When I vacationed in Nashville for a week with my family, we spent a lot of time in Riverfront Park. If you are unfamiliar with Riverfront Park, it is a linear park that parallels the Cumberland River and First Avenue in Downtown. It features the Light Meander sculpture, Ascend Amphitheatre, Cumberland River Greenway, Betty Brown Tree Trail and Arboretum, Fort Nashborough, and a first-rate Cumberland River view of the Nissan Stadium, Ghost Rider, and John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. In the vicinity of Broadway, I consider Riverfront Park a must see attraction. It takes very little effort to see it owing to the easternmost point of Broadway. When I was walking eastbound along Broadway, at the very end I saw Riverfront Park with the Ghost Rider. When we arrived at the end of Broadway, we spent time here sitting on the bench taking in the city. It was a scenic spot that was ideal for picture taking. Being into taking pictures there were two exceptional angles to capture. Looking to the east, I took pictures of the Cumberland River with Nissan Stadium, Ghost Rider, and The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. Looking to the west, I photographed Broadway from the easternmost point and across the Honkey Tonk Highway segment all the way up the hill. I took these photos in the day, at sundown,and nighttime. This was a scenic spot to hang out with my family. Because it is the easternmost point of Broadway, it is occupied with people. In the beginning of our vacation, soccer fans celebrated here. On Saturday night when Broadway was overly saturated with partygoers, this was a nice spot for us to take in the action and scenery being only footsteps away from the action. We also visited Riverfront Park to board the Gray Line Nashville Tour. We didn't spend much time there on that day on account of the humidity. On one morning when I was alone, I walked Riverfront Park from Korean Veteran's Boulevard to Commerce Street. Unfortunately both the Ascend Amphitheatre and Fort Nashborough were closed off. I did get to set my eyes on some attractive plants with description signs along the Betty Brown Tree Trail and Arboretum in addition to the Light Meander Sculpture with Demonbreun Street and surrounding towers. Being into hiking I was interested in seeing the Cumberland River Greenway. However, there seemed to be a lack of signage for the Cumberland River Greenway. I was left asking myself, " If I wanted to partake in a regional hike, where is the connection? When I proceeded north on the walking path around the open grass and towering Ligh Meander sculpture that overlooks the easternmost point of Demonbreun Street, the walking path dumped me onto the 1st Avenue sidewalk and under the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. On this segment, the railroad and vegetation block the view of the river. When I looked to the left under the bridge there were unhoused individuals lying down. Approaching Broadway, the walking path deviated from the 1st Avenue sidewalk and back to the linear park. I continued north on 1st Avenue past a closed off Fort Nashborough and onto Commerce Street. That was my walking adventure here. As far as safety, I felt that it is safe at the easternmost point of Broadway. In essence it is a spot where Broadway merges with the Cumberland River. There is safety in numbers. I also felt that the easternmost point of Demonbreun Street was also safe. I feel the safety goes down in the less populated spots during less busy times of the day. That includes by Fort Nashborough where I started to speedwalk because I felt uncomfortable being isolated in a big city. Another safety factor is the summertime heat, humidity, and rainstorms. A plus is that it is close to the airconditioned restaurants and honkey tonks along Broadway including Hard Rock Cafe and Acme. When it got to be too hot to spend time here, we walked a few blocks to the Assembly Food Hall. I give Riverfront Park in the vicinity of the easternmost point of Broadway: Four Stars. It is a prime Downtown Nashville scenic location that bridges the Honkey Tonk Highway to the Cumberland River. read more

Riverfront park was very clean and well maintained. There were many people running and walking. There are lots of green spaces for people to sit, exercise, or have a meal. It is very close to downtown and the walking bridge. Although it was very nice during the day I don't think it would provide the same setting going into the night hours due to the very high unhoused population of people. I also think they should have more shade options available read more

See all

Came to walk around on a weekday evening, not too many people, quite quiet and peaceful actually despite the location being very close to Broadway and loudness. Enjoyed the bridge as well, good views of the river! read more

