Chattanooga Celebrates National Walk to a Park Day
Chattanooga is getting ready to put on its walking shoes! On Thursday, October 10, our beautiful city will host a special day dedicated to promoting our community’s green spaces. This celebration is part of the nationwide initiative called National Walk to a Park Day, which encourages residents to step outside and take advantage of the local parks while shining a light on the importance of equal access to these cherished areas.
A Community-Focused Celebration
Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors, Neighborhood Services, the Trust for Public Land (TPL), and the Clifton Hills Neighborhood Association are joining forces to celebrate this day with an exciting walk and series of festivities. It’s a community affair that promises to be fun and engaging for everyone! Mayor Tim Kelly will even participate by leading a group of 5th-grade students from Clifton Hills Elementary School on a walk to Caruthers Park.
Caruthers Park is a delightful spot featuring a lovely walking path, a pavilion for gatherings, a picnic area, a playground for the kiddos, and a youth-sized soccer pitch for some active fun. It plays an important role in the city’s 10-Minute Walk Park Equity Accelerator plan—an initiative aimed at ensuring every resident has a park within a quick walk from home.
Why Parks Matter
Did you know that Caruthers Park serves nearly 1,000 residents? That’s significant when you think about how crucial parks are for the well-being of our community. Parks provide a place to exercise, relax, and connect with nature, all while offering a meeting point for community events and making friends.
The celebration will kick off at 1:30 p.m. with a public proclamation by Mayor Kelly, declaring October 10 as National Walk to a Park Day in Chattanooga. But that’s not all! Attendees can look forward to live music, engaging activities, and plenty of information about city resources that promote outdoor activities and urban green spaces.
Get Involved, Even If You Can’t Join
If you can’t make it to the event, don’t worry! Chattanooga boasts over 80 neighborhood parks that you can explore at your own convenience. Spend some time discovering the beauty of these parks and the offerings they present. To help you out, there’s a guide available featuring more than 30 of our favorite parks to visit!
Here’s a fun opportunity: if you visit a park and snap a photo during your adventure, you can make a difference just by sharing that picture! If you submit your photo online by Thursday, Smartwool will donate $5 for every photo up to a total of $25,000 to the Trust for Public Land. It’s a wonderful way to give back to our parks while enjoying a leisurely day outside.
Conclusion
So, lace up your sneakers and grab your family and friends for a stroll in one of Chattanooga’s wonderful parks this Thursday. Celebrate the greenspaces that enliven our community and promote health, happiness, and togetherness. Remember, it’s not just a walk—it’s a day to appreciate what nature and our neighborhoods have to offer! See you out there!
