Nashville leaders push to make greenways safer
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A Tennessee lawmaker is urging Nashville police to ramp up their efforts to combat "safety problems besetting Nashville's greenways and parks" following the shooting death of a woman on the Mill Creek Greenway last week.
Why it matters: The high-profile homicide case horrified the city and spurred conversations about safety concerns that residents face in public spaces.
- Tennessee House Rep. Jason Powell said the tragedy is indicative of a widespread problem. In a Monday letter, he called on city leaders to take urgent action.
State of play: Alyssa Lokits, 34, was exercising on the Mill Creek Greenway at 5:30pm on Oct. 14 when witnesses said they heard her screaming for help.
- Police said a man started following behind her on the trail and then attacked and shot her. The department described the case as "an apparent stranger murder."
- Investigators quickly made an arrest after a tipster came forward with dashcam footage of the suspect. The suspect, whom police identified as Brentwood resident Paul S. Park, 29, remains in custody.
The big picture: The violence unfortunately resonated with other area runners.
- "A lot of women that we know have been attacked, myself included," Bailey Carter, the community marketing manager for Fleet Feet Nashville, told NewsChannel 5.
The latest: In his letter to Mayor Freddie O'Connell, the police chief and the parks director, Powell (D-Nashville) said Lokits' "senseless murder" was reflective of "an increasing number of criminal incidents on these beloved public spaces."
- Powell said he had personally witnessed "the aftermath of multiple car break-ins" at Mill Creek Greenway. He also said he saw two unleashed dogs attack a woman on the Seven Mile Creek Greenway.
- His letter outlined some improvements the city could pursue.
What he's saying: "I would think that, at a minimum, active patrolling by police bicycle teams on greenways, improved lighting and emergency call stations would be great first steps," Powell wrote.
- "My community needs us to step up now to ensure their safety as they enjoy all our great city has to offer."
What's next: In a statement after the shooting, Metro Parks said "we are constantly looking at ways to upgrade our security system."
- Parks spokesperson Jackie Jones tells Axios that "additional attention" will go toward mounted, bike and UTV patrols by police.
- Jones says that the department is building out a Parks Police unit focused on greenways and is "exploring costs" to install more lighting and cameras in the Mill Creek Greenway parking area.