To celebrate National Public Lands Day, on Saturday (9/22/18) the City of Chattanooga Department of Public Works’ Parks Division partnered with GreenSteps to host a Spruce-Up project at Renaissance Park. The beautification of an underutilized area in Renaissance Park and an addition to the park’s existing amenities were the goals of this spruce-up. Ten volunteers and staff picked up litter, keeping the litter out of our streams and waterways, and spread mulch for the establishment of a new trail on the west side of the park. The new trail is accessible from the pavilion located next to the Renaissance Park parking lot on Manufacturers Road.
On September 22, 2018, hundreds of thousands of people at sites throughout the country took part in National Environmental Education Foundation’s (NEEF) 25th annual National Public Lands Day, sponsored by national corporate sponsor Toyota. National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. NEEF uses the day to connect people to public lands and their communities, inspire environmental stewardship, and encourage the use of public lands for education, recreation, and general health.
In FY2018 the Chattanooga Park Stewards Volunteer Program, run by DPW’s Parks Division accomplished the following; removed 1.3 acres of invasive plants, spread 92 cubic yards of mulch, used 4 gallons of paint, hosted 4 volunteer orientations, gained 11 new park stewards, and totaled 895 volunteer hours. Are you interested in the Chattanooga Park Stewards Volunteer Program? Visit their webpage or find them on Facebookto learn more.