Such a pretty park! This was our meeting location for our food tour with A Little Local Flavor. It was easy to find and a cool spot to sit and watch people and look at the river while we were waiting. There is a really cool pedestrian bridge that goes over the river as well. read more

See all

Pedestrian-friendly park along the Cumberland River, which offers terrific views of downtown and of the stadium, especially when you walk across the footbridge. read more

Riverfront Park - a view of a city from a bridge - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

As far as riverfront parks go, this one is quite meager, not very attractive or welcoming, but right at the end of the main drag and adjacent to the small visitors center. To me, welcoming would be lots of benches or other areas to sit besides ledges as well as cool art installations or a water feature or other visual elements, but there wasn't much in that regard. The park has potential but hasn't reached it. The city should spruce it up. Line with street vendors or something. I was unimpressed. read more

See all

A piece of Nashville history persevered from the bombing. I'm glad it's here for people to learn about the history of the area, it's shame it's not better maintained by the city. Allowing trash to build up, tree growth beyond the property, and individuals urinating beyond it has left the smell unbearable to walk by read more

Riverfront Park snakes along the back of 1st Ave and the Broadway tourist district. Portions of the land have been owned by Nashville since 1930, but it was officially named a park until 1980. It cost about $4.5 million, and opened to commemorate the Nashville Bicentennial. Today it has accumulated 18.70 acres. It has a dog park, a basketball court, a paved walking path, a canoe launch, and multiple historic features and commemorations. Most notably is the replica of Fort Nashboro, built in 1930 to commemorate the first Nashville settlers who settled this land. We started on the far end, near the Public Square, and walked up the Riverfront to Ascend Amphitheatre, passing statues, plaques, river views, and the beautiful outdoor theatre seating which was once for Dancin' the District and the New Years' Eve Show, but now is an open air concert venue throughout the year. I really like this park, and the city of Nashville has extended plans for it to renovate and expand it, and really make it a crown jewel of downtown. I'd be excited to see those plans be realized. We were down here while 1st and 2nd Avenues were still in the aftermath of the 2020 Christmas bombing, and it was eerily quiet. We walked and chatted about Timothy Demonbreun, the furtrappers that founded this city, and how the city of Nashville sprung from this centralized heart. It remains one of my favorite parks. read more

See all

Riverfront park is a nice park in Nashville Tennessee. I have visited it numerous times over the years of me going to this place and it's right in the heart of downtown. It offers many fun walking trails and different things to see definitely check it out when you're in the area read more

Not to be confused with Y-Front Park which is where I usually run around in my underwear. This beautiful rark in Nashville is right by the river. You never would have guessed that from the name right? It's absolutely gorgeous and spectacular with massive Bridges spanning the water and even a pedestrian bridge in the middle of it. You can see the huge imposing Stadium right across from the park, and it basically is situated in the area at the very end of Lower Broadway when you get down to the river. You will not find many parks with such beautiful urban and natural scenery combined. If it was a little bit more well-lit and safer at night I would give it a 5. read more

Riverfront Park - This park is just a front - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Nashville..i didn't know you had some sort of relief from the honky tonk and loud street of Broadway. It was a little area where you could probably snuggle with your sweetheart and be away from the hustle and bustle. Lighting could be better considering it's a park. You are able to talk to your friend or sweetheart without shouting. You can see the Stadium (for the Tennesse Titans) and you get to meet other strangers visiting. I wish it was earlier and we could have walked around more but the lack of lighting prohibits me and my Nashville cohort to wander far from the crowd. read more

A great spot for a short walk with the pups and it is close to the downtown. The river runs down and the barges will often run down the lazy Cumberland River. The views of the NIssan Stadium which is just across the river sits off in the distance. Once you complete the walk of the park you head to Broadway and enjoy the honkey tonks as well as eating options. read more

See all

I love love love this space as it can host some pretty fabulous events like Pride Fest and this weekend's Southern Ground Festival. How can you resist the backdrop of the bridge, waterfront, while being hugged by the downtown landscape? Ah, would love to host my own event here someday... soon. TIP: With a wealth of parking lots, garages, and street parking surrounding this area - parking is not an issue. read more

