NEWS NOTES

Latest News 

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2023 Annual Report 

Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors takes home 2 awards and a finalist for 3 more at TN Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference. 
Congrats to Kim Battle for the best recreation program of the year for her "Every Kid Outdoors" camp and to Brian Smith for best marketing for programs and events in the state. DPO was also nominated for 3 out of the 5 "4 Star Awards", TRPA's top awards. 
Best new facility: South Chickamauga Greenway
Best renovated facility: Batter's Place 
Best overall marketing of department. 

Chattanooga awarded $6 million to focus on enhanced beautification, urban forestry in designated communities.

FREE Movies in a Park returns for the fall season. 
Starting Friday, September 8th at Miller Park Downtown

Click to go to each facebook event page: 

Saturday, October 14th, The Little Mermaid at Brainerd Park

Saturday, October 14th. Boo, A Madiea's Halloween at Miller Park

Sunday, October 15th. Encanto at Miller Park + Hispanic Fair!

Saturday, October 21st. Hocus Pocus at Miller Park 

Saturday, October 28th. Harry Potter at Warner Park

Morgan McCormick named Park Stewardship and Maintenance Director for Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors. Morgan brings years of leadership and innovative ideas to our department, moving up from assistant to director. More on the incredible work of Morgan McCormick. 

Help us design YOUR Riverfront Park. Thursday, July 20th, DPO will team up with River City Co. at the Hunter Museum for a feedback session as we humanize our riverfront park. 
More information and to register for this free event, click here. 

New park coming! Province Park just past the Brainerd Tunnels. Community input sessions to be held July 15th, July 18th and July 22nd.

Click the pic for the full flyer.  

 Batter's Place Pickleball Courts hold its Grand Opening on July 8th. 
Courts are now open from sunrise to 11pm and located at 8011 Batter's PL LN in East Brainerd.

Meet BUZZ, the 95yo WW2 Veteran volunteering in our parks! 

 New interactive art comes to East Lake Park! 

Protecting of Beavers makes WORLD NEWS

All Movies in a Park are FREE. Encouraged to gather around 6pm for games and fun with movies starting at dusk. Just bring a chair or blanket. 

 May 6 - FROST Stadium (LYLE LYLE CROCODILE)
May 13 - Patton (MONSTERS INC)
May 19 - East lake (ENCANTO)
May 19- Miller Park (RESPECT)
May 20 - East Chattanooga (FINDING NEMO)
May 27 - Washington Hill (STRANGE WORLD)

City of Chattanooga to Activate, Educate and Celebrate Earth Day 2023 with largest set of events and opportunities ever. 

Champions Club Tennis Complex to host 3 major college tournaments in April. 

City of Chattanooga opens first outdoor pickleball courts in Hixson with more to come! 

Lifeguards NEEDED to open our pools this year. If you are interested in becoming a lifeguard, have been a lifeguard in the past and just need a refresh course or two, please contact Peggy at 423-643-6608.

Ready to apply for the best pay in town? Click here. 

April Park Sparks Schedule

CHATTANOOGA PARKS AND OUTDOORS PRESENTS PARK SPARKS
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK ACTIVIATION TOUR

Volunteers Encoraged to Join in 9th Annual Weed Wrangle

The CHATT- Linking South Chattanooga.

 2022 Annual Report

Chattanooga's First Outdoor Pickleball Courts coming in Spring! 

TOP 6 WAYS TO STAY FIT WITH PARKS AND OUTDOORS. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS. 

CITY TO WAIVE ENTRANCE FEES FOR FITNESS CENTER, CHAMPIONS CLUB AND SELECT POOLS

Chattanooga chooses renowed landscape architech to reimagine Montague Park. 

Gloomy weather got ya feeling down? Well we have AWESOME news: Winter Workshops are coming back in January 2023!! These free, classroom style clinics are intended to give you an opportunity to learn various outdoor skills during the winter months. This year, we are so excited to be able to host these workshops in person at the Outdoor Chattanooga Center! We will also include a virtual option for each clinic if you prefer viewing from your home. Participation is completely free and no experience required! Registration is recommended to guarantee a spot but not mandatory. Link below with more information and to register!

https://bit.ly/3VCmiIQ

On Friday, December 2nd, 2022 Outdoor Chattanooga and the Department of Parks and Outdoors were honored to dedicate the Outdoor Chattanooga building in Coolidge Park to the memory of the late Philip Grymes.
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An avid outdoorsman and inspirational leader, Philip served our city as the Director of Outdoor Chattanooga for nearly two decades. His passion for the outdoors, dedication to our community, infectious smile, and positive spirit will be forever missed.
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To honor his memory, the Outdoor Chattanooga building will henceforth be named the Philip Grymes Outdoor Chattanooga Center. Whether you were a friend, former colleague, or have felt the effects of Philip's powerful work, we encourage you to come by and visit the building.
May Philip’s legacy live on forever.

