The city’s green spaces and public parks are a treasure, but they cost money to maintain. Trust for Public Land representatives are working to create a volunteer group to help alleviate some of the maintenance needs – and costs.
“Larry [Zehnder of Parks and Recreation] is starting to get put on the spot by city council people [who say], ‘It’s great, but how are we going to maintain this stuff?'” said local TPL director Rick Wood. “Greenways, as we build more trails there isn’t much of a place to have more rangers out on those trails. As the Greenway Task Force we said it’s important, we need to do something about it. We said, ‘OK, we need a Chattanooga volunteer program.'”
The details are still being developed, but Wood has already employed the help of Chattanooga State graphic design students to create a name and logo that could be used on everything from volunteer “uniforms” to flyers. As the rest of the Chattanooga Park Stewards program now begins to take shape, the bills will start coming.
Wood estimated that about $70,000 will be needed to cover the cost of employing a volunteer coordinator, purchasing office equipment and creating printed materials.
“It all comes down to resources,” Zehnder said. “It probably fits in Parks [and Recreation department] best, but I’m not sure we have the resources. That whole bigger picture needs to probably be reviewed.”