Rossville, Tennessee
The Clark Trail passes through a water tupelo / bald cypress wetland in a 400-acre Tennessee State Natural Area. Ritchie Smith Associates designed the 2,200-foot trail to be constructed with minimal environmental impact and to be wheelchair accessible over its entire length. It includes 1,600 feet of elevated boardwalk built utilizing helical anchors, which allowed preservation of vegetation adjacent to and under the boardwalk. Only 13 trees were removed during construction of the entire trail. Gathering and overlook areas and built-in seating were incorporated in the boardwalk design. Low-profile markers keyed to a self-guided tour map by The Nature Conservancy were included to interpret the area's natural history.
Award: American Society of Landscape Architects, Tennessee Chapter - President's Award of Excellence