Ann Ball, center, project coordinator with the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership, outlined grand opening plans for various waterfront developments at the Chattanooga Mortgage Bankers Association luncheon. She is shown chatting with Cheryl Whitehead, MBA president, and Sandy Hodges, secretary, at the luncheon. Click on all our photos to enlarge.
photo by Irby Park
A series of openings and dedications of the 21st Century Chattanooga Waterfront begins this weekend with the opening of new additions to the Creative Discovery Museum and climaxes with the Grand Finale Celebration on May 14, Ann S. Ball, project coordinator with Chattanooga Downtown Partnership told the Chattanooga Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
The $120 million renovation of the waterfront, she said, will have a direct impact on business and downtown living and all of the development was accomplished in less than three years, from start to grand opening, and all with private funding.
This weekend opening is the first of five weekend celebrations climaxing with The Passage Commemoration on May 13 and Grand Finale Celebration on May 14. The Passage, a new pedestrian link under Riverfront Parkway between downtown and the river, celebrates the art culture and history of native Americans. Seven doors imbedded in the west wall symbolize the seven clans of the Cherokee Nation.
Festivities will include Challenger, an American bald eagle, flying over the Landing from the Market Street Bridge to a handler on the Chattanooga Pier and a 25-voice Cherokee choir from Oklahoma performing, joined by a 500-voice Chattanooga choir.
Activities May 14 will include hot air balloons at Ross’s Landing, Coolidge and Renaissance Parks offering tethered rides, an array of boats on the river with dozens of brightly lit motorized boats in the evening and an internationally acclaimed team dancing on the outside of the steel of the Market Street Bridge. The new Pier will be transformed into a world of motion, light and sound with a cast of 50 local dancers and a CSO Orchestra performance of water and river music. The evening climaxes with a gigantic performance of lasers from Renaissance Park.
On Saturday, April 23, the celebration will mark the Hunter Gallery grand opening, First Street and the Pedestrian Bridge opening and Renaissance Park grand opening. All areas will be animated with music, dance and working artists.
The Aquarium grand opening featuring Lunch at the Landing is scheduled for April 29 with the Pier grand opening on April 30 and a tour of public art and downtown living on May 1. The Aquarium will open its new 60,000 square foot building, Ocean Journey, with Caribbean bands, samba musicians and puppets. The Chattanooga Pier, dominated by seven, 40-foot masterpieces of light, will be inaugurated in the evening with an all-star swing band, dance, antique wooden boats and a movie on an abutment under the Olgiati Bridge.
The Sunday Tour of Downtown Living and Public Art will allow citizens to tour the waterfront and downtown living quarters.
The Four Bridges Art Festival will be held May 7 and 8 at the First Tennessee Pavilion and will include shuttle rides to the river to stroll the public art and parks.
Ms. Ball said the renovation of the riverfront will bring people to the river to enjoy the city’s downtown playground.
With BellSouth Park in the background, the new Rooftop Fun Factory along with other new features at the Creative Discovery Museum opens this weekend. Click on all our photos to enlarge.
photo by Irby Park