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The NOT JunkYard — Concept Proposal A salvage yard people actually want to spend time in. The NOT JunkYard is a hybrid space combining an architectural salvage yard, a creative social club, and a live event venue. Its purpose is practical and measurable: to divert usable materials from landfills while building a culture around reuse, creativity, and community. Every year, large volumes of valuable materials from remodels, demolitions, and deconstruction projects are discarded. Much of this is not waste. It is usable, often high-quality material with years of life remaining. The NOT JunkYard intercepts that flow. ⸻ Material Recovery and Reuse Materials enter the system through: * Partnerships with deconstruction and demolition crews * Direct relationships with contractors * Community and business donations * Optional pickup and logistics support to reduce friction The core principle is simple: We make it easier and more economical to divert materials than to throw them away. Recovered materials are curated and resold at a significant discount to new retail. These are treated as inventory, not scrap. Many items exceed the quality of modern alternatives and offer character and history that cannot be replicated. This creates multiple, compounding benefits: * Reduction in landfill waste * Lower demand for new manufacturing and raw resource extraction * Affordable access to building materials * Unique, story-driven inventory for builders, artists, and homeowners ⸻ Curation and Structure The NOT JunkYard is not an open dump. It is actively curated and organized into two primary layers: Public-Facing Inventory Cleaned, sorted, and accessible materials suitable for resale to the general public, builders, and creatives. Trade and Bulk Zones (Limited Access) Higher-volume or less refined materials available to contractors and professionals at scale. Additionally, select materials from historic structures and unique sources are preserved and highlighted as premium inventory. Curation standards are designed to improve over time as supply and demand patterns become clearer, ensuring the space remains functional, navigable, and engaging. ⸻ A Cultural and Creative Destination The NOT JunkYard transforms a traditionally transactional environment into an experiential one. It is designed as a place where people do not just come to buy materials, but to explore, create, connect, and stay. The space itself is built and continuously evolved using reclaimed materials, making the mission visible and tangible. Core elements include: * A stage and performance area for music, art, and experimental work * Maker spaces for fabrication, building, and hands-on creation * A bar and social environment that encourages gathering and interaction * Markets, events, and regular nightlife programming * A membership structure that fosters community and repeat engagement ⸻ Education and Community Access Education is a core function of the space. Workshops and programming focus on: * Deconstruction techniques * Upcycling and reuse * Practical building and fabrication skills Community organizations are provided access to classroom and workshop spaces at low or no cost, ensuring that knowledge and opportunity extend beyond the core audience. ⸻ Multi-Stream Revenue Model The NOT JunkYard operates on a diversified revenue model: * Salvaged material sales * Bar and beverage program * Event ticketing and venue rental * Memberships * Workshops and educational programming This structure ensures that cultural and experiential revenue streams support and amplify the material reuse mission. ⸻ Founder Experience This concept builds on prior experience developing and operating Makers Square, a creative hub that successfully brought together artists, builders, and entrepreneurs in a shared, culture-driven environment. That project demonstrated the demand for spaces where people can make, collaborate, and belong. The NOT JunkYard expands that model by integrating material reuse with a stronger economic and operational engine. ⸻ Positioning The NOT JunkYard sits at the intersection of: * Resource recovery * Creative culture * Community gathering It combines the utility of a salvage yard with the energy of a creative venue and the accessibility of a social club. ⸻ Closing The NOT JunkYard is not about waste. It is about recognizing value where others discard it. It is a place where materials are reused, ideas are built, and people gather. Not a junkyard. A system. A space. A culture.
