Elsie A. Holmes Nature Park is a recreational space open to area residents. Park maintenance worker Nelan Poteet, left, and his wife, Catoosa County Recreation Department administrative assistant Dianne Poteet, oversee the park.
Photo by Katie WardSpring has officially sprung, and Catoosa County Recreation Department administrative assistant Dianne Poteet invites the public to take in the beauty of the season at Elsie A. Holmes Nature Park.
“It’s a great little place,” said Poteet, adding that many people do not know it exists.
The Catoosa County park donated by Ben Holmes in memory of his wife Elsie spans 66 acres with more than two miles of trails in a woodland bordered by the South Chickamauga Creek. A variety of species of flowers, plants and trees can be found in the park, as can amenities including a pavilion, playground and restrooms.
“The park is so peaceful with the creek rolling,” said Poteet. “A lot of people come here on a daily basis to walk.”
The trails have numerous talking tree boxes to tell people about specific trees in the park, like white oak, wild black cherry, sassafras, red cedar, yellow poplar, winged elm, mockernut hickory and dogwood trees.