The MetroCenter Levee Greenway in Nashville, TN is a flood-control levee that runs for three miles along the Cumberland River. Near the large MetroCenter business district, a jogging/biking trail running the length of the levee gets lots of use at lunchtime. In 1999, the Army Corps of Engineers determined that the levee would have to be raised to meet new flood-control standards. The Nashville Greenway commission worked with the Corps of Engineers on improvements to the trail, which will become part of a large greenway system stretching across the city.

As lead artist on the design team, I designed functional elements for the trail inspired by the flow of the Cumberland River, and the wildlife found in and around it.

A floodwall on the top of the levee has been turned into a sculptural object, undulating and punctuated by holes offering views of the Cumberland River. The holes provide framed views of the river, and the top curves create comfortable niches to sit and have lunch.

Panels set into star railings leading up the side of the levee show local river fish swimming through swirls of bubbles.

The shade tunnel encloses a 150-foot section of the trail, creating a shady area while also hiding a water-pumping station.

Fences at three rest areas along the trail highlight fish in the Cumberland River. Aluminum cutouts of various fish species, including bass, paddlefish, gars, and catfish, are sandwiched between the perforated fence panels. A slight offset between the panels causes a moire pattern to move in watery waves as the viewer moves past them.

Paving patterns at the rest areas form ripples created from different textures of concrete. Shape, shadow, and texture were used in place of color on the trail, to allow colors of the river and trees to stand out.