The NOT JunkYard — Concept Proposal A salvage yard people actually want to spend time in. The NOT JunkYard is a hybrid space combining an architectural salvage yard, a creative social club, and a live event venue. Its purpose is practical and measurable: to divert usable materials from landfills while building a culture around reuse, creativity, and community. Every year, large volumes of valuable materials from remodels, demolitions, and deconstruction projects are discarded. Much of this is not waste. It is usable, often high-quality material with years of life remaining. The NOT JunkYard intercepts that flow. ⸻ Material Recovery and Reuse Materials enter the system through: * Partnerships with deconstruction and demolition crews * Direct relationships with contractors * Community and business donations * Optional pickup and logistics support to reduce friction The core principle is simple: We make it easier and more economical to divert materials than to throw them away. Recovered materials are curated and resold at a significant discount to new retail. These are treated as inventory, not scrap. Many items exceed the quality of modern alternatives and offer character and history that cannot be replicated. This creates multiple, compounding benefits: * Reduction in landfill waste * Lower demand for new manufacturing and raw resource extraction * Affordable access to building materials * Unique, story-driven inventory for builders, artists, and homeowners ⸻ Curation and Structure The NOT JunkYard is not an open dump. It is actively curated and organized into two primary layers: Public-Facing Inventory Cleaned, sorted, and accessible materials suitable for resale to the general public, builders, and creatives. Trade and Bulk Zones (Limited Access) Higher-volume or less refined materials available to contractors and professionals at scale. Additionally, select materials from historic structures and unique sources are preserved and highlighted as premium inventory. Curation standards are designed to improve over time as supply and demand patterns become clearer, ensuring the space remains functional, navigable, and engaging. ⸻ A Cultural and Creative Destination The NOT JunkYard transforms a traditionally transactional environment into an experiential one. It is designed as a place where people do not just come to buy materials, but to explore, create, connect, and stay. The space itself is built and continuously evolved using reclaimed materials, making the mission visible and tangible. Core elements include: * A stage and performance area for music, art, and experimental work * Maker spaces for fabrication, building, and hands-on creation * A bar and social environment that encourages gathering and interaction * Markets, events, and regular nightlife programming * A membership structure that fosters community and repeat engagement ⸻ Education and Community Access Education is a core function of the space. Workshops and programming focus on: * Deconstruction techniques * Upcycling and reuse * Practical building and fabrication skills Community organizations are provided access to classroom and workshop spaces at low or no cost, ensuring that knowledge and opportunity extend beyond the core audience. ⸻ Multi-Stream Revenue Model The NOT JunkYard operates on a diversified revenue model: * Salvaged material sales * Bar and beverage program * Event ticketing and venue rental * Memberships * Workshops and educational programming This structure ensures that cultural and experiential revenue streams support and amplify the material reuse mission. ⸻ Founder Experience This concept builds on prior experience developing and operating Makers Square, a creative hub that successfully brought together artists, builders, and entrepreneurs in a shared, culture-driven environment. That project demonstrated the demand for spaces where people can make, collaborate, and belong. The NOT JunkYard expands that model by integrating material reuse with a stronger economic and operational engine. ⸻ Positioning The NOT JunkYard sits at the intersection of: * Resource recovery * Creative culture * Community gathering It combines the utility of a salvage yard with the energy of a creative venue and the accessibility of a social club. ⸻ Closing The NOT JunkYard is not about waste. It is about recognizing value where others discard it. It is a place where materials are reused, ideas are built, and people gather. Not a junkyard. A system. A space. A culture.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others.” - Martin Luther King Jr. A Cornerstone of Chattanooga’s Parks story: As a National Register eligible site adjacent to Erlanger and UTC, Lincoln Park offers a singular opportunity to showcase cultural heritage, community health, and youth educational programming qualities within Chattanooga’s National Park City portfolio. As a cultural landscape, it is able to express the distinctive character of Chattanooga’s peoples and historical development. It’s legacy as a center of social recreation, sport, and amusement affords a priceless opportunity to rejuvenate a premier cultural venue of ideas, invention, and civic relationship. Actions Pursued: • Oral history project research: Sourcing and disseminating historical narratives and park memories. Monthly history seminar and/or tours with partnering preservation groups • Juneteenth cultural ceremonies and Heritage Games sporting events with partnering organizations • Standing Lincoln Park community partnership with health and academic institutions, moving expertise into the real world of the community and bringing community knowledge and applications back into research environments to motivate and inform effective practice. • Community, youth-centered park restoration design and programming workshops In 1918, when Bessie Smith was singing her blues (and for good reason), Chattanooga under Mayor Jesse M. Littleton founded a park for the city’s “negroes” - Lincoln Park. Inspired