New Plans Transform Pavilion Park
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Community leaders are moving forward with a new vision for Pavilion Park, announcing the BlueCross Healthy Place project near Finley Stadium during a public event.
The project will focus on creating a more connected gathering space around First Horizon Pavilion, adding new recreation areas and shaded spaces designed to encourage year-round activity.
Leaders say the effort is part of a broader push to improve connectivity and expand recreation opportunities in Chattanooga’s downtown district.
Brian Wright, Executive Director of Finley Stadium, says “The blue cross healthy places grant is one of the marquee grants in the state to bring a significant private investment into public parks it for us to partner with the city of Chattanooga parks and outdoors department to bring a really creative approach to enhance the skate dog park behind the pavilion and create pavilion park”
BlueCross says the goal is to make the space welcoming and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
Chelsea Johnson, BlueCross Director of Community Relations and Foundations, says “We would love to have our Blue Cross, healthy places be destinations, and that’s the intentionality behind the design. You wanna make sure you have full inclusivity whether it’s for kiddos or for senior citizens no matter your abilities we want to make sure that this is a spot anyone wants to come to feel connected Feel welcome and enjoy”
A key addition to the project is a covered “airnasium” above the roller skate area, designed for year-round use.
Chelsea Johnson, BlueCross Director of Community Relations and Foundations, says “It’ll have big fans, lights, they’ll be able to not only play roller hockey all the time, but they’ll be able to do all kinds of events under that roof structure now it will almost be a mini first horizon pavilion if you will”
The improvements will also include new connections between Finley Stadium, First Horizon Pavilion, and surrounding park amenities.
Chelsea Johnson, BlueCross Director of Community Relations and Foundations, says “We’re investing to help with the user experience here we’re gonna have nice, exciting amenities and dog parks.”
Johnson continued saying “We’re putting a roof over the hockey rink to make sure that they can play no matter the weather and then we’re doing a promenade along the side of first Horizon Pavilion that’s going to really connect Finley all the way back to the amenities that have been existing in this park, but there wasn’t necessarily a connection to.”
The skate and dog park improvements total about 4.4 million dollars.
The larger BlueCross Healthy Place project is expected to arrive in 2027.
