The Wolf River has always been an integral part of the city of Memphis, and now Memphians have a greater opportunity to take advantage of the beautiful trails. The Wolf River Conservancy has decided to construct a paved pathway known as the Wolf River Greenway, extending from Downtown, in Mud Island, all the way to the extremities of Shelby County out in Collierville. This initiative was started as a way to encourage people to enjoy and learn from the nature that is so prevalent in Memphis.

“Everybody on a bicycle takes away one car from traffic,” chemistry teacher and avid cyclist, Mr. Tony Brooks said.

Often times, the Shelby Farms Greenway is confused with the Wolf River Greenway. The primary difference is that the Greenline follows an old rail bed, whereas the Greenway follows the waterway, encompassing a variety of ecosystems along the trail. The project itself started back in 2010 and will continue to be built in phases until 2020. Rather than being opened at once, the Greenway is being opened in sections that people can access easily.

The Greenway features top-of-the-line materials when it comes to bike repair and trail maintenance. One of the unique aspects of the Greenway is that it is almost entirely privately funded; all of the money has been raised through fundraisers brought by the Wolf River Conservancy.

Students are excited to use the Greenway and all it has to offer.

“Personally, I find this exploration incredibly relaxing and fun, which is one of the reasons I am excited about the greenway. Developments like this encourage people to explore the outdoors and our city,” Sukanya Barman(11) said.