by Atlanta’s inter-racial movement, land once considered for a “pesthouse” was made a place of botanical gardens and pools. It served as the recreational epicenter for colored citizens during segregation. Lincoln Park was the site, as stated by TN State Historian Carrol Van West, “…where Chattanooga blacks given a sliver of opportunity in the harsh Jim Crow times of the early 20th century built a place of recreation, sport, and identity.” A place of ingenuity: Ellis Thornhill’s amusements animated the grounds with merry-go-rounds, Ferris wheels, social events, and performing arts shows. It was a regional destination for African Americans as far as Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, and surrounding states. A place of excellence: LeRoy “Satchel” Paige made his professional debut for the Black Lookouts, bringing home Chattanooga’s only recorded Negro Southern League Championship in 1926/7. On his way to baseball greatness, the “Say hey kid” Willie Mays likewise debuted at Lincoln Park for the Choo Choo’s in 1946. Chattanooga’s first Women’s National Tennis Champion Wylma McGhee Reid graced the courts of Lincoln Park. A place excellent in spirit: Through the leadership of Chattanooga’s Inter-racial committee advocates, New Deal WPA funding was obtained to construct the first pool for black citizens, whom were denied entry to Warner’s “White only” pool. Community leagues and city sponsored education programs and youth camps served thousands of African American families and students throughout the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and early 60’s. A righteous cause, like a mighty stream, could not be refuted: Through the struggle for civil rights, African Americans would not be denied their humanity but through a content of character recast the moral arc of a nation to a larger conception of liberty and justice. Lincoln Park’s time as a segregated space was at an end. Dr. Spencer McCallie, a civic leader of the time, remarked that, “…no nation can be strong and healthy with a submerged part.” Nevertheless, in the wake of segregation’s corrosive effects, the redlining of urban renewal, the economic dislocation of integration, and recent inequitable business investments identified in the City’s 2019 disparity report, should it be surprising that communities of color find themselves struggling under economic floodwaters today? Do we hear black and blues haunting too many of our streets?.... The story of Lincoln Park is one of ingenuity and human collaboration – the original bedrock of Chattanooga’s historical development. The Coalition to Save Lincoln Park and Citico believes that its revitalization can be a powerful instrument for Chattanoogans of all colors and creeds intent on creating an environment of resilience and relationship to counter corrosive tides of an impersonal age. We here present a revitalization plan for Lincoln Park leveraging a multi-institutional collaboration to reconstitute an infrastructure of opportunity and relationship: I. Historical memory and Culture: Lincoln Park shall be a destination to recognize and honor the contributions of African Americans to Chattanooga’s historical development and culture. It speaks to the distinctive character and modes of Chattanooga’s peoples, offering a guidepost toward a future of dignity and brotherhood. II. Community health and personal development: Lincoln Park will seek partnership with health institutions to increase trust in public health among communities of color; to work to rectify AA population health deficits; and to foster positive health lifestyles and outcomes in the community. (Envisioned partners: Erlanger Hospital, UTC Health & Nursing, Hamilton County Health Dept., and community non-profits) III. Enterprise and Education: Lincoln Park will catalyze cultural heritage ventures. It shall be a nexus of entrepreneurial collaborations and educational laboratory of leadership and ideas to foster self-mastery and the creation of dynamic enterprises both social and economic. At the proposed Reid Thornhill Center, it shall leverage the expertise of partnering public and private organizations. (Envisioned partners: UTC, Chattanooga Ec. Dev., Urban League, Norfolk Southern, & local businesses) IV. Recreational and Athletic Excellence: A destination for invention, sport, and curiosity which instill a vigor of life, relationship, and character. Park design and programming to be formulated upon the genius of African Americans and the energies of local stakeholders and artisans. (Envisioned partners: UTC, Chatt Zoo, TN American Water, Chattanooga Lookouts, Aquarium) As Chattanooga endeavors to live into its ambition as America’s first National Park City, can it succeed if at the outset it fails to protect the peoples and places that have underwritten its historical development? The grounds of historic Lincoln Park and Citico reside at the heart of Chattanooga’s story of free peoples, witnessing to their travail and endurance. Recognizing that African American disinvestment degrades our city’s collective socio-economic resilience, shall not we, as Chattanoogans before, marshal against the sirens of indifference and renew a contract of brotherhood for our time?... Or as Dr. Spencer McCallie exhorted: “[Let us have]…a united front of colored and white races in making and keeping America a place of equal opportunity for any man!” In an age of increasing isolation and digital amnesia, preserving our historic sites is a defiant and creative act. Our past recalls us to who and why we are, elucidates our innate talents, and gestures toward a vision and belief for who we can and shall determine ourselves to be. Parks are about people and the dignity there to be found between neighbors. In that spirit, we ask your generous support for the revitalization of Chattanooga’s Lincoln Park. Break up with your chatbot, Choose the red pill, and Join us in reforging the real Chattanooga! Your support and belief are everything!
