Staff Photo by Tim Barber/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Justin Burd works as a concrete artist. He plays as a rock climber and kayaker.When Justin Burd moved away from Chattanooga as a young child, he had no idea he would one day come back.
A variety of things drew him back to his hometown: the tempting rapids of area whitewater streams, the abundance of boulders to climb and ultimately a job offer.
Burd, an athlete, concrete artist, husband and father, said he’s glad to be home.
“Downtown has [really been cleaned up], and there is so much to do. It’s a great place to raise Bella,” he said of his 3-year-old daughter. “There is so much stimulation here for a kid.
“West Virginia was great, but all you had were the mountains. Here you’ve got the [Tennessee] Aquarium, [Creative] Discovery Museum and the Hunter Museum [of American Art]. The town has great culture.”