Connecting South Chattanooga

In Chattanooga, Trust for Public Land is linking communities to nature and each other through innovative greenways, paths, and parks. But despite Chattanooga’s renaissance, the city’s historically underserved neighborhoods—which are often low-income and communities of color—remain marginalized after facing years of disinvestment.

Green spaces give people room to gather and build stronger communities that are better prepared to tackle social, health, and environmental challenges and to address historic and systemic inequities. That’s why we’re partnering with South Chattanooga neighborhoods to learn how residents use public green spaces, listen to their experiences, and identify where improvements are needed most.

Trust for Public Land is developing trail connections from the South Chattanooga neighborhoods of Alton Park, Clifton Hills, and East Lake to the city’s 23-mile greenway system, partnering with residents to create strong community ownership of these spaces.

We actively engage leadership within our partner neighborhoods through participatory design—a cooperative community-based process to create a park, trail, or greenway that reflects local identity and culture—ensuring residents have a place outdoors they can truly call their own.