Riverwalk Park is situated on the Duck River near downtown Columbia, Tennessee

On the northeast side of the downtown square in Columbia, Tennessee sits a gem presently known as Riverwalk Park. The Park is steeped with much history from the past and was formally known to locals as the historic Pillow Park. In fact, in the early nineteen-hundreds a man named Doctor Robert Pillow owned the property along the Duck River and decided to donate his land to become a city park. Many years later the city of Columbia acquired the park property from the ''Pillow Athletic Park Association'' by deed from Doctor Robert Pillow on the tenth day of October in the year of 1935. Since then the park was redesigned as a passive community park for the city of Columbia's ''Duck River Work Project.'' The city parks name and size area has changed drastically since 1935. Built on the historic grounds of Pillow Park, the newly redesigned Riverwalk Park continues the tradition of offering visitors a serene, and peaceful location to enjoy on any day of the week. The paved walking paths connect both the downtown Columbia area and the Riverwalk Park area. All walking paths inside of the park consistently run parallel to the historic Duck River. One notable trail inparticular leads for approximately one mile through the beautiful scenic park and all the way up to the local dam that is stretched across the river. At Riverwalk Park there is always something great to do around every corner and the walking paths offer many breathtaking views of the river. There are no hills to climb along the walking paths at the park. This makes the paths ideal for joggers, excellent for bicycle rides, great for skating, or even walking the family dogs. The main entrance for the walkway is decorated nicely with blooming flowers and park benches have been neatly placed for taking breaks. Several small footbridge crossings are placed along the path through the park. Walking underneath the Riverside Bridge offers visitors pleasant shade and Cool breezes. A short hike down the stairway to view the historic Duck River will significantly relax most park visitors. It's fairly average on any day of the week to see the park buzzing with a great abundance of activity. On a daily basis the Mule Town Trolley and the Connection bus lines make hourly stops to pick-up passengers at the main bus hub located within the Riverwalk Park. A company know as ''South Central Tennessee Development District Public Transportation'' has implemented fixed bus routes to offer Columbia citizens with public transportation services. The city park host many small and several large events throughout the year. In July the annual Independence Day celebration is hosted at Riverwalk Park. The month of April brings enormous crowds of visitors into Columbia, Tennessee for the annual Mule Day Celebration. Each year the Park host the ''Mulekick 5K'' race and the ''Muletown Amateur Barbeque Cook-Off.'' The annual ''Summer Concert Series'' takes place in the park on every Memorial Day. An annual ''Meriwether Lewis arts and crafts fair'' is held at Riverwalk Park every year. Other times throughout the year movies in the park, corn-hole tournaments, food vendors, and live music can be heard playing loudly from the park. The Columbia Fresh Farmer's Market is featured from the month of June through October at the Market Pavilion located inside of Riverwalk Park.

The Riverside Dam is located inside of Riverwalk Park, along Riverside Drive, and roughly one mile from downtown Columbia. Duck River has been dammed at the location since the early eighteen-hundreds. At first it was a grist mill that used the rivers powerful currents to operate the mill stones. In 1926, the mill dam was replaced with a new dam and was designed to produce hydroelectrical power to the city. Private funds were spent on the dam to rehabilitate it for resuming electrical power production, but this has never proven to be successful. Tennessee Valley Of Authorities started building onto the unfinished dam in the seventies and spent over eighty-million dollars on the dam project from 1969 through 1983. The concrete portions of the dam were more than ninety percent complete and then the project halted suddenly due to severe environmental concerns. Multitudes of environmental groups and dozens of local farmers strongly opposed the building of the dam. The Environmentalist repetively argued that the building of a dam would transform the historic Duck River into a filthy, murky, and algae-filled lake. In 1977, the United States Fish and Wildlife Services declared that endangered species of freshwater mussels living in the Duck River were presently suffering harshly from the building of the dam. The Birdwing pearly mussel and the Cumberland Monkeyface pearly mussel were both dying off at a rapid pace. Many extrordinary efforts and attempts to transplant the endangered mussels to other bodies of water proved to be repetively unsuccessful. The Federal Courts shut down the building of the dam project immediately in 1983 by using the fullest extent of the law. A law put into legislation that was called the ''Endangered Species Act'' shut down the Columbia dam project entirely. Presently today the Riverside Dam sits unfinished, it never holds back a single drop of water, strong currents gush right past, spilling over the edge of the defunct dam, and plunge nearly six-hundred feet below. Many locals enjoy watching the strong flow of water swiftly plunging over the dam. Currently the dam is considered as a cultural feature dam and forms a reservoir in the city of Columbia's water system. Sometimes the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency stocks the area with Rainbow trout during the winter months whenever the water is much cooler.

The Riverwalk pavilion Is located at the center of the city Park and makes an excellent picnicking spot. In fact, the pavilion also serves as the ideal meeting place for different groups and various organizations. A peaceful place to sit for rest, while taking in all of the beautiful sights, and the natural sounds of nature. Near the pavilion a full-court asphalt basketball court awaits for a group of competitive athletes. Directly across Riverside Drive a large group of small children scream aloud with great joy over at the busy playground. A children's splash pad is only a short walk across the street also and was only recently installed on Memorial Day of 2015. The splash pad measures sixteen-hundred square feet in size, with sixteen powerful water jets programmed to shoot water into the air in a ''sea-spider'' pattern, it operates on a fresh water system, and pumps an average of fourteen gallons of water each minute. Many city council members agree and boast about how the splash pad is an awesome gift to the city. The city mayor declares the splash pad is a great enhancement and new addition for Riverwalk Park. Numerous smiling parents can be found near the splash pad watching there small children splashing all around on a hot summer day. The Riverwalk pavilion was a Rotary Centennial Project and dedicated by the Columbia Breakfast Rotary Club on the twenty-third day of February in the year of 2005.

