Glass Street trail officially dedicated today on National Public Lands Day

Photographed on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn., the main entrance for the Sherman Reservation is located on Lightfoot Mill Road on the north end of Missionary Ridge.
Photographed on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn., the main entrance for the Sherman Reservation is located on Lightfoot Mill Road on the north end of Missionary Ridge.

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See a full list of National Public Lands Day events at chattanooganow.com

Glass Street Live

What: The National Park Service and Glass House Collective will dedicate a new quarter-mile trail that runs from Pennsylvania Reservation on Glass Street to Sherman Reservation.When: Today, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.Where: Glass Street/Sherman Reservation Parking: Community Church of Christ at 2508 Glass Street

The ongoing celebration of the National Park Service's 100-year anniversary coincides with National Public Lands Day, and to mark the occasion a new trail linking two Civil War sites will be formally dedicated today.

An official opening of the new quarter-mile path linking the Pennsylvania Reservation at the end of Glass Street to the Sherman Reservation will be part of the Glass Street Live block party from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

"We're really pleased to formally dedicate and celebrate this new trail, which is the result of a partnership between the state, the city, Glass House Collective and the Southeast Conservation Corps," said Brad Bennett, superintendent of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. "We're grateful that collaboration between so many organizations helped create a new connection for this neighborhood."

The Southeast Conservation Corps finished the trail in May after grant money for the project was secured last winter.

Sherman Reservation is a 50-acre parcel that is part of the military park's jurisdiction.

The new trail provides neighborhood residents with safe pedestrian access to a substantial but long-underused parcel of green space. They can start from the smaller Pennsylvania Reservation and take the trail along a portion of Lightfoot Mill Road that does not have sidewalks.

Bennett said it's a connection that does more than just help bolster the park service's educational and historical mission.

"Of course, the primary purpose of the national park is to preserve the historic landscape where Civil War and Native American history happened," he said. "But at the same time, with more than 100 miles of trails, the park also provides great opportunities to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of being outside in nature and beauty."

Sherman Reservation is named for Union Gen. William T. Sherman. Ironically, however, it was the site of the Confederates' best success during a Nov. 25, 1863, battle that Union forces ultimately won.

National Public Lands Day is an annual event that encourages volunteers and community members to improve and promote their local public lands.

Events will be held across the state at state parks, including nature hikes, history hikes and volunteer opportunities.

Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.

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