Chattanooga Secures $20 Million Grant to Transform Alton Park with Inclusive Development

The Tennessee office of the Trust for Public Land and the City of Chattanooga are gearing up for exciting developments as they celebrate their selection for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Community Change Grant.

With this $20 million grant, TPL and the City of Chattanooga will develop a more inclusive environment for the communities in the Alton Park area.

We’re in the middle of an incredible facility here at Country Farms, but it’s a historically disadvantaged neighborhood that’s been disconnected from a lot of more prosperous areas. This project will connect near the Riverwalk all the way through here and across Rossville Blvd. At the end of the day, it’s about community—creating community and connecting community—and that’s exactly what this project does,” said Mayor Tim Kelly.

The new trail will both improve the natural beauty of the area and deliver practical environmental benefits.

The other thing this project does is build resilience in Chattanooga. When I talk about resilience, I mean the ability to manage big storm events, ensuring that water does not flow into people’s homes or down the streets. Instead, it will be managed through infrastructure that’s a green infrastructure, which integrates nature-based solutions so that it becomes a manageable and sustainable system rather than a problem” Jeaneanne Gettle said regional administrator for EPA.

This project represents more than just a trail—it’s a pathway to renewed community connections and a brighter future for South Chattanooga.