We know you love your park. Many have asked! How can we help? One way is to become a Chattanooga Park Steward.
This will be a meet-and-greet informal gathering of staff and volunteers along with prospects for the new year. We want to recognize the impact of our stewards and share opportunities for more connection and deeper involvement with our parks and greenspaces.
Invited: You, your friends & your family & your neighbors
We will register new volunteers, share orientation dates and training opportunities, and prepare for a productive new year.
Make Park Stewardship your personal resolution this year!
Register here: https://timecounts.org/chaparks/opportunities/events
Volunteers are a valuable asset to the Parks Division - providing time, talent, and resources to help ensure the health of the park system. The Park Volunteers program also provides an opportunity to educate park visitors and citizens on the importance of stewardship of our parks. Park stewardship is key to guaranteeing that our parks, trails, and greenways will remain safe and clean and be enjoyed for years to come.
For more information on becoming a Chattanooga Park Steward, visit chattanooga.gov/parks/volunteer

Notice of a Proposed Parkland Conversion and Associated Environmental Assessment
Review the Draft and Comment on proposed parkland conversion here. 

MAGIC OF LIGHTS COMING TO CHATTANOOGA DPO'S SUMMIT OF SOFTBALL! 

MAGIC OF LIGHTS ILLUMINATES CHATTANOOGA’S SUMMIT OF SOFTBALL COMPLEX

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

For the first time, Chattanooga Department of Parks and Outdoors’s Summit of Softball Complex will host a dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience November 18 through January 1

Southside Community Park ribbon cutting

March 26, 2022 - Residents and the community are invited to attend the Southside Community Park ribbon cutting on Saturday from 2 - 5 p.m. The Mayor will be on hand to sign a proclamation declaring the 10-minute-walk commitment, to ensure that everyone in our city has safe, easy access to a quality park within a 10-minute walk of home.

St. Elmo Park ribbon cutting

March 10, 2022 - Residents of Chattanooga gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the BlueCross Healthy Place at St. Elmo Park. The new playground features include:

• Challenge course
• Fitness station
• Accessible play areas for ages 2-5 and 5-12
• Swing set
• Community lawn

Sterchi Farms Trailhead

March 2022 - The trailhead at Sterchi Farms along the South Chickamauga Greenway reopens this month after extensive reconstruction and improvements. 

Greenway Farm - Conference Center Renovation Construction

Spring 2022 - Construction for the new Greenway Farm Conference Center is nearing completion.  During this time, we are asking the public to use the Gann Store Rd Entrance, instead of the Hamill Rd entrance.  The restrooms at the dog park are reopened.  All other amenities will remain accessible at the park, including the dog park.  Please pay attention around construction areas and equipment.  

South Chickamauga Creek Greenway - April 2022 Update

The Trust for Public Land and City of Chattanooga have partnered to construct the final, 3-mile section of the 12-mile greenway, which will connect the 275-acre Camp Jordan to the Tennessee Riverwalk. The greenway runs parallel to the creek through the middle of metropolitan Chattanooga (see map). The design of the greenway works around and highlights the natural beauty of the creek, providing elevated views of the water, landscape and topography, while minimizing impact to the environment. The greenway provides access to educational, cultural, recreational, and economic resources. 

Public Notice: Walnut Street Bridge Renovation & Potential Coolidge Park Impacts

The City of Chattanooga - Department of Public Works in coordination with the Tennessee Department of Transportation is proposing to renovate the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge.  Please see this  PUBLIC NOTICE  for information on potential impacts to Coolidge Park.  Tentavely, construction is set to begin in Fall 2021, subject to change. 

Stringers Ridge Trail Closures

Due to a mudslide during storms in February of 2019, the following sections of Stringers Ridge are currently closed:

• Cherokee Trail from Bell Ave trailhead to Baldydash
• Valdeau Crossing Trail.
• Bell Ave parking area.

The City encourages trail users to park at Spears Ave & enter trails from there.