A long-awaited vision for community connectivity and equitable development took a major step forward on December 13, as the Trust for Public Land (TPL), in partnership with the City of Chattanooga and local stakeholders, broke ground on the first phase of the Alton Park Connector.
A ceremony held at Station 33 in St. Elmo marked the start of construction on the first segment of a planned 2.6-mile trail system designed to link the historic neighborhoods of South Chattanooga, including Alton Park, to the Tennessee Riverwalk and the broader city greenway infrastructure.
The initial phase will connect Broad Street to St. Elmo Avenue.
City officials hailed the milestone, stating, “Community, connectivity, health, and economic growth all moved forward today.”
The project has been championed by community members for over two decades and is seen as a crucial step in addressing historical disinvestment and environmental challenges in the area.
“Alton Park has been waiting a long time for this, and I’m proud as mayor to show that as Chattanooga grows, every neighborhood grows with it,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. “This isn’t just a greenway–it demonstrates our commitment to bringing the benefits of an outdoor-driven city to neighborhoods that need it most.”
The connector’s purpose is not purely recreational; it is a critical piece of infrastructure. The area it serves has one of the city’s lowest rates of car ownership, making the pathway essential for residents to “get to parks, schools, jobs, and essential services more safely and easily,” Mayor Kelly noted.
The initial phase of construction is funded by a $500,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), with matching capital funds provided by the City of Chattanooga.
The project faced a period of uncertainty earlier this year following the unexpected loss of a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant. However, TPL and the City of Chattanooga collaborated to secure alternative funding and ensure the project moved forward.
Momentum continues for subsequent sections of the trail. Phase 3 of the connector is currently supported by a $6.4 million federal appropriation secured through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), championed by Congressman Chuck Fleischmann.
“The health, economic, and community-building value of projects like the Alton Park Connector are indisputable,” said Congressman Fleischmann.
The Alton Park Connector, converting a former rail line into a 1.3-mile walkable and bikeable pathway, is expected to directly benefit 1,800 residents living within a half mile of the trail.
“Trust for Public Land and our many valued partners share a belief that every neighborhood deserves great outdoor spaces,” said Noel Durant, Tennessee State director for Trust for Public Land. “This connector is a clear example of investing resources where public investment has historically been lacking.”
Alton Park’s history is marked by resiliency despite decades of environmental racism and industrial contamination from companies that operated in the mid-20th century. Local residents like Milton Jackson have cited the lasting health effects of industrial waste dumped into Chattanooga Creek.
“My wife had asthma really bad,” Milton recalled. “I wanted to find out what caused her asthma and made other residents ill. I studied the chemicals produced in Alton Park but found pollution in other communities, especially where Blacks lived.”
District 7 Chattanooga City Councilwoman Raquetta Dotley emphasized the critical need for safe connectivity, noting that children in Alton Park live less than a mile from the Riverwalk but are dangerously disconnected by busy roads.
“We need our kids to know that their neighborhood is important, but it’s also a part of a greater Chattanooga,” she said.