Picture this: it's a warm, sunny day in Chattanooga, and you're out paddling the Tennessee River. There's a gentle breeze in the air, and the water is gently lapping against the sides of your boat. You pass by the downtown Riverfront and Coolidge Park and head towards Maclellan Island--a uniquely wild nature sanctuary in the middle of Chattanooga's downtown core. You decide this is the perfect place to rest and enjoy your packed lunch. You dock your kayak and walk ashore, and notice a beautiful, woodland path, lined with gorgeous native ferns, flowers, and trees. A wooden sign greets you: "This way to Paddlers' Rest". You wander down the meandering path, enjoying the beautiful woodland garden path, and discover a gazebo in the middle of the woods. The gazebo sits in a small clearing, surrounded by beautiful woodland gardens and native plants. The warm breeze blows through the gazebo, and you sit down on the bench, enjoying your lunch, the gardens, and the sounds of nature and the river. We propose a collaboration between us, the Chattanooga Botanical Garden, and the Chattanooga Audubon Society to build a mini woodland garden at Maclellan Island! We hope this project will help bring new attention to Maclellan Island, especially with the increasing risk of losing the island and its history to erosion. This project will also serve as a catalyst to bring a botanical garden to Chattanooga by showing the community and our city what we could be capable of! This proposed garden could become the first stepping stone to saving Maclellan Island and building something unique there in the years to come. Maclellan Island is a large island in the middle of the Tennessee River, located in the heart of Chattanooga's downtown and tourism sectors. It's quite the unique gift to Chattanooga; what other city has a nature preserve island in the middle of their downtown core? Maclellan Island supports many species of flora and fauna, and serves as a rich Native American archeological and historical site. Unfortunately, due to dams upstream and boat wake along the river, Maclellan Island is losing shoreline at a rate of an acre per decade. Maclellan Island is hoping to secure grant funding to stabilize the shoreline all the way around the island, and we hope that some increased activity on the island will strengthen the case for funding. If nothing is done to save the island, we are losing a crucial piece of Chattanooga's history and natural environment for the generations to come. Furthermore, this garden could be the first step in building something completely unique and new on Maclellan island in the years to come! The Chattanooga Botanical Garden is a newly formed nonprofit group looking to build a botanical garden in Chattanooga, and we hope that this project will help shine a spotlight on our mission. We want to create a mini garden for people in Chattanooga to enjoy now while we work on building the big one--but we also hope this puts us on the radar for securing our own grants to make those things possible! We hope this collaboration will be another first stepping stone in creating something beautiful for Chattanoogans, and continued partnerships with the Audubon Society in the future. Don't worry -- a crucial part of both ChattBG's and the Audubon Society's mission is stewardship of the natural environment and resources -- so we would not be building or planting anything that would disrupt the natural wildness of Maclellan Island! We plan to landscape with native plants and other plants that highlight the natural beauty of the island. We definitely would not be planting any invasive species! Our paths and gazebo will be constructed of natural materials that are designed to blend back into their surroundings. We plan to partner with Foxwood Gardens, a local garden design company that specializes in holistic and native gardening, to design the woodland garden. We also plan to pull in local craftsmen and carpenters to construct the gazebo. The gazebo would be open air, about 20' in diameter, and have a bench wrapping around the interior, providing plenty of room for people to come out and sit. Between both ChattBG and Audubon Society, we have a vigorous group of supporters and volunteers that would assist with installation of the gardens and periodical maintenance! The garden at Paddlers' Rest would be the first stepping stone in creating something beautiful for Chattanooga to enjoy for the years to come. We hope this project will become a catalyst for both the Chattanooga Botanical Garden, but also the Chattanooga Audubon Society and even Maclellan Island. Who knows... this could be the start of something really beautiful being made at the island! Most importantly, we want to ensure that Maclellan Island is protected for years and years to come, and we hope this will be a small piece of that puzzle.
A forest school teacher training hub where local educators could access seasonal training sessions focused on forest school pedagogy. This initiative directly connects with the National Park City charter cultivating a “city in a park" mindset among our youth and enhancing the use of Chattanooga's natural assets. By equipping our local Hamilton County schools with nature-based curriculum skills, this project would be fully aligned with the city's goal of embedding nature into daily education.
We have a wealth of good music in our city, and Chattanoogans want to know the who, what, where, and when of our local scene. We'll have a monthly digital drop of articles, videos and more, in addition to a quarterly print magazine that answers the "who" and "what" of the great sounds coming out of Chatt, both from local musicians and from bands who travel here to play at our incredible venues. We'll also send out weekly emails and a curated calendar of events so locals and visitors can know the "where" and "when" without having to deal with decision fatigue on a free evening or hunt down when something's happening. If you're into a certain genre, Hearsay can help you find it. So far we have 25+ volunteers collaborating on this project, a team of talented writers, editors, photographers, and designers who love this city and the people in it. Part of being a National Park City is being connected, and we've got a wealth of good music here. Let's tell these stories and shine a light on our friends and neighbors who are creating good art for our community.
