Shelby Park, on the east bank of the Cumberland in East Nashville, is the largest green space within walking distance of downtown — a 360-acre Edwardian-era park with a public golf course, a lake, and walking paths shaded by mature oaks and tulip poplars. The Shelby Bottoms Greenway, which runs north from the park along the river, extends another five miles through restored wetlands and meadows.
The greenway is the most pleasant flat run or ride in central Nashville and a useful escape from East Nashville's busier streets. The Cumberland Pedestrian Bridge, opened in 2008, links the Bottoms across the river to the Two Rivers Park system and the Stones River Greenway, extending the easy ride out to within sight of the Grand Ole Opry House.