Riley Strain.
Since Strain’s disappearance, there has been an emphasis by Metro Councilmembers and Nashville’s mayor to improve safety both downtown and along the riverfront.
“[The report] talks about security and lighting and fencing and riverfront safety and cleanliness,” Metro Councilmember Jacob Kupin, whose district covers both sides of the downtown riverfront, told News 2.
Strain, 22, accidentally fell into the Cumberland River in March 2024. He drowned after a night of drinking on Broadway with his fraternity brothers. The report added that between January and December 2024, the Nashville Fire Department responded to 47 water and ice-related rescue calls in the area.
“Riley really caught the hearts of the nation,” Kupin said. “He was someone that could have been anybody — downtown with some buddies in the evening, drinking [and] having a good time. The ending, obviously, was fatal.”
Kupin said Metro Council has already allocated $1.5 million toward riverfront safety improvements as part of the Capital Spending Plan. The report breaks down four primary focus areas — safety infrastructure, litter management, unhoused population support and security coverage — and provides policy recommendations to make the riverfront safer.
“Planning is underway for type of fencing and locations and cutting back vegetation — things like that,” Kupin said. “There’s additional trash cleanup and remediation that’s going on.”
However, the report highlighted the additional long-term work that needs to be done. The installation of a consistent, permanent barrier along the riverbank, the installation of advanced camera systems and the implementation of a comprehensive vegetation management plan to address yearly maintenance and prevent trees from falling onto the barriers.
“The recommendations presented in this report provide a roadmap for both immediate and long-term improvements, ensuring that the riverfront will be a safer, more accessible, and cleaner space for residents and visitors alike,” the report said.
As part of those longer-term efforts, the report highlighted partnerships between agencies like the Nashville Department of Transportation and Nashville Electric Service to install new LED streetlights and pedestrian lighting fixtures along the riverfront. As for camera system improvements, the report noted that any implementation of advanced video analytics for real-time security monitoring “may require Council approval and a public hearing.”
