Shout out to our latest Park Stewards that have taken on Volunteer Roles with Parks and Outdoors! These stewards have all joined our team of park support since May-
David Johnson
Finn Harper
Kelsey Parkey
Amy Steele
Zelma Lansford
Mckenzie Lowe
Linda Kirk
Tyler Borchers
Lynnette Carlson
Valerie Tinsley
Bradley Madaris
Jean Neveling
Emily Serban
Maggie Tate
Elizabeth Laschiazza
Lejla Kurpejovic
Amber Wheeler
Mary Ellen Mazo
Kristopher Ottinger
Jim Jagels & Garnett Jagels
Janet Colwell
Chelsea Williams
Betsy Hartman
Please remember to stop by our office to pick up your t-shirt and litter grabber!
We are located at 221 River Street in the North Shore and usually staffed M-F 8-4
This year our Natural Resources team shared educational programming with Every Kid Outside summer camp students, and held an after-dark presentation about urban wildlife with nocturnal habits.
The work of pollinators ensures full harvests of crops and contributes to healthy plants everywhere.
We also joined TN Aquarium for outreach during Pollinator week.
Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors joined TN Aquarium for Pollinator Week outreach.
Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors Natural Resources staff provided programming during Urban Wildlife After Dark outreach at Heritage Park.
Pollinators are more than just bees and butterflies. Did you know that a slug or a skink can also be pollinators?
Pollinators come in a variety of species:
Lizards, geckos, and skinks
Slugs, gnats, and true bugs
bats and sugar gliders.
Pesticides are commonly used in urban and agricultural environments to kill invertebrate pests, diseases, and weeds. However, many pesticides - including insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides - harm pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Stewardship Success
Maybe you noticed that South Chickamauga Creek Greenway has been overgrown and ragged looking in spots. Summers sunlight and heat helps the weeds and vegetation explode with extra growth. Our park stewardship program harnesses the help of community and corporate volunteers. This time Unum joined the effort and helped cut back the vegetation near Youngstown Trailhead.
We also created a new stewardship opportunity in our volunteer program just for South Chickamauga Creek Greenway - so if you have some spare time and like cutting back vegetation - we've got the task for you!
Thank you to Unum for their service day, and to the 5 volunteers who've already agreed to help clear vegetation along the South Chick -
Brad Madaris
Val Tinsley
Elizabeth Laschiazza
Finn Harper and
David Johnson
Adopt - A - Park
Earlier this year we rolled out an Adopt-A-Park option for groups and individuals who want to make a greater commitment to park stewardship.
The Adopt-A-Park initiative promotes a more consistent approach to park-care and allows for deeper stewardship engagement as a recurring effort.
Local author, mom, purveyor of elevated Appalachian living and social media influencer Chelsea Williams and husband Cameron Williams of Sun Sleds have been hosting quarterly "Keep Chatt Clean" events to help foster civic pride when they decided to take an extra step.
In May Chelsea Chatts and Sun Sleds successfully adopted Renaissance Park. As adopters of a park they will be hosting monthly clean-ups. Their first recurring monthly clean up is scheduled to be held on July 13.
Join me in welcoming Chelsea Chatts as our park systems first adopters!
To find out more on how you can adopt a park see the enrollment information posted on our website -
The Chattanooga Park Stewards Program engages individuals, civic groups, corporate groups, churches and schools for projects and tasks throughout our parks.
Schools - this year we've hosted Ooltewah High, Hixson High, Collegedale Academy and UTC students.
Multiple Events - We've hosted 14 projects this year
Corporate groups - Komatsu, Audacy, US Xpress, Unum, and Spring Hill Suites
Outreach events - Career Day with Ivy Academy, Native Plant Expo, Wal-Mart Garden Center grand opening, TN Aquarium
Stay connected and learn more by following our social media posts!
.jpg?upscale=true&width=520&upscale=true&name=20240621_130819-COLLAGE%20(1).jpg)
.jpg?upscale=true&width=406&upscale=true&name=20211021_140742%20(1).jpg)
.jpg?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Untitled%20design%20(6).jpg)