When you're ready to take a break from the hustle & bustle of Broadway, stroll down to 1st Avenue & check out Riverfront Park. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, I watched kayaks, bass boats, & a Pontoon Saloon cruise the Cumberland. & Everyone was zooming in on Nissan Stadium across the river, preparing for an NFL Exhibition game against the Bears the next day. I liked that the Park was laid out to allow seating on the steps & elevated grassy areas. Yes, I know it's "small" (5 acres) ~ but it's not like you can move 1st Street back, ya know? Now the Memphis Riverfront along the Mississippi River is a whole different story! I rode one of the Free Electric Buses parked here that made a loop to the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park via 4th & 5th Aves. Many attractions along this route or a couple of blocks off. A very helpful amenity. read more

See all

Riverfront Park is--surprise! Right on the river! Across from LP Field, it used to be the home of Dancin' in the District--back in 1999 and 2000, I remember that to be a really fun summer concert series, with national and local bands performing almost every weekend in the summer months. It drew huge crowds. After a few years though, it seemed to just attract a bunch of riff raff, and my crowd stopped going. Anyway, they stopped the music series a few years ago, but they do still have various concerts and events out there. It's a pretty cool place actually--the bands are generally on barges on the river that act as stages, and concert-goers sit on the grass which is "stadium style" seating. There are numerous concessions and drink vendors out there, so bring your cash. It ain't cheap! Think fair food... I always keep an ear to the Riverfront Park event calendar, just in case something good comes along--I would definitely go back, but just know it usually is open to all ages! Never know what kind of crowd you'll encounter. read more

Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Never been to a Titans game before so I've never been there it's really nice too bad it was too damn cold read more

See all

If you are overwhelmed by the rowdiness around the Broadway area, this can be a nice place to relax and breathe. It is overlooking the Cumberland River and 2 bridges: John Pedestrian bridge and Korean Memorial Veteran bridge. There is a big stair where people sit on the steps to enjoy the view. But honestly the view is not really that awesome but if you are walking on the bridge at night it will be much better. You can definitely see the whole 360 view of Nashville from the middle of the bridge. My friend and I walked on the John Pedestrian Bridge around the evening before we headed to dinner. It was so nice and tranquilizing. While we were walking on the bridge, we saw some kids skateboarding..seemed kinda risky to do that! You get to see a better view of the Korean Memorial Veteran bridge. The bridge lit up in red and white and it reflected beautifully in the water. You can also see its reflection on a tall glass building next to the bridge. Once we got tot the end of the bridge, we took the elevator to the street level. The elevator is wide and it changes color...so cool. We got out and my friend wanted to go to the bathroom. We found the bathroom next to the amphitheater ticket booth but it was already closed...bummer! So then we just headed to a local bar to use the bathroom instead. read more

See all

Downtown parks and green space is almost never a bad idea. So Riverfront park on the bank of the Cumberland river has a fair amount of potential. The one downside is that it's mostly concrete. There are giant stairs that you can sit on and look across the river which is pretty cool, but there's not much else going on here. I imagine it's great for a concert and I see other people's comments to this (how cool would a band on a barge be?). It's also interesting to get a healthy respect for Mother Nature here: if you wander by, check out the giant flood monitor at the end of the park. It's impressive how high the river can potentially go. read more

How cool is it to sit on a bank and watch people perform from a barge floating on the Cumberland? Pretty spankin' cool is the answer. I love watching various shows here throughout the year. My favorite, of course, is CMA Music Festival. It's got stadium seating on the grass, with tons of room for an outrageous amount of people. There really isn't a bad seat in the house. Remember to always wear sunscreen though, seeing as the sun will be beating right down on you. Parking down here is pretty bad too, be prepared to walk several blocks, if not more. read more

