Ariandne Solorio, left, and Hailey Spellman paint in the Chattanooga Civic Center at Mountainside. They are part of a group of members of Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in Raleigh, N.C., which recently did mission work in Chattanooga.Park in the works
Alton Park and Oak Hills residents are helping to plan a $1 million park in Alton Park. City Councilman Chris Anderson said the park, proposed for the old Charles A. Bell site, is the city’s biggest investment ever for a park in the community.Construction is scheduled to begin in January, with completion expected by the spring.“This is my baby. It’s going to become the new center of neighborhood pride” said Anderson, who represents the South Chattanooga community.Last week, Anderson stood among nearly two dozen city planners, residents and architects listening to suggestions from the community about the park.Landcape Architect John R. Brown with Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon showed the group different sketches of how the 5-acre triangular shaped park could look.Brown asked residents to place dots on pictures of what they wanted to see in the park to indicate the city’s priority for filling the space, he said.A pavilion with a restroom in the park got the largest number of votes, followed by having interpretive signs. Residents also indicated they wanted grills, shade trees, water fountains, security lighting and picnic tables.
Next week, the Alton Park Development Corp. will open the Chattanooga Civic Center at Mountainside to the public and launch its community programming.
“The overall goal is to uplift this community, especially giving our children opportunity to become empowered, not only economically, but educationally, socially and through offering performing arts,” said Dr. Elenora Woods, executive director of the development corporation.
The building, the former Alton Park/Piney Woods Resource Development Center at 701 Hooker Road, opens in the second week of July with dentistry, computer classes and child care for children from birth up to age 4, said George Calhoun, president of the Alton Park Development Corp.
Joyce Knox, a musician for Second Missionary Baptist Church, will provide piano and sewing classes. The center is planning a Latino Festival on July 23 and plans to do a production of “The Wiz” for youth interested in drama.
“All of the things that used to keep our kids busy and be successful, we want to bring that back,” Woods said. “And this is for everybody – blacks, whites, Latinos, anybody who wants to come out.”
Nearly two dozen student missionaries from Raleigh, N.C., assisted with painting the civic center, cleaning rooms and planting a community garden last week in preparation for the opening.
The students are members of Sacred Heart Cathedral Church and are among some 300 students who were in the city last month doing mission projects for nonprofit organizations.
“They were outstanding,” Woods said of the young volunteers.
Knox already has two donated pianos and a drum set for music classes, but wants to get more instruments and sewing machines.
Youngsters who are interested in fabric arts will be able to take sewing classes, make clothes and then put them on display at the civic center for sale, said Woods.
“We’re going to have options and opportunities and the ability to move people forward,” said Calhoun. “We want to get people more involved in things that offer self-sufficiency.”
To donate instruments and sewing machines, or for more information, visit the center at 701 Hooker Road or call 280-0083.
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 757-6431.