Frequent user of Heritage Park concerned about increased flooding

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Frequent flooding is disrupting life in one Chattanooga park.

One citizen, Henri Tenthorey, says that the flooding at Jack Benson Heritage Park in East Brainerd is completely preventable.

Tenthorey said, “Everybody wants to be able to come to the park and enjoy it.”

An example of flooding that occurred Wednesday morning at Jack Benson Heritage Park (Courtesy: Henri Tenthorey)

Henri Tenthorey and his dog Jacks have made the park a part of their daily routine for over five years.

However, they’ve noticed an increasing flooding problem.

Tenthorey said, “Sometimes, half of the small dog park is completely flooded, and people can’t even use the park because of that, and the trail that wraps around the backside of the dog park is also flooded can’t walk through there, or use the soccer field.”

Tenthorey says that the issue starts here at a nearby holding pond, adjacent to some new construction.

He says the water gets sucked up out of hhe pond and then as it gets released, it causes flooding down here in lower elevations of the park.

Tenthorey said, “One of the biggest problems is that people don’t want their dog drinking water that’s come from an unknown source.”

He also cites concerns to a meadow of native vegetation that according to signs posted inside the park, are in the process of being restored.

Tenthorey said, “I spoke with one of the personnel that works for the city, and she’s in charge of some of the water resources, and she came out and was upset that this native species field is being induated with flood water.”

We did reach out to the Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors, who tell News 12 they are aware of the flooding, and they agree it is being caused by the nearby construction.

The neighborhood next door is Heritage Walk, which is designed to be integrated into the park according to developer Green Tech Homes.

According to their plans, they are currently constructing phase two of that neighborhood.

Tenthorey hopes there is a solution to the flooding soon.

He said, “Since the city approved the holding pond in the first place, they should know where that water goes.”

Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors says they have informed the city’s Code Enforcement of the situation.

We have not heard back from them on the status of the investigation nor the company undertaking the construction at Heritage Walk.