We’ve heard from local officials that converting 500+ acres of Enterprise South Nature Park into industrial land is necessary for job growth. Industrial development absolutely has a place in Hamilton County’s economy, but not on federally protected parkland.
This isn’t about being “pro-industry” or “anti-industry.” It’s about choosing the right land for the right purpose.
Advanced manufacturing relies heavily on automation and robotics, meaning far fewer workers per acre. A synthetic graphite plant, being built within Enterprise South Industrial Park (not to be confused with the nature park), is projecting roughly 2 to 3 new jobs per acre. These facilities still require lots of cleared land, costly infrastructure and long-term tax incentives, which lower their economic return per acre.
Let’s compare that to Enterprise South Nature Park. In 2018, then-County Mayor Jim Coppinger reported the park saw more than 150,000 visitors a year — before Chattanooga’s post-pandemic population growth, before the expansion of our trail network, and before the city became North America’s first National Park City.
(Opinion: ‘Land swap’ undercuts ‘Park City’ designation)