MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Construction has officially started on the Town Creek project, a new initiative aimed at creating a trail system in Rutherford County that will enhance the entrance to Murfreesboro’s downtown area.
The project is divided into two distinct phases. The first phase focuses on utility improvements and the reopening of the Town Creek channel, alongside necessary repairs to Front Street and Hickerson Drive. The second phase will develop walking and biking trails connecting key locations such as the Discovery Center and Murfree Springs to Cannonsburgh Village and the Greenway Trail System.
Local leaders say the trail system will offer residents and visitors a safe and scenic alternative for pedestrian travel between downtown Murfreesboro and the Historic Bottoms Corridor.
Ryan Maloney, an engineer involved in the project, emphasized the goal of restoring Town Creek to a natural, inviting state. “The creek channel’s going to be a work of art at the end of the day to get it to where we want it to be for the community,” Maloney told News 2.
Officials also highlighted the environmental benefits of “daylighting” the creek — a process that returns the stream to its natural condition, improving ecological health and community aesthetics.
Murfreesboro leaders are hopeful that once the Town Creek project is complete, it will serve as a catalyst for redevelopment in the Historic Bottoms area, breathing new life into this historic section of the city.