After evaluating the area’s amenities back in May, the Georgia Tourism Product Development Team returned to Catoosa County last week to provide local officials with recommendations and strategies for attracting tourists in order to bolster economic development.
Though the team’s wide-ranging report weighs in on everything from arts and historical amenities to outdoor recreational resources, much of the focus during the team’s Sept. 11 meeting was on downtown development.
Looking to Fort Oglethorpe, the team urged local planners to find the “funding or political will” to activate the city’s gateway, pointing to projects already in the works for the city, such as the Lafayette road master plan and the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission’s feasibility study for bikeway and pedestrian multi-use routes in Catoosa, Walker and Dade counties.
Further suggestions included placing a sign that reads “Welcome to Home of the 6th Calvary & Chickamauga Battlefield” to attract passersby.
Cindy Eidson lists suggestions for downtown development and historical preservation throughout Catoosa County. (Staff photo by Myron Madden)“People need to know about it,” said development team Director Cindy Eidson. “When they’re driving down, they don’t know that the promised land is just sitting right over there off that main four-lane.”