Singing River Trail.

Outdoor lovers, entertainment fans, fitness buffs and educators in north Alabama will know that name soon if they don’t already. It’s a 70-mile greenway under construction that planners say will connect north Alabama along and near the Tennessee River from Huntsville west to Decatur, Madison, and Athens.

Historian John Kvach was named executive director this month of the trail system envisioned for hikers, bicyclists, bird watchers and people just wanting to be outside. Kvach said Friday that the trail will be a place for teaching children, life-long learning, entertainment, exercise and more.

“It can become an economic incubator,” he said, “creating enterprise zones along the trail and encouraging people to take initiative and really try to build businesses along the trail that are complementary and also become destinations.” For example, Kvach said he could envision an old-fashioned fish camp along the shore with live music, good beer and good food. The trail could also become a hub and model of post-COVID outdoor entertainment, he said.

“I also have an opportunity to work with educators to create an independent learning, project-based curriculum that we can put on our digital site,” Kvach said. It would allow teachers, home-schoolers and lifelong learners to pursue topics including biology, history, culture and music.

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, a 35,000-acre refuge for wintering birds and home of 12 endangered or threatened animal species, also sits along the trail corridor. It managers are supporting the trail, Kvach said.

The trail’s name comes from Te-lah-nay, a Native woman of the Yuchi Indian tribe, who was removed to Oklahoma from Alabama along with other native people in the 1800′s. The Yuchi tribe called the Tennessee River “Singing River” because it believed a woman who lived in the river sang to them. Te-lah-nay left Oklahoma and came home to north Alabama, and the legend expanded to also believing the river holds a portal to the afterlife.

The master plan for the trail was developed by a committee of representatives from federal, state, county, municipal and private agencies. More than 150 people attended two public workshops in February, one in Huntsville and one in Decatur. “Who wants to help? Who wants to join in?” Kvach concluded. “This is coming if you want to be a part of it.”