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Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

National Park City Foundation visits Chattanooga as part of peer review process

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, right, greats National Park City Foundation team member Jo Dimitri at Miller Park on March 12, 2025. National Park City Foundation Executive Director Mark Cridge looks on.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, right, greats National Park City Foundation team member Jo Dimitri at Miller Park on March 12, 2025. National Park City Foundation Executive Director Mark Cridge looks on.

Chattanooga is one step closer to becoming North America’s first National Park City, following a visit by a peer review team with the London-based organization that issues the designation.

For three days, the peer review team from the National Park City Foundation has taken a tour of Chattanooga, visiting various sites such as the Ed Johnson Memorial and Walnut Street Bridge, Point Park, Crabtree Farms and Enterprise South Nature Park, and meeting with the city’s partners on the initiative like the Tennessee Aquarium, Waterways, Reflection Riding and Trust for Public Land, according to an agenda provided by the city.

(READ MORE: Chattanooga’s historic Walnut Street Bridge closing soon for 18-month renovation)

Based on its time in Chattanooga, the international peer review team, including members from England, Scotland, Australia and the Netherlands, will evaluate the city according to a list of criteria and determine whether it receives the designation. At a Wednesday morning meet-and-greet with Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly at Miller Park, members of the peer review team spoke highly of the city.