Chattanooga Audubon Society is now known for the infamous Maclellan Island goats. These world-famous cuties have been in the news from NY Times, CNN, CBS, and Backpacker Magazine. They do important work by chomping down on invasive species that have taken over the island. Now the public has the opportunity to boat out to the island with an experienced naturalist for a guided tour and short hike to visit the goats. This excursion takes you to Maclellan Island, where you’ll learn about its history, ecological features, and the birds you may spot along the way. And of course, the highlight is meeting the famous Maclellan Island goats! Funds will be used to pay for the naturalist on staff, as well as boat transportation to get the goats safely back to the island in June. Take your ride on the Goats and Boats tour, sponsored by Chattanooga Riverboat Company! Photos provided by Will Crooks (NY Times) and Views From Above
To work with local governments to amend noise ordinances that will reduce the noise pollution effecting the Chattanooga area. The beyond loud motorcycles, muffler altered cars and hot rod cars are causing vibrating high pitched levels of noise that echo off our surrounding mountains. Animals can not communicate, humans miss out enjoying entertainment in our parks or feel unsafe with extremely loud noise interruptions. Visitors, tourists and potential home buyers are opting to not invest time and money into areas where high traffic noise disturbance is a constant issue. Let’s make our National Park City a back to Nature Noise City instead of an Urban Roaring Race Track. Thank You!
Create a network of walking and biking paths, trails and other safe routes to connect our parks, schools, community centers and neighborhoods together.
The goal of the “From Soil To City” project is to promote a better environment both socially and environmentally in Chattanooga. Maximizing the green spaces in Chattanooga, as well as promoting local businesses and farmers. The seed would begin with partnership. Partnering with local businesses and farmers to make this event a possibility. The concept of the event is to find a vacant green space in Chattanooga that we are looking to activate/transform. We will have food trucks, and local vendors there to make it a fun event for the citizens. While also, hearing from the local community to see how they think we should transform this green space to better benefit the community. I think starting with a partnership is the best way to begin, because it shows how we are basing our whole project. It will start with friendship and coming together to make something happen in the city of Chattanooga. It would begin at a chosen vacant green space and ending with lots of fun and, food, and people there to bring attention to the transformation of this area. This could be anywhere from a local garden to a concrete pad for four square. Both maximizing and promoting a better community environment. So, we can see how we can cultivate the connection in Chattanooga between the SOIL and the CITY.
Overview World Fair Chattanooga is a community-driven initiative that brings Chattanooga residents together through monthly celebrations of international festivals, combining food, culture, and intentional learning experiences. Each gathering is inspired by a cultural tradition from one of the city’s diverse communities and is designed not only to celebrate, but also to educate and foster meaningful connections. In addition to global festivals, the initiative also reimagines American traditions, such as Thanksgiving; as inclusive, shared experiences where international communities can participate, contribute, and feel a sense of belonging The Need As Chattanooga continues to grow and diversify, there remains a gap between coexisting and truly connecting across cultures. Many international communities are underrepresented in public spaces, and opportunities to learn about traditions, histories, and lived experiences are often limited or surface-level. At the same time, residents are seeking more meaningful, human-centered ways to engage with their city and with one another. This initiative responds to that need by creating intentional spaces where cultural exchange is accessible, welcoming, and rooted in shared experience. The Idea This initiative establishes a city-wide series of festival-inspired gatherings, where each event highlights a different cultural celebration such as Holi, Diwali, Día de los Muertos, Tết, and Central American independence festivals. Alongside these, a special community-centered Thanksgiving gathering is introduced as a space where international residents can experience and reinterpret an American tradition through their own cultural lens. This creates a two-way exchange—celebrating global festivals while also making local traditions more inclusive and representative of the city’s diversity. How It Works Cultural gatherings are organized in collaboration with community members who wish to share their traditions. Each event centers around a festival and is brought to life through food, storytelling, and interactive experiences. Traditional dishes are served with context about their significance, and a storytelling element introduces attendees to the meaning and history behind the celebration. Interactive components—such as music, crafts, or cultural practices—encourage participation in a way that feels approachable and respectful. The initiative grows through partnerships and participation, allowing events to take shape based on interest, availability, and cultural relevance rather than a predetermined schedule. Impact on the City World Fair Chattanooga contributes to Chattanooga’s growth as an inclusive and connected city by creating opportunities for meaningful cultural exchange. It enhances cultural understanding by allowing residents to experience traditions beyond surface-level exposure, fostering empathy and awareness. The inclusion of Thanksgiving as a shared, cross-cultural celebration helps bridge the gap between local and international communities, allowing newcomers to feel included in American traditions while also expanding those traditions to reflect the city’s diversity. The initiative strengthens community connections by bringing together individuals from different backgrounds in a shared, welcoming environment. It also supports inclusive representation by giving international communities a platform to share their identities and traditions authentically. Additionally, by activating public spaces with purposeful programming, the initiative contributes to the vibrancy and cultural richness of the city.