This is a nice little venue. The view is quite nice, with the river and LP Field being behind the floating stage. I saw My Morning Jacket perform here and enjoyed it thoroughly. While a nice little venue, and recommended by me, I have two complaints. The first problem that I have is parking. While not impossible on a normal night, forget parking anywhere near there on a night that the Titans are at LP Field. All parking near the venue becomes around $20 and street parking is full up to 6 blocks away. That said, if you get there early and plan accordingly, you can find a reasonable and cheap place to park. My second complaint is the tiered levels. While I love the concept, I dislike the execution. There inclines between the tiers are too steep to comfortably get down, but not steep enough for people not to try to sit on them. I saw SO many people falling all over each other trying to get up or down one of those inclines. And then there are the people sliding down while trying to sit on them. I would like to see a few isles of stairs built into the hill. Despite those minor problems, it is a fun little venue. You can see the General Jackson do a turnabout there and get a good feel for Nashville from that spot. Worth a look. read more

I've been to Riverfront Park a few times, and I have to say that I have mixed feelings about this place. When there's no festival or event going on, I don't see much other than green spaces and the occassional homeless folk walking around or sleeping. However, I do love the fact that there are festivals near the water! It's the spot for the 4th of July celebration, the Music City BBQ Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, among other events. You have a great view of the cityscape, as well as a nice view of LP Field, and of course the weird red rollercoaster art structure. Still unsure what that is. The park itself is really well maintained, and very green. Although, in general, I'd call this "steps"...not a park, really. It's a great spot to pass by on a long run, or to have a little picnic by the water. Other than that, I really can't see myself frequenting a place like this. read more

We passed along through here and it was oookaaayyy. The park just seems kind of dingy and gray, and not much of a view. There's a lot of renovating and construction going on right here, so it was just meh. I'm glad I didn't have high expectations and was just passing through, or else I'd be pretty disappointed! read more

We were in town for a weekend and thought this would be one of the places we should see since Nashville is also a river town. Meh...I've seen better. The Cumberland River itself is not very wide. That LP field is just so hard to miss. It is really not a pretty sight unless you are a Titans fan. The park itself is not big. There is not much open grassy area. We saw a group of squatters or drifters congregating under one of the few shaded areas in the park. The riverbank was unkempt and growing wild with tall weeds. If you are on Broadway, I guess you should make a short stop around the corner to see the park. But there is no need to make a special trip to the riverfront. read more

Riverfront Park is right on Broadway St. It overlooks the river. This is a nice place to relax, read a book or get some sun. There are these big concrete stairs that you can sit on. If you decide to walk down the stairs there are a few more benches for you to sit and enjoy the view. However, the park is not very big it is a little on the small side and there is not much grass. It's mostly concrete. It is not an ideal location for a picnic or to play a sport. If you are searching for a cab in Nashville this seems to be the central location where you can find a cab. Also, you can rent bikes within this central area as well. read more

Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

There's not much to say about this park. It slopes downhill and has some seats, it's cool to be at when there's an event, but it's not something you would want to go see on its own. When there are events, it's a neat space. It lacks any bathroom facilities though so you're at the mercy of whatever company is providing port-a-johns this time and however badly they underestimate or overestimate the needs (ie if there is an event where you pay 1 price and get all the beer you can drink, bring an adult diaper or a bucket) It's a lawn, I sat on it when I was a broke kid and watched the water roll by, listened to the random noises and never really had any problems late at night other than I slipped on the dew. The one sad thing about the place is how often it floods - if an event is held there, chances are it might be underwater and cancelled if there's been mass rain upstream. read more

Riverfront park is where everyone went to view the 2007 fireworks display. Everyone just grabbed a spot on the stadium style seating along the banks of the humble Cumberland river, and waited for the explosions. The fireworks display was pretty good, and it makes for great people watching, because all walks of life came out to celebrate. The riverfront park is also where I saw Cake perform a show. They had the band and the stage on a raft actually on the water. The park itself has several tiers that act as seating. It is right at the End of Broadway, so when they have an event in the park, there is always a very big crowd because people can just wander by and see what's going on. We need more events down here! read more

