Alison Barnes, Trustee of the National Park City Foundation, and Chair of our International Steering Group summarises why Chattanooga will make an exemplary National Park City.
Chattanooga has just been announced as North America’s first ever National Park City following a comprehensive peer review process undertaken by a representative peer review group and coordinated by the National Park City Foundation, with support from Salzburg Global Seminar, and World Urban Parks.
Peer Visit
Chattanooga National Park City’s exciting vision for a greener, healthier, wilder and culturally rich National Park City presented in the creative and engaging portfolio submission was comprehensively and impressively substantiated by our peer visit.
During our peer review and in-person visit we were introduced to and met with communities, not-for-profit organizations, research institutions and city government officials informed by outstanding experts in design, ecology, culture and arts enabling us to see first-hand the extraordinary breadth and depth of engagement with the Chattanooga National Park City vision.
It was inspirational to connect with so many people sharing excitement about the potential of Chattanooga National Park City as a next chapter for a city with a long history of revitalisation and renewal through connecting its unique landscape and the history of its people.
Chattanooga set out seven inter-linked commitments to guide their National Park City around:
- Unrivaled Access to Nature
- A Culture of Outdoor Activity
- Environmental Stewardship and Education
- Inclusive and Sustainable Development
- Community and Cultural Enrichment
- Food and Agriculture
- Arts and Creativity
All seven commitments set out in the submission were brought to life and we saw how these would be enacted and driven forward in partnership through action plans and ongoing collaboration.
A vision decades in the making
The commitments to unrivalled access to nature, a culture of outdoor activity, environmental stewardship and education were impressively shown through the work of the Tennessee Aquarium Institute, Chattanooga Zoo and Reflection Riding (on conservation and species reintroduction programmes), through the research and GIS work at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and through the inspiring Lynnbrook Park project with its design enabling climate, nature resilience and community well-being right in the heart of the city.
The ecologists, designers and officials collaborating on these and at the Ross Landing and Montague Park sites are to be congratulated; they represent an important and valuable cohort with the skills and vision to achieve greening and revitalisation at scale for the city as it continues its National Park City Journey. These projects and institutions are already attracting professionals to come to work in Chattanooga and stay to progress their careers and there is exciting potential for this workforce and expertise to grow.
Opportunities to further the commitment for inclusive and sustainable development were also shown by these projects and work of Trust for Public Land. This is perhaps the commitment where there is greatest opportunity and potential to work with developers and designers to ensure future development in a growing city can unlock a network of green, nature rich spaces across the city and beyond to support the greener, healthier, wilder and culturally rich National Park City vision.
Led by the grassroots
It was a particular privilege to meet and engage with community groups as they deliver on the commitments for community and cultural enrichment, food and agriculture, and arts and creativity. From the National Parks Partners at Moccasin Bend, the Food Forest in St Elmo, Lookout Mountain Conservancy to Crabtree Farm these passionate and dedicated people represent the possibility to realise a core purpose for National Park Cities that ‘Everyone in a National Park City is able to benefit and contribute everyday.’ The joy and care with which representatives shared their work on site and at the wonderful volunteering fair, exemplified this essential ingredient for the success of a National Park City and gives huge hope for the long term.
The city leaders, officials and creatives that brought together the bid and hosted the review team are excellent convenors, clearly demonstrating the kind of leadership and commitment to relationships built on trust and shared endeavour that will carry Chattanooga National Park City positively into the future.
The vision, partnership and plans for delivery of a greener, healthier, wilder and culturally rich Chattanooga are both impressive and inspirational; the city is already a beacon of what it should mean to be a National Park City.
We are extremely grateful to the whole team at Chattanooga National Park City, the City of Chattanooga, Mayor Tim Kelly and his team, and the myriad community groups, businesses, individuals, not-for-profits, and change makers shaping the Chattanooga National Park City story.
We’re especially thankful for the voluntary contributions, time, wisdom and experience from our expert peer reviewers, the staff and Trustees of the National Park City Foundation, and the many supporters of the National Park City movement.