Create a space for a pedicabbing community that will stimulate the local economy and increase community engagement.
Maclellan Island, in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, is overrun with invasive species. Our goal at Chattanooga Audubon Society is to "rewild" the island and restore it to native habitat. One large problem: Our small nonprofit needs money. Is there a way we can activate the island in an economically viable way while also restoring species? Can business and biodiversity co-exist? Enter Laura Marsh, a bold visionary with a great idea. What if we study how these changes on Maclellan Island affect species biodiversity over a 10+ year stretch? We can track ecosystem changes in real time as we rewild and reimagine the island, blending conservation and commerce. The concept is simple: Conduct species surveys for birds, insects, plants, and bats every year for 10 years, starting with a baseline survey. As we reinvent and restore the island, we can see how nature responds! The goal: Find ways in which biodiversity and business can thrive together. Conducting research on an urban island is a scientist's playground. These islands are like nature’s test labs: small, contained, and just wild enough to watch ecosystems change in real time. Because they sit right in the middle of human activity, they give us a rare chance to see exactly how biodiversity responds as we shape the space around it. It gets better. Since National Park City was founded by a National Geographic Explorer, I (Laura) will apply to become a National Geographic Explorer Grant to support this long-scale research project. Connecting with National Geographic will put Chattanooga even more on the map for becoming the best outdoor city in America, and maybe even the world. It gets even better: While conducting surveys, extra participants will be welcome. This could look like Title 1 students who want an opportunity to gain real world biology experience. Or underserved communities who wouldn't otherwise get out in nature. Or perhaps kids and families want a chance to do hands on science. Or even "research tourism" in which participants learn about our work and want to donate back to nonprofits. We want to reach as many communities as possible! Chattanooga has a unique opportunity to capitalize on a global rewilding and urban ecology movement. After all, what city has an island used for ecological research right in the heart of downtown?
Scenic City Scraps to Soil is a targeted, high-impact initiative designed to bring zero-waste practices into Chattanooga’s most visible tourism and hospitality hubs. Chattanooga has built a national reputation as the Scenic City, a destination defined by outdoor access, environmental stewardship, and a thriving tourism economy. However, a significant portion of waste generated by high-traffic hospitality destinations still goes to landfills, particularly food waste and single-use plastic products. We currently partner with established sustainability leaders like the Tennessee Aquarium, the Chattanooga Zoo, Clumpies, the Creative Discovery Museum, Marriott Chattanooga Downtown, Rock City, and Ruby Falls. By focusing on popular tourism locations such as the Chattanooga Choo Choo, the Chattanooga Convention Center, the Chattanooga Lookouts Stadium, the Hunter Museum of American Art, and the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, we can create a scalable and replicable model for zero-waste tourism across an even larger network of destinations. Tourism is one of Chattanooga’s strongest economic drivers, drawing visitors from across the tri-state region and beyond. However, the current visitor experience does not fully reflect the city’s environmental values at a systems level. Scraps to Soil positions Chattanooga as a leader in zero-waste, educational tourism in the Southeast, where sustainability can easily be embedded in everyday experiences such as dining, events, and attractions. By normalizing composting in public spaces, we see significant potential for a ripple effect across the local hospitality sector. Furthermore, greater adoption of composting practices in this sector strengthens the alignment between the National Park City brand and its operations across local culture, shared behavior, and our very own soil ecology. This initiative also directly supports the State of Tennessee's goal of achieving a 25 percent regional waste diversion rate for the Southeast region (Southeast Tennessee Development District 2026). This benchmark for diversion includes food waste and organics sent for composting, yard waste and land clearing debris, pre- and post- consumer food scraps, and other biodegradable materials processed for beneficial reuse. The material collected and processed through Scraps to Soil will make a measurable contribution toward regional compliance and long term sustainability. Dollar for dollar, composting is the most effective practice for reducing environmental impact. Through this Seed, NewTerra aims to remove key barriers to zero-waste adoption by providing subsidized composting service for the listed high-impact generators, as well as optional support for transitioning to compostable products in back-of-house operations in the tourism sector. We provide on-site training and implementation guidance for staff, and data tracking and reporting to quantify diversion impacts. We take pride in our model, with superb member satisfaction and retention since the company began in 2020. We aim for participation to