Nonprofit Wraps Up Nashville Greenway Audits Two Years After Alyssa Lokits Murder
Two years after the killing of Alyssa Lokits on a South Nashville trail, the nonprofit Free to Move is concluding its six-month series of safety and accessibility audits across the city’s greenway system, wsmv.com reported. Lokits, who held a Ph.D. in neuroscience, was attacked and killed by a stranger while running on the Mill Creek Greenway in Antioch on October 14, 2024.
Advocates and City Officials Respond to Trail Safety Concerns
Following the tragedy, Lokits’ sister-in-law Abby Lokits established Free to Move to advocate for outdoor safety and push for legislative change, including the proposed Alyssa Lokits Safety Act. Monique Cooper, the nonprofit’s communications director, emphasized that the organization chose to channel its grief into proactive community measures rather than withdrawal from public spaces. Dr.
We will never move on from this tragedy,
Cooper told wsmv.com. We are choosing to move forward in a really meaningful way, carrying Alyssa’s legacy.
When a tragedy happens like this, it’s easy to close your door and say, I’m never gonna go outside again; I’m never gonna go run outside again,
Cooper added. We choose to run boldly in the face of that fear.
Volunteers Assess Trail Infrastructure and Emergency Gaps
Over the past six months, volunteers participating in the Greenway Walk Audit Series have traversed various stretches of the Nashville Greenway system. They have documented trail conditions such as lighting, visibility, vegetation overgrowth, and signage. The nonprofit also offers free educational resources through its website.
Things that might seem negligible, but they can really affect emergency response time and also just safety for people using those outdoor spaces,
Cooper explained to wsmv.com.
While the final group walk is set for October 17 at 9 a.m. on the Browns Creek Greenway, volunteers can still complete self-guided audit walks and submit online surveys.
Final Report Delivery to Metro Parks and Metro Council
Free to Move plans to finish collecting all field data within weeks. The organization will then aggregate the findings into a comprehensive final report to present to Metro Parks and the Metro Council.
The nonprofit is actively seeking additional data from self-guided audits on several specific routes, including:
- Harpeth River
- Richland Creek
- Whites Creek
- Crooked Branch
- Browns Creek
Frequently Asked Questions About the Greenway Audits
What specific details are volunteers recording during the greenway walks?
Volunteers note trail features such as lighting quality, visibility, signage clarity, vegetation overgrowth, and overall accessibility for people with disabilities or strollers, as reported by wsmv.com.
How can residents participate if they cannot attend the final group walk?
Residents can perform self-guided audit walks on designated routes and complete an online survey at any time through the Free to Move website, according to wsmv.com.
Which legislative initiative is connected to these safety efforts?
Supporters and advocates are pushing for the Alyssa Lokits Safety Act alongside local trail improvements.
Reporting and Historical Context
Reflecting on the importance of persistence in crisis, Rhori Johnston noted, Nobody ever said this isn’t possible.
This sentiment contrasts with the gravity of September 11, 2001, a day most associate with terror and tragedy, but one where a Nashville phone call helped save a baby’s life.
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