A Plan For Making City Parks Accessible To Everyone

  • Friday, August 7, 2020

As a mayoral candidate, I have a plan for making Chattanooga’s parks and outdoor recreational activities accessible to every Chattanoogan by reconnecting Outdoor Chattanooga with Youth and Family Development and Public Works.

 

“In the midst of its marketing successes, Chattanooga has failed to build an infrastructure that allows people from every neighborhood and walk of life to enjoy the city’s many outdoor amenities.

Even though we have almost 20 miles of the Tennessee River flowing through our city, we have kids in Alton Park, East Chattanooga, and other neighborhoods who have never even seen it, much less dipped their toes in the water. 

 

The plan is to create a cohesive parks and recreation system that will cost-effectively connect all the city’s residents to its parks and outdoor amenities.

 

I will enact a 5-point plan to create a world-class Parks and Recreation Department in City Hall.  It includes:

 

Integrating YFD, Parks & Recreation, Outdoor Chattanooga, and Parks Maintenance into a single, efficient department offering expanded programs and services

 

Making CARTA buses free to ride for all riders and improving service to the Tennessee Riverpark, Reflection Riding, hiking trailheads, major parks, and public recreation facilities

 

Connecting Chattanooga greenways to provide a network that will allow citizens to safely and easily walk and bike from Chickamauga Dam to South Chattanooga (and all points in between)

 

Increasing neighborhood arts programs that will develop and showcase the talents of residents and produce greater opportunities for local professional artists

 

Collaborating with community partners (e.g. UTC, TVA, etc.) to expand recreational opportunities and create new programs and facilities.

 

Monty Bruell

 

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