be easy, affordable, and operationally seamless, never an added burden. Scenic City Scraps to Soil is designed as a launchpad rather than a one-time program. Expected outcomes across a 12-month period of composting include a significant increase in diverted organic material contributing to the 25 percent regional goal; the adoption of composting and compostable systems across up to ten major tourism entities; the creation of a replicable implementation model for future expansion; and strengthened partnerships between private businesses, the City, and regional waste infrastructure. We are confident in our ability to scale, and readily have the capacity for implementation. By demonstrating zero-waste success in Chattanooga’s most visible spaces, we lay the groundwork for broader policy adoption, expanded service coverage, and a citywide shift toward zero-waste systems. We strongly believe in a Chattanooga where food waste becomes soil, tourism supports sustainability goals, and the Scenic City lives up to its name from trailhead to tabletop.
Chattanooga's Walnut Street Bridge is already one of the city's most beloved public spaces. It’s a place where people walk, pause, and take in the river. "Chatt Spots" turns one bench on that bridge into something more: a visible, low-barrier point of connection for anyone who could use a conversation about their mental health. This is not therapy. It's a painted bench, distinct from the others, staffed by trained community members who can offer evidence-based guidance, connect people to local behavioral health and social resources, or simply be present when someone needs to talk. The bench operates on a simple insight backed by a growing body of global evidence: that brief, accessible, human conversations in familiar public spaces can reduce distress, increase help-seeking, and bridge the gap between struggling alone and getting support. The bridge is both a metaphor and the setting for our plan. The idea draws from several evidence-based traditions. Community-based peer support models, including the Friendship Bench program originating in Zimbabwe, which demonstrated that trained lay health workers delivering problem-solving therapy on public benches significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety and showed that non-clinical conversation in everyday settings can produce meaningful outcomes. Research on community health workers, peer support specialists, and "everyday helpers" consistently finds that people are more likely to engage with someone who feels approachable and embedded in community life than with a formal clinical referral. People that look like them, talk like them, and know their unique community context. The evidence also shows that the physical environment matters: nature, water, open air, and movement all reduce cortisol and support emotional regulation making a pedestrian bridge over the Tennessee River an ideal setting. The "Chatt Spots" bench would be visually distinct, painted in a way that signals its purpose without clinical branding. Think warm, inviting, maybe a little playful. We could have signage on the bench, "Want to Chatt?" The name itself does the work: it's a question, an invitation, and a nod to the city all at once. Signage would make the purpose clear: "This bench is here for you. Sit down if you want to talk about how you're feeling. No appointment. No cost. No judgment." Staffing would draw on Chattanooga's existing networks of trained peer support specialists, community health workers, faith-based counselors, and mental health first aid graduates. Volunteers and paid staff would rotate shifts during peak bridge hours (evenings, weekends, lunch hours). Training would cover active listening, psychological first aid, motivational interviewing basics, safety planning, and warm handoffs to local resources including the crisis hotline (988), community mental health centers, and Hamilton County's behavioral health services. The bench also serves as a connective node in a broader ecosystem. It can distribute resource cards, QR-coded links to self-guided tools, and information about local support groups, food banks, housing assistance, and substance use services. For people who aren't ready to call a hotline or walk into a clinic, the bench is the lowest possible threshold; you're just sitting down on a bridge you were already crossing. This seed aligns with National Park City principles in a direct way: it uses a beloved public natural space to improve quality of life and human connection. It treats the Walnut Street Bridge not just as infrastructure or scenery but as a civic commons, a place where nature, community, and care intersect. And it embeds health in the fabric of everyday life rather than sequestering it behind clinic doors. We're starting small. The first phase is a 10-week Saturday pilot with two trained volunteers, one painted bench, four hours a week. The goal is to test whether people will sit down, what they need, and whether the bridge works as a setting. That gives us real encounter data to take to funders and the city for a full-year program. The model is scalable. If "Chatt Spots" works on the Walnut Street Bridge, the concept can expand to other public spaces, Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park, the Riverwalk, creating a distributed network of visible, accessible mental health touchpoints across the city. Chattanooga becomes not just a National Park City but a city where the landscape itself supports emotional well-being.
