NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Metro Council approved more than $1 million to improve safety along downtown Nashville’s riverfront as part of the Capital Spending Plan.
Councilmember Jacob Kupin told News 2 the move came in response to safety concerns downtown.
“Our goal is to be the safest city in the country,” Kupin said. “We want people to say, ‘We’re coming to Nashville because it is so, so safe.’ And it’s already safe, but we want to take that to the next level.”
“One death is one too many,” Kupin said. “If there’s anything I can do to prevent something from happening in the future, I’m going to do it.”
The move to make downtown Nashville safer was sparked, in part, by the death of Riley Strain earlier this year. Months later, another woman also fell into the river and was missing for hours.
“Seeing a young man have maybe a little bit too much to drink and end up falling and dying — that was really close to my heart,” Kupin added.
The funding will be put towards infrastructure like lighting and fencing along the riverfront, and Kupin told News 2 he has been in conversations with other Metro agencies about what that infrastructure could look like.
“I want people to access the river. I want them to see the river,” Kupin said. “I’ve talked to Parks about cutting back the brush so that you can see it better and put[ting] up decorative fencing so it looks better.”
A more detailed plan about infrastructure improvements is expected by spring 2025.
