Calls for Nashville greenway safety following Alyssa Lokits' murder and new attack

Описание: Community advocates are calling for improved safety along Nashville greenways following a recent attack in Antioch and the 2024 murder of Dr. Alyssa Dawn Lokits.

FOX 17 News mapped where Lokits was murdered and where a woman was attacked Friday.

The locations are several miles apart, but both are on the Mill Creek Greenway. The recent attack has residents on high alert.

A bench and photo sit in memory of Dr. Alyssa Dawn Lokits on the Mill Creek Greenway near Old Hickory Boulevard.

Metro Police say Paul Park killed Lokits while she was running on Oct. 14, 2024.

More than a year later, the pain remains.

“The loss has been as anyone could possibly imagine,” said Abby Lokits, Alyssa’s sister-in-law.

Lokits is the executive director of Free to Move, an advocacy group calling for better safety for people exercising outdoors.

Since Alyssa Lokits’ death, Metro Parks has made some safety improvements in the area, including lights and cameras. However, concerns extend beyond that section of the trail.

Metro Police say Friday morning, a woman was walking on the Mill Creek Greenway near Blue Hole Road when a man attacked her.

Police say she fought him off, ran back to a parking lot and called 911 from inside her car.

Julia Serrano, who walks near the trail almost every day, said the incident has made her fearful.

“Very nervous because there is no safety around here,” Serrano said.
Serrano and Lokits want better safety measures on greenways.

“Absolute outrage that this could happen again so soon after what happened to Alyssa,” Lokits said.

Lokits is now working with Metro Council members, including Terry Vo, to address safety concerns on greenways across Nashville.

“Auditing for various infrastructure conditions that contributes unsafe conditions along a greenway,” Lokits said.

FOX 17 News reached out to Councilmember Terry Vo for comment on the proposed plan but has not heard back.

The area’s councilmember, John Rutherford, was unavailable for comment. FOX 17 News also contacted Metro Parks but has not received a response due to the holiday.

Lokits said the first study on greenway safety improvements will take place March 12 at 6 p.m. at the Shelby Bottoms Greenway.

FOX 17 News will continue to follow developments as the plan moves forward.

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