Renaissance Park will host the official launch of the Democracy Speaks Civic Poetry Pathway on Sunday, June 28, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event marks a new addition to Chattanooga’s public arts landscape and serves as a local observance of America 250.
The event will showcase the work of 16 local poets whose original writings explore themes of history, democracy, civic engagement, and community. Organizers describe the installation as a one-of-a-kind public literary experience designed to encourage reflection, dialogue, and appreciation for the power of the written word.
The Democracy Speaks Civic Poetry Pathway was made possible through a partnership between Rhyme N Chatt Interactive Poetry and the City of Chattanooga’s Department of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy.
The launch event is free and open to the public, and residents are encouraged to bring family members, friends, and community groups to support local literary artists and experience Chattanooga’s first interactive public poetry exhibit.
The Poetry Pathway is located within Renaissance Park, a 23-acre urban wetlands park situated along the North Shore and Tennessee River waterfront at 100 Battery Place.
The outdoor installation features QR-coded signs placed along the park’s walking trails, allowing visitors to access audio recordings of original poems read by the authors themselves.
As visitors stroll through the park, they can stop at designated locations, scan the QR codes with a smartphone, and listen to poetry inspired by Chattanooga’s culture, community, natural environment, and local ecosystem.
The installation highlights the voices of local writers, including Kelly “Stormy Poet” Williams, Drexel White, Laura Brown, Mama T, and other Chattanooga-area poets.
Organizers say the project is intended to create meaningful connections between art, nature, and community while making poetry accessible to residents and visitors alike.
Rhyme N Chatt Interactive Poetry, a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating a vibrant community through the art of poetry, sponsors the initiative. The organization provides interactive platforms that empower individuals to express themselves, connect with others, and inspire change. Its mission centers on becoming, building, and bridging through creative expression.
The Poetry Pathway is available to the public daily at no cost. Visitors are encouraged to bring a fully charged smartphone with data access, along with headphones or earbuds, to fully enjoy the audio experience.
Community members can also preview the stops, read artist biographies, and listen to the poems online at poetrypathwaycha.com.