I was at Riverfront Park this past weekend for the annual Dragon Boat Races. The event itself was a whole lot of fun, minus the fact that it was 100 degrees outside and our team didn't win the race. Other than events, I'm not really sure what the park would be used for. I'm all for green spaces in downtown areas, but the set up of this park is rather strange. It seems like if there is no event going on it turns into a homeless hangout. Otherwise the park is really clean and well maintained, and you have a great view of LP Field across the Cumberland. read more

On its own, it's not very much to look at. I can see its value if there is some outdoor shindig going on. To be honest, it reminds me of a similar setup I had at my high school -- but this is about 3 times bigger. We did keep in mind how much this area flooded recently and I was amazed at how much the water must have risen to overflow into downtown. I don't know if they're part of the park, but my husband and I did enjoy looking at the random historical buildings nearby of what life during log cabin times must've been like in Nashville. read more

I decided to come down here for a quick short walk before work after it rained a whole heck of a lot. The water had risen up the steps and then you realize, yeah this isn't that high compared to the flood of 2010. It's nice to have this relatively quiet space downtown, which can easily be used for events also. Good work Nashville. Outdoor green spaces for the win! read more

Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

Eh I've never been too impressed with this location, especially as a venue for live music. In theory it sounds amazing: an outdoor open-aired venue on a riverbank in the heart of downtown Nashville? You would think - hell yea! But in reality its not that great. Yes its facing the river, but behind it is one of the busiest nighttime thoroughfares in the city. This means it is an incredibly loud and congested place to be ESPECIALLY on the weekends. Be prepared to walk long distances and pay high prices to park your car for an event at Riverfront. Whatever show you're watching is either going to be way too loud, or is underwhelming compared to the street noises. The one cool thing is that the stage is usually built on the water which I love. Ticket prices for shows here can be pretty expensive. I go here rarely, only when somebody I really REALLY like plays, which is not very often. I also would never describe it as being a 'park'. There's more concrete here than grass and really offers nothing to do but sit. Oh and during the day it is a veritable hot spot for bums and the homeless. read more

This is a really cool part of the downtown Nashville area. I first went there for the 4th of July celebration w/ Darius Rucker performing. It was so cool to be outside enjoying the view of the river while listening to good live music. I love watching the barges, boats, etc trail through the river. The other day I witnessed a speedboat pulling a skier. read more

I went here last night for Americanarama (a concert featuring Wilco and Bob Dylan among others). My husband and I are too old (and I'm too short) to stand body to body with a lot of people with BO, so we opted for the only seated area, on a hill at the back of the venue. It was a pretty terrible experience. The biggest problem was WE COULDN'T HEAR THE MUSIC. The stage was probably a third of a mile away and the speakers were not powerful enough to get the music back there. They also had an ice cream stand with a huge, loud generator right at the base of the hill of the seated area, which further drowned out the music. And we couldn't see a thing. It might as well have been ants performing. Add to this that they don't allow you to bring chairs or coolers or umbrellas (confiscated at the gate) and it made for a pretty cruddy experience. I won't be back. read more

As Robin mentioned in her review, Riverfront used to be home to the Dancin' in the District concert series, which is when I spent the most time there. It's a really neat area with a good view of LP Field and most of the city, and they still occasionally stage some pretty good concerts. Riverfront has lots of all-ages events, and because it's walking distance from some of the hottest tourist spots in town, it's a good spot to start out if you're doing some summer hanging with a big crew. Last year, Red Bull's flugtag event was held at Riverfront, and while it was extremely crowded, it was a pretty neat event. Hopefully they'll hold more in the future. The vendors at Riverfront during events are varied and offer a huge selection of tasty food (from barbecue to Chinese and more). They tend to be pretty pricey, however. The July 4th fireworks display is also held at Riverfront, and while it's visible throughout most of the city, the closer to the park you can get the better. Again, it's typically crowded, but it kind of always is. read more

