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Chattanooga seeks ideas for park, green-minded projects

Staff file photo / Chloe bounces through the grass toward another dog at the Greenway Farm dog park. A National Park City Festival is scheduled for April 25 at Greenway Farm. Staff file photo / Chloe bounces through the grass toward another dog at the Greenway Farm dog park. A National Park City Festival is scheduled for April 25 at Greenway Farm.

By Staff Report March 2, 2026 2 min read

The city of Chattanooga is launching a “seed drive,” a campaign to generate ideas for park and green-minded civic projects both within city limits and throughout Hamilton County.

“We aren’t just looking for seeds. We’re looking for the next great idea to transform a vacant lot, support our pollinators or bring more green to your block,” said a press release from Chattanooga National Park City, a project of the parks and outdoors department.

The National Park City designation for outdoorsy locations comes from a London-based international charity organization and is unrelated to the National Park Service.

Chattanooga is looking for 100 seeds, which it defines as “place-based, collaborative projects” to enter its selection process. By the end of April, the city hopes to select between five to 10 seeds to receive public funding in order to complete the project.

The criteria for a seed is a project that is actionable in one season, rooted in a specific Chattanooga or Hamilton County neighborhood, faith-based location or school building/campus. Pitches should include how the project will be executed, the timeline for completion and what community support is necessary.

Questions about the process should be directed to NPC@Chattanooga.gov.

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SCHEDULE

— Kickoff: 5-8 p.m. Thursday at iFixit, 812 E. 12th St. Share ideas and brainstorm with mentors. Qualifying ideas will be published publicly for feedback and support.

— Workshop: 4:30-7:30 p.m. March 25 at Chattanooga Library downtown branch, 1001 Broad St. Share ideas and fine-tune already submitted ones with mentors and additional guidance.

— Expo: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. April 11 at the Choo Choo, 1400 Market St. Featuring 20 seeds that will receive public feedback and dedicated support from mentors.

— Pitch night: 6-9 p.m. April 24 at Studio Ours, 1401 Fort St. Seeds will be officially pitched, and five to 10 will be selected for funding and support from the city.

— National Park City Festival: April 25 at Greenway Farm, 4960 Gann Store Road. National Park City gear will be sold with live music and public display of seed pitches.

Find details and updates on events at ChattanoogaNationalParkCity.org.

— Compiled by Raymon Troncoso