By Zachary Harmuth
Over the last two weekends of October volunteers came together to turn what was a dam on the Harpeth River into an access point for canoes, inner-tubes or kayaks.
The Harpeth River Watershed Association along with the City of Franklin and TN Scenic Rivers Associate organized the project.
Last year the city removed a small steel-and-concrete dam on the Harpeth River that was built 50 years ago that the city water-grid no longer needed to utilize. So engineers for the city tore it down and removed the pieces.
Removing the dam also improved the environmental quality and increased the natural habitats of the more than 50 species of fish in the river.
But what was left behind when the dam was gone, which is along Lewisburg Pike near the Eastern Flank of Battle Park, was a gash.
So a river access point made the most sense, and fit into part of a larger HRWA project called Harpeth River Blueways, which plans to make sure there is at least one public access point to the Harpeth every 5 miles, said Dorene Bolze, HRWA executive director.
Bolze and her staff worked side by side with volunteers to build the timber stairs and other improvements to ensure access and safety for anyone trying to enjoy the river from the new point.
It might be too cold now this year to try out the new spot, but spring will be here before you know it.