They should seriously considering changing the name of Riverfront Park to Riverfront Venue. Or something. There's really nothing park-ish about walking down 1st Avenue on the backside of Wildhorse Saloon and Hard Rock Cafe. You really couldn't play fetch with the dog, unless you want him plunging into the Cumberland after a ball, and besides sitting and waiting for the General Jackson to come by or visiting Fort Nashborough, you might as well count this park out. When it comes time for Nashville to throw a big party, this is the place to be. The city hosts it's annual 4th of July fireworks show here, where you can learn the answer to just how many people can you squeeze into Riverfront Park on a single night? The answer is hoards. Did I mention Ghost Ballet? It's a public art piece that went up just last summer. It's more fun if you google it for yourself. read more

Riverfront Park during an open air concert is as good as it gets for downtown Nashville entertainment! We were there on 7/4/2008: tons of people and all enjoying a big show. Great park. read more

Great location. Very kid friendly with sandcastle making areas, rock wall, slides, etc. Great night views of the city as well.

Eh. It looks nice, but in a front-lawn sort of way, and serves not much of a greater purpose. Officially it serves either as a gathering place for Nashville to either hang out at or a music venue. Neither works very well. When nothing is going on, the area is fairly deserted besides hoboes and an occasional tourist. Otherwise it is simply a teeming mass of humanity. The problem is that it is at the very end of Broadway and the stage faces towards the bars, which means that 1. tourists and bar hoppers come out, see something going on and add to the crowd, and 2. the performer gets a great view of the city. Everyone else sees the river....and the stadium across the river. Someone needs to design this city for better aesthetics. read more

Riverfront Park is at the very end of Broadway on the river, of course. It is not exactly the best place to hang out and play Frisbee or whatever, but it does have a great view of LP field. Riverfront Park plays host to a lot of musical events and firework shows. Usually they have some pretty well known bands play and there are always loads of food and beverage venders around during events. The 4th of July fireworks is a pretty popular event and one of my favorites, but be cautious, it can get packed so get there early! read more

My travel companion loves to walk everywhere in order to really get the sense of a city. If it wasn't for him, I would have never seen this little Nashville gem. One thing is for sure: I was happy we visited this park at night. It was so hot and humid in Nashville, visiting this park during the day would have been a nightmare. What drew us to the park was the light cast from the pretty changing colors of the psychedelic elevator which brings you up to the the Shelby Street bridge. I saw it off in the distance while we were driving around, looking for a good spot to take skyline shots of Nashville's skyscrapers. I also saw the bridge next to it and I was like, "Oooo, I wanna go there!" I got all excited about it and was yelling it out, pointing at it like 5 year olds do. What's cool is that my travel partner gets the same way when he sees stuff like that and it automatically turns into a quest for him. We were so excited that we didn't even notice that when we got there, we had literally parked the car in the middle of the road and left it there in front of the elevator. The elevator was all glass and I'd say the ride up to the bridge is about 4 stories. I immediately ran up to the elevator with my friend and as soon as the elevator started going up, I realized that the height and the speed with which the elevator was climbing was not pleasant at all! I had to cover my face and not look out of the glass. The inside of the elevator also smelled like pee. It was gross. The city of Nashville should clean it out! Walking up to the Shelby Street Bridge was amazing at night because of the way the spotlights illuminated the bridge, it really showed off the architecture. The only complaint that I would have is that the bridge is the best place to take skyline shots, and all of the bright lights on the bridge seriously mess with your nighttime photos. I had to hold my phone out from the bridge as far as possible in order to get a decent shot. The bridge is also a place where local teens like to go and smoke cigarettes, and no doubt, they like to party and chill there. This didn't bother me, but I noticed that they really don't have personal space issues and thought nothing of walking really close to me to get around me while the bridge itself was not busy. My travel partner saw this happening as well and did not like it at all. The rest of the park is very clean. Under the bridge there are plenty of picnic tables for visitors to have lunch on better days. Looking at Yelp photos, it also seems like this is a place where outdoor concerts happen and I couldn't think of a better location. I really enjoyed exploring this part of the city. When we walked back, we took the stairs down and stayed away from the stinky scary elevator. Make sure you check this place out! read more

Unless you're at Riverfront for a festival or concert, there's really no appeal to it. It's an okay place, but if you're looking for a view of the river, take the Shelby Ave. bridge instead. read more