Construction on the connector started earlier this month, according to a Friday statement from Michelle Scopel, the authority's director of program management. The ramp is meant to give pedestrians and bicyclists a direct link between the bridge, the park and the greenway.

According to the authority, a review found that roughly half of the trees marked for removal are in poor or fair condition. Officials attributed much of that damage to last winter's ice storm and to recent drought and heat.

About a dozen trees, including magnolias, are expected to be relocated with help from Metro Parks. The authority said it will follow Metro's tree ordinance and plant a diverse mix of trees once the ramp project is finished.

The authority's statement did not include the tree survey, a list of the trees to be removed, or the number and species of replacement trees. Metro's tree-removal page lists a Wasioto Park application and a channel for public comments.

Metro Parks says Wasioto Park is closed for improvements from Nov. 2, 2026, through January 2028. The department says greenway access is not affected.

The new connector is expected to open by the end of 2027. The Tennessee Titans are managing its design and construction, according to an East Bank Development Authority update.

The project comes as Nashville's East Bank undergoes a broad redevelopment push tied to the Titans' new stadium, raising questions about how much green space and tree canopy the area will retain as new infrastructure takes shape.