One thing missing from new ballpark
As a Chattanooga resident and Lookouts fan, I recently attended a game at the new Erlanger Park and left impressed by the ballpark, the atmosphere and the investment in Chattanooga’s South Broad District. It is a beautiful new venue and a major step forward for the fan experience.
But one thing stood out for the wrong reason: I could not find a recycling option for plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
That feels like a missed opportunity, especially at a ballpark built around renewal. Erlanger Park rose from a former industrial site and is now being promoted as a year-round gathering place and centerpiece of redevelopment. If Chattanooga can turn an old industrial property into something new and exciting, surely we can also give fans a way to keep recyclable bottles and cans out of the landfill.
Recycling programs are common across professional baseball, including at other minor league parks. Clearly marked bins for aluminum cans and plastic bottles throughout the concourse would be a simple, visible first step.