Coolidge Park is one of 106 parks in Chattanooga. Located along the riverfront, it features an interactive water fountain, rock climbing boulders, a picnic pavilion, a military memorial, and a beautifully restored, century-old carousel. Image by zackzen via CC

Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been named North America’s first National Park City by the National Park City Foundation—an honor that celebrates the city’s decades-long transformation from one of the most polluted places in the U.S. in the 1970s to a vibrant hub for outdoor recreation and cultural life.

More than 50 local organizations and nonprofits worked together towards this goal. Dozens of public meetings and workshops invited residents to shape the vision and build broad support. Over 5,600 signatures were collected to demonstrate community backing. A National Park City Charter—co-created with more than 75 local leaders—outlined seven core commitments focused on people, place, and nature. In November 2023, Chattanooga submitted its “Journey Book,” a comprehensive portfolio highlighting the city’s work in environmental stewardship, outdoor access, and civic engagement.

The National Park City movement invites cities to reimagine themselves as “cities in a park”—where nature, community, and sustainable living are central to urban life. London became the world’s first National Park City in 2019, followed by Adelaide in 2021. With this announcement, Chattanooga becomes the third city—and the first in North America—to receive the designation.

As of this writing, at least eight other cities are pursuing recognition, including Glasgow, Rotterdam, Berlin, Tokyo, and Christchurch.

WEBSITE: Chattanooga National Park City