Rock/Creek to rent bicycle and paddle sport equipment at Tennessee Riverpark in spring

Brent and RenaeSanders enjoy their stand up paddle boards Wednesday evening on the Tennessee River. "This is about our tenth time out this season," Sanders said. "It's great to see the wildlife like heron otters and fish as we paddle."
The C.B. Robinson Bridge looms in the background above the Hubert Fry Pavilion at the Tennessee Riverpark. — Brent and RenaeSanders enjoy their stand up paddle boards Wednesday evening on the Tennessee River. "This is about our tenth time out this season," Sanders said. "It's great to see the wildlife like heron otters and fish as we paddle." The C.B. Robinson Bridge looms in the background above the Hubert Fry Pavilion at the Tennessee Riverpark. Brent and RenaeSanders enjoy their stand up paddle boards Wednesday evening on the Tennessee River. "This is about our tenth time out this season," Sanders said. "It's great to see the wildlife like heron otters and fish as we paddle." The C.B. Robinson Bridge looms in the background above the Hubert Fry Pavilion at the Tennessee Riverpark.

By David Cobb September 2, 2016 6 min read

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Rock/Creek partners with county in effort to expand outdoor offerings

Brent and RenaeSanders enjoy their stand up paddle boards Wednesday evening on the Tennessee River.

Inside the store at 301 Manufacturer's Rd., Rock Creek managers Chad Wykle, left, and Dawson Wheeler talk about the rental opportunity for the public soon to be available at the Tennessee Riverpark.

Inside the store at 301 Manufacturer's Rd., Rock Creek managers Dawson Wheeler, right, and Chad Wykle talk about the rental opportunity for the public soon to be available at the Tennessee Riverpark.

Inside the store at 301 Manufacturer's Rd., Rock Creek managers Dawson Wheeler, left, and Chad Wykle talk about the rental opportunity for the public soon to be available at the Tennessee Riverpark.

Hamilton County Director of Parks and Recreation Tom Lamb talks about the dock available for use at the Tennessee Riverpark.

A Chattanooga-based outdoor retailer will begin exploring a new frontier in the area’s bustling recreation scene next year.

Rock/Creek is slated to make a full entry to the equipment rental world through a first-of-its-kind partnership with Hamilton County that will bring the store’s iconic brand directly to three of the county’s recreation destinations.

It’s part of the county’s vision to “activate” its parks, and it’s an opportunity for Rock/Creek to diversify its business model by offering rental equipment, community programs and stewardship in a way it never has during its 29-year history.

Rock/Creek will set up shop at the Tennessee Riverpark’s Hubert Fry Center in the spring and begin renting bicycle and paddle sport equipment out of the building that sits catty-corner from the C.B. Robinson Bridge.

The partnership is scheduled for expansion to Enterprise South Nature Park and Chester Frost Park later in the year but will focus first on establishing the Riverpark location.