What: Launch of a 648-mile, 37-day Tennessee River paddle
When: Saturday, April 30, 6:30 a.m.
Where: Suttree Landing Park Pavilion and Kayak Launch (1820 Foggy Bottom Street, Knoxville, TN 37920)
Who: Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area Programs Coordinator Terrence Johnson
Why: The adventure will bring awareness to the recreational and environmental aspects of the Tennessee River and highlight the opportunities being developed by the Tennessee RiverLine all along the river.
Media are invited. Terrence and other representatives of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area as well as representatives of the Tennessee RiverLine will be onsite to answer questions.
FLORENCE – On Saturday, April 30 Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area programs coordinator Terrence Johnson will begin a kayaker’s dream trip – paddling the length of the Tennessee River, completing a 652-mile journey. Little did Johnson know when he paddled the first four miles of the river last May during the Tennessee RiverLine’s official launch celebration, that he would be paddling the remaining 648 miles this year. Johnson will leave from Suttree Landing Park Pavilion and Kayak Launch in Knoxville at 6:30 am.
“As an outdoor and kayaking enthusiast, I’ll consider this the trip of a lifetime or perhaps the start of many more adventures!” Johnson said. “I hope my trip can help highlight some of what the river has to offer as a recreational and environmental resource for all. I also want to focus on the work people are doing along the river to make that happen.”
Johnson and the MSNHA are working with the Tennessee RiverLine, an initiative led by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Tennessee Valley Authority, as well as community partners across the region to develop a continuous system of paddling, hiking, and biking experiences along the Tennessee River from its origin in Knoxville, Tennessee, to its confluence with the Ohio River in Paducah, Kentucky. The initiative seeks to catalyze economic development, promote public health, improve equitable access to river spaces and experiences, and inspire resource stewardship.
The Shoals was one of the Tennessee RiverLine’s 2019 pilot communities, and a member of the Tennessee RiverTowns Program’s inaugural cohort in 2021.
“As a proponent of the Tennessee RiverLine, I’m excited to start this 37-day journey, during which I will be privileged to experience the riverscape’s natural beauty. And, perhaps even more importantly, I’m excited to meet people of Tennessee River communities who share the same passion for the river as me and interact with other Tennessee RiverTowns and paddlers along the way.”
Part of Johnson’s agenda includes highlighting the importance of river access to a diverse community of paddlers, including those traditionally underrepresented on the water. For the first 10 days of the paddle, Johnson will be joined by Fred Vail, an adventure paddler and supporter of organizations promoting adaptive paddling and recreational opportunities in the region, such as Team River Runner and SPARC Chattanooga
Johnson will post regular updates during his trip on MSNHA’s Facebook page, @muscleshoalsnha, and other social media using the hashtag #TJ652. The Tennessee RiverLine will also be sharing Johnson’s progress on its social media accounts, @tnriverline.
Media Release/Cathy Wood
MSNHA media coordinator