Imagine transforming Chattanooga’s concrete highway corridors into living, breathing green infrastructure. Inspired by Mexico City’s Via Verde project, this initiative would convert highway pillars throughout the city into vertical gardens—turning underused gray surfaces into vibrant environmental assets. Helping to combat air pollution, noise pollution, the urban heat island effect, and water runoff issues in the Chattanooga area. Using climate appropriate moss and ferns.
River to Ridge run club will be a community running club, focused on bringing people together and building a community through running in the outdoors, for all paces and levels. My goal is to create a welcoming community to get people outside and to see all of the places in Chattanooga to spend time outside doing something that I personally love so much. The project would be located in Chattanooga in areas that would get a lot of people there, such as areas like the riverwalk, Coolidge Park, Sterchi Farms, the battlefield, and other places that Chattanooga has created for people to accessible places in Chattanooga to get outside. The category of this project would be connected communities because it is focused on building a community and bringing people of all skill levels together in the Chattanooga area, while also promoting everyday access to the outdoors.
The name for our project is Nooga Market! Our project is based on bringing people in the Chattanooga area together to share different cultures, including Asian, African, Western, and Latin cultures. This project is really focusing on bringing the community together to have some fun while talking in the beautiful national park. Nooga Market will not only be about bringing culture to Chattanooga, but also about people sharing their stories and seeing people from all different backgrounds come together in one space. Nooga Market will dedicate bringing in small businesses from all kinds of cultures and backgrounds. We connected our project to the category of connecting communities. Not only will the community of Chattanooga benefit from this, but also the small businesses around Chattanooga. These businesses will experience more exposure and revenue. We want our community to be more aware of these small businesses and to take advantage of what they offer. We really wanted to bring more awareness of the different cultures in Chattanooga, especially since we both come from such diverse backgrounds. We wanted to give others the chance to share their own culture and stories with the community. This project is community-led, with some small businesses involved. We wanted to include small businesses so it would give our community a chance to grow and acknowledge the little things that may be missed. The businesses we have decided to include are Southern Squeeze, Spice and Tea Exchange, Scoop around the Ice cream bar, and Bread & Butter. All of these businesses will either provide a fun night or a more in-depth background of a culture. Another big part of Nooga Market is creating a space where people feel comfortable sharing and learning with each other. We want our market to feel like an unforgettable experience where people can try new foods, communicate with others, and be exposed to new traditions. By doing this, we hope to break barriers between different cultures and build respect for groups in Chattanooga. This project is important to us because it gives us a chance to learn, reflect, connect, and appreciate the community around us. As Chattanooga progresses, and with that comes growth, and we want to grow with this city. We want to grow Chattanooga's culture and small businesses. This is why Nooga Market will give the community growth and change that we have been looking for. We know our idea has what it takes, and with the help of the vendors and small businesses, we know our idea will succeed. We would use the park as the event space, and people would hear about it through social media, school announcements, and our community school partnerships. Nooga Market will not just be another place that is overlooked; it will be a place where everyone can have a voice and a chance to grow.
Williams Island is a 450-acre island at the gateway of the Tennessee River Gorge. For over 10,000 years, humans have been interacting with this unique space. Currently, there is a free, public campground on the island managed by the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. The Tennessee River Gorge Trust team is also working to create a 2-mile loop trail that takes visitors around the island to a future grassland restoration site, a scenic vista into the Tennessee River Gorge, wildlife viewing area by a large wetland, and informational kiosks. The trail system has been designed by TRGT in partnership with the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, Tennessee Division of Archaeology, Muscogee Creek Nation. We are close to meeting our fundraising goal to construct the trail system and renovate the campground over the summer of 2026!
Williams Island is a 450-acre island at the gateway of the Tennessee River Gorge. For over 10,000 years, humans have been interacting with this unique space. Over the past century, notable portions of the island have changed form from its prior form and taken over by a list of invasive species . The Tennessee River Gorge Trust is seeking begin a long term restoration process to degraded sites on Williams Island to the biodiverse native grasslands that once flourished on the island. The new Williams Island Trail will take visitors through the prairie to educational kiosks, a pavillion, and abundant spring and summer wildflowers. Bird banding research projects will also occur within this restoration area to assess how bird species respond to the habitat improvements.