Chattanooga, Tennessee, became North America’s first National Park City in 2025, joining a small group of cities worldwide recognized by the National Park City Foundation for prioritizing access to nature, protection of green space and long-term environmental planning. The designation follows a multi-year application process requiring demonstrated progress in conservation, outdoor accessibility and community support. The city’s selection reflects decades of environmental and infrastructure investment.
Once labeled the “dirtiest city in America” in 1969 due to industrial pollution, Chattanooga has since expanded projects like the Tennessee Riverwalk, opened the Tennessee Aquarium and supported a growing network of outdoor recreation businesses and public lands. Today, residents and visitors have access to hiking, biking, paddling and other outdoor activities within minutes of downtown, a key factor in the designation. The recognition also signals continued efforts, including conservation programs, green space protection and community-led initiatives aimed at improving environmental quality and access to nature. Learn more below. Cheers to Chattanooga.
What is Chattanooga National Park City?
The Chattanooga we know today exists in large part due to Chattanooga Venture’s multi-decade effort and visioning process. National Park City is committed to casting a new vision for the next 50 years. And re-igniting a spirit of civic entrepreneurship and community-wide collaboration for a new generation eager to help build the best place in the world to live, work and play.
In a remarkable story, Chattanooga has been transformed over the past decades, from one of the most polluted cities in the United States in the 1970s to an unrivalled outdoor destination and biodiversity hotspot.
The impressive campaign for Chattanooga National Park City has built upon this legacy of change, involving widespread support from across the city including dozens of grassroots and community-led organisations, the City of Chattanooga, local businesses, and the endorsement of over 5,000 citizens across the city.
Chattanooga has set out seven inter-linked commitments to guide their National Park City around:
- Unrivalled 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
The Chattanooga National Park City Journey
Over the past few decades Chattanooga has been transformed from a former industrial hub, to an incredible outdoor destination, deeply connected to nature, with an active civil society and supportive city government, leading efforts to conserve and enhance biodiversity and make their city greener, healthier, and wilder.
Chattanooga’s efforts to champion the environment can be seen in everything from the reimagining of Montague Park and the Riverfront to clean water initiatives and land preservation efforts.
Elsewhere citizen-led organisations have developed people and planet positive initiatives including community gardens and food forests, while city-driven wildlife restoration is on full display at sites including the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, and the Hellbender research lab at the Chattanooga Zoo.
The success of the above is rooted in strong multi-agency stakeholder collaboration with communities, not-for-profit organisations, research institutions, city government officials, and experts in design, ecology, culture and arts coming together to realise the Chattanooga National Park City vision.
