Upgrades of the Sterchi Farm trailhead at the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway are underway, with the city's first environmental art project scheduled to open along the trail in the coming weeks.
The project was completed by Portland-based artist Adam Kuby and offers users an object field that capitalizes on the area's natural environment. The project will be unveiled and opened to the public at an April 28 event at the trailhead.
If you go
› What: Meet Me at the Park› When: Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.› Where: Sterchi Farm, 3000 Harrison Pike
"The South Chickamauga Creek Greenway is one of the most vital elements in a growing network of trails and paths in our city," according to a statement from Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke. "The new project at Sterchi Farm will enhance the experience for everyone and is another terrific example of how public art and public land can work together to create a safer, stronger and healthier Chattanooga."
The event is billed as a celebration of the opening of the artwork and adventure trail, where attendees can cycle, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, explore and play. The new adventure section is directly off the multi-use path near the Sterchi Farm trailhead and features several ramps users can walk, climb, ride or run across.
Several of the obstacles feature challenging objects spanning two ramps to traverse, such as repurposed logs from the Miller Park revitalization project. The area is recommended for adults or children 7 and older with adult supervision. It was funded by a donation from the Lyndhurst Foundation and a grant from the National Recreation and Parks Association and the Walt Disney Company.
Glenn Burton, left, and Katherine Walker fish in South Chickamauga Creek near the Sterchi Farm Greenway on Thursday, April 12, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Glenn says he has fished in the location since he was a boy."[The Trust for Public Land] undertook a planning process with the community to create more of a park plan for the trailhead. Out of that process came an interest from the community where they wanted to see an area that encouraged exploration and physical activity," Chattanooga Executive Director of Public Art Katelyn Kirnie said. "They liked the idea of artwork, but they didn't feel like they wanted something like a metal playground or metal sculpture, so this is our very first environmental artwork in Chattanooga."
Further upgrades will bring a pavilion and restroom facility to the trailhead this summer. The amenities come in preparation for the completion of the South Chickamauga Greenway, which has 3 miles remaining to be finished.
The greenway, which already connects to the Tennessee Riverwalk, will complete about 23 miles of uninterrupted paved trail running from East Ridge to St. Elmo. The project is expected to be finished by the end of 2019.
"It's a huge asset for Chattanooga to have such a long thread of connectivity," Trust for Public Land Tennessee State Director Jenny Park said. "The character of this is always going to be different from the riverwalk. It's special to be so close to a very urban environment but feel like you're just completely in nature."
Contact staff writer Mark Pace at mpace@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659. Follow him on Twitter @themarkpace and on Facebook at ChattanoogaOutdoorsTFP.