The vacant lot on the 700 block of Market Street is getting some cosmetic changes and a new name, Center Park. Center Park is a newly-designed pocket park in the heart of City Center that will host various activities for Chattanoogans throughout the coming months and be a spot for the public to use at their leisure.
The major transition and utilization of this space will be to host the rapidly growing food truck scene in Chattanooga. The Food Truck Court at Center Park will include Taste of Argentina, Local Slice, Famous Nater’s World Famous, Southern Burger Company, Missing Link and The Muenster Truck (starting in June). The Food Truck Court at Center Park will officially launch in conjunction with Fresh on Fridays’ 2013 Opening Day, April 12, with a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new food truck court. However, some trucks will start selling food from Center Park as early as April 2.
Fresh on Fridays, another River City Company program, traditionally housed food trucks in Miller Plaza every Friday from April to October. However with the increase in food trucks, Miller Plaza cannot accommodate all the mobile eateries. Fridays in Miller Plaza will still include produce vendors, artisans, music and more. Also, Miller Plaza and Waterhouse Pavilion will still be the prime spot for people to sit and eat lunch as Center Park will not offer seating.
Christian Siler with Southern Burger Company said, "This is our third year of Fresh on Fridays, and I am excited for what the Food Truck Court at Center Park will bring for downtown. It's refreshing to see an empty lot converted into a usable and enjoyable green space, and I look forward to another busy burger season."
Jim Williamson, vice president of Planning & Development for River City Company, said, “Center Park will offer a fun, functional use of the space until future development decisions can be made. It is also a testament to the community’s support of food trucks to need a bigger space to house the group.”
Additional programming for Center Park will include Movies at Center Park, formerly known as Movies at the 700 Block, select Saturdays in September. River City Company is also looking into creating a community garden at Center Park and hopes Chattanoogans and visitors will use the space to gather and enjoy downtown similar to other community green spaces.
For more information on Center Park, visit facebook.com/centerparkchattanooga.