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Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly Praises Gov. Lee, State Delegation for Moccasin Bend Decision Following Archaeological Findings

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Chattanooga, Tenn. (September 26, 2024) - Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly on Thursday celebrated Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s decision to not move forward with plans for a new facility on Moccasin Bend, following initial findings of an ongoing archeological review of the site.

“We are incredibly grateful to Governor Lee for making this historic decision that will be applauded for years by our children and our children’s children,” said Mayor Kelly. “We are especially thankful that the early conversations we initiated about relocating the state hospital have played out just as we had hoped. At long last, after decades of deferral and delay, we now have the opportunity to truly preserve this nationally historic land as a park for every Chattanoogan to enjoy, connecting our community to the natural beauty and rich history of Moccasin Bend forever.”

Since entering office in 2021, Mayor Kelly has personally worked with Bill Lee’s administration and Tennessee’s legislative delegation to find alternative locations for the state’s mental health hospital, including both making city land available and offering to build the hospital in an alternate location.

Tennessee’s legislative delegation then supported an archeological survey to determine whether to move forward with a rebuild of the aging hospital at the current location, or move it elsewhere. Following the survey, the state made the decision to move the hospital.

The approximately 956-acre Moccasin Bend National Archeological District, which lies along the scenic Tennessee River, was designated more than two decades ago as the country’s first and only national archeological district, as part of a unit that includes the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Former U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp in 2003 helped lead the charge to transfer hundreds of acres owned by the city and the state to the National Park Service, as part of an effort that dates back to the 1920s.

But that designation alone did not lead to the area’s full development as a park, due to a patchwork of property ownership and nonconforming uses, such as the state hospital and a nearby firing range operated by Chattanooga and Hamilton County. 

The peninsula has been home to thousands of years of human habitation, from the earliest Paleo-Indians through the Civil War to the present day. The potential future addition of the 107-acre psychiatric hospital property, as well as the future elimination of other nonconforming uses, will complete the site by creating a virtually contiguous tract of land. This ongoing effort to preserve Moccasin Bend fully aligns with Chattanooga’s goal to become a National Park City, said Scott Martin, director of Parks & Outdoors for the City of Chattanooga. 

"Moccasin Bend, a nationally significant cultural site, uniquely tells the story of 12,000 years of human settlement in the Tennessee River Valley,” said Scott Martin, Administrator of Parks and Outdoors. “While land use decisions on the Bend haven't always taken these precious resources into account, a new story begins with this decision by the Governor.   Thanks to Governor Lee and the Hamilton County legislative delegation's consistent leadership calling for thoughtful stewardship of this resource that can benefit all Tennesseans, with this decision an effort can now begin to preserve forever the stories and legacies of this sacred land."

Mayor Kelly has committed the City of Chattanooga to working closely with federal and state officials, community leaders, and tribal stakeholders to fully realize the potential of this unprecedented opportunity, and ensure it remains an enduring symbol of Chattanooga’s commitment to preserving its natural and cultural heritage for generations to come. 

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