The historic Duck River that flows directly through Riverwalk Park is the ideal location for wildlife and wildflowers to call home. In fact, the Duck River is currently home to over fifty species of different freshwater mussels and nearly one-hundred fifty various species of freshwater fish. The wildlife experts all proclaim and explain to citizens how this makes the Duck River the most biologically diverse river on the entire North American continent. Amidst a diversity of wildlife, wildflowers, scenic bluffs, islands, and gravel bars the historic Duck River has much to offer to nature. At the Riverwalk Park large feathered flocks of Canadian Geese are commonly spotted, long-legged herons can be witnessed feeding in the rivers shallow waters, and occasionally the female Mallard duck with five tiny ducklings is seen swimming swiftly downstream. Many sparrows are heard whistling peaceful songs from the treetops. Red-Headed woodpeckers hammer away on tree trunks somewhere way off in the distance. While sitting on the park benches several colorful Eastern Bluebirds and bright red Cardinals fly effortlessly just overhead. The American Robin darts through the manicured grass hunting for the next earthworm to devour. A pesky blackbird and a frisky warbler doing battle with there wings, squaking aloud, and pecking one another vigorously over at the birdfeeder. The majority of birdwatchers will agree that Riverwalk Park is definitely an excellent spot in the afternoon for birdwatching. During the early morning hours the playful squirrels run up and down multiple trees. In mid-afternoon the river otter couples swim feverishly around the rivers strong currents. Around lunchtime the Eastern Box turtles, green snakes, and slimy salamanders slither about in search of lunch. The raccoons, opposums, and stinky skunks can be heard crunching dry leaves under there feet while sneaking through the dense woods. In the evenings prior to dusk the occasional whitetail deer lurks in the woods by the rivers edge while seeking after a refreshing drink of water. The tiny ladybugs, dragonflies, and Monarch butterflies fly amongst the numerous wildflowers. At Riverwalk Park in the spring the bountiful wildflowers and robust budding trees blossom brightly along the rivers edge. The large quantities of Wild Ferns, Trilliums, Milkweeds, Woodland Phlox, Cardinal flowers, Buttonbushes, Lobelias, and Foamflowers are discovered blooming on the river banks. Multitudes of showy wildflowers, long-spurred violets, sweet tasting honeysuckles, dandelions, and carpets of bright yellow buttercups consider the Riverwalk Park to be a lovely home.

In the late eighteen-hundreds the first Riverside Bridge was originally built by the Pittsburgh Bridge Company who constructed a steel girder structure. A bridge was built over the historic Duck River to form a crossing point and allow for travel into the nearby city square of Columbia.The ancient plaque from the erection of the old girder bridge is still located below the plaque for the new concrete bridge erection. In the early-seventies the city council members requested and accepted for a new bridge to be built over the river on Riverside Drive. A modern and new concrete bridge was built to replace the old girder bridge that was built in 1889. In the year of 1973 the construction of the new concrete bridge was finally finished and the Columbia city council members commissioned in the new bridge soon after. The Riverside Bridge is considered as the gateway into the Riverwalk Park area. After a driver crosses over the Duck River via the Riverside Bridge a green space opens up directly for park visitors. A paved walkway path at Riverwalk Park passes directly underneath the Riverside Bridge. The shady area underneath the bridge is comforting during the humid and sweltering days of summer heat. Many outstanding views from higher elevations can be captured of the historic Duck River below whenever crossing the Riverside Bridge.

A newly constructed Market pavilion is now loated inside of the Riverwalk Park. The Columbia Fresh Farmer's Market is featured at the city park from June through the month of October. Regardless of what the current weather patterns are today, the Farmer's Market remains open whenever it rains, and is also open when the hot sun is shining brightly outside. Although the Market Pavilion is closed from November through May due to harsh winter weather. The Market pavilion can also be rented out anytime of the year to reserve a space for bithday parties, family reunions, corporate meetings, or any other type of large gathering. There is always free admission to shop at the Farmer's Market and normal Market pavilion operating hours are from seven o'clock in the morning until twelve o'clock in the afternoon on any day of the week. The Columbia Fresh Farmer's Market gives citizens the opportunity to connect with local farmers and friends alike. It also encourages people in the community to engage in healthier eating habits and is similar to eating out of your very own garden. Many citizens regularly flock to the Riverwalk Park simply to shop for locally grown food at the Market pavilion and take full advantage of surrounding farms. The Fresh Farmer's Market offers healthy fruits and fresh picked vegetables that have been grown organically. Several local farmers are selling grass-fed, steroid free, anti-biotic free, and kosher meats. Others are selling there fresh free-range eggs that were collected from the farm earlier on the same morning. Some local vendors sell one-hundred percent honey, bath/body products, handmade candles, homemade breads, homemade jams, freshly cut flowers, other baked goods, fresh herbs, hand-crafted items, and much more. In general, the local farmer's at the Market pavilion always sell high quality produce, grass-fed beef, humanly raised chicken, speciality items, large varieties of fresh fruits, and hand picked vegetables. The specialty items for sell often include gourds, plants, bedding, hand stitched quilts, and more. Fresh herbs, dried herbs, and even medicinal herbs are sold at the market. Numerous vegetable varieties are widely available at the Farmer's Market that normally encompass crunchy carrots, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplants, summer squash, hot peppers, onions, green beans, zucchini, lettuce, okra, tomatoes, tomatillos, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Common fruits that are featured will include apples, watermelons, peaches, plums, pears, honeydew melons, blackberries, cantaloupes, blueberries, and bananas. The Columbia Fresh Farmer's Market that is hosted at the Market pavilion inside of the popular Riverwalk Park has many fresh items to offer for citizens of all ages.