Chattanooga secure additional funding for Parks and Outdoors

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Earlier this month the city of Chattanooga proposed its FY25 budget.

However, this week Mayor Kelly was able to secure an additional $16 million to add into the capital budget including $4.1 million going to Chattanooga’s Parks and Outdoors department.  

“It is the single largest investment in maintaining the park system, at least a decade. We are talking about $18 million in new spending to make the stuff work, be fun, be clean and be safe. As well as enjoyable for everyone and that is a big step for our community,” said Scott Martin, Administrator for Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors. 

Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors is all about caring for local parks across the city. 

Scott Martin with Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors believes these funds are important to the parks’ infrastructure. 

“It is critical because if you do not take care of what you got no one is going to use it. Who visits a park that is dirty, unkept, unsafe, they become liabilities. But we need to deliver them in a way that is beautiful and fun,” Martin said. “And that is when everyone goes to get their photos taken there. That is where you go for your family memories, and that is when you build what we are trying to do here with the best city in North America.” 

The budget was created through the Parks and Outdoors plan that took more than 24 weeks to complete. 

The money will go towards repairing park bathrooms, Montague Park, and lighting at Rivermont Park. 

Plus, “New water fountains that work when you press the button, you will see new playgrounds going across the community. What is really exciting to me personally, we now have money for new land acquisition, and in a city that is growing as fast as ours. If we wait for gifts and donations we are never going to get there. For the first time we are going to be buying land from willing sellers for future parks,” said Martin. 

Nearly 35% of folks have access to a park across Chattanooga. 

Martin hopes these investments will allow tourists and residents to enjoy beautiful parks. 

“Our goal is to move that to 55%. Our goal is to see that every community has a park that is good as Coolidge Park in their neighborhood. That they can enjoy and call their special place,” Martin concluded.