State representative urges Metro leaders to increase safety measures for greenways

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — There’s been a citywide cry for safety after a 34-year-old woman was killed on a Nashville greenway.

On Monday, dozens of runners gathered in memory of Alyssa Lokits, vowing to complete the 2-mile route that she could not. Lokits was shot and killed while exercising on Antioch’s Mill Creek Greenway. Since then, state leaders have called for action.

In a letter addressed to Chief John Drake with the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), director of the Metro Parks department and Mayor Freddie O’Connell, State Representative Jason Powell called Lokits’ murder the “culmination of safety problems” in Nashville’s greenways and parks.

Powell said that he has heard about car break-ins and people not obeying leash laws for dogs.
He added that he saw a woman getting attacked by unleashed dogs at the Seven Mile Creek Greenway.

“I was driving with my daughter home from work and school, and we noticed a woman that was in distress,” Powell told News 2. “She was being attacked by two large dogs that were off leash and she ran to my car, jumped in the back seat to get away, and the owner proceeded to just walk off with these unleashed dogs.”

Powell’s letter also called for more bike patrols, better lighting and emergency call stations on greenways.

“Had this woman been on a greenway…in a more remote area with dogs off leash, she very easily could have been killed,” Powell added.

News 2 reached out to MNPD about the letter. A spokesperson said, in part:

“As Chief Drake said in his press conference following the arrest of Paul Park last Tuesday, there is a plan in place to increase our presence as well as Metro Parks’ presence on the greenways. As you know, our officers worked tirelessly to identify and arrest Mr. Park in less than 24 hours after this senseless attack.

Tonight some of our officers will be joining the commemorative walk/run at the greenway organized by those in the community. We want our community to feel safe as they utilize our beautiful greenways.”

O’Connell previously told News 2 that the Parks department had received more funding.

“We have increased Metro Parks’ budget to include more personnel to monitor and keep greenways safe,” O’Connell said.

At this time, Powell said that the only response he’d gotten directly about the letter was from the Metro Parks director. He said that Metro Parks told him they’re taking proactive measures to address some of the points mentioned in the letter.

“Nashvillians want to and should feel safe when they’re enjoying their public spaces that we pay for with our tax dollars,” Powell said.