The current stats:

• 25% of Red Bank residents have access to a park or green space within a 10-minute walk from home (according to ParkServe).
• Worth noting, though, is that not everyone in that 25% is within a safe or easy 10-minute walk from home to a park.
• Red Bank sits at ~6.5 square miles, which means that technically, less parks are needed to meet this goal than in a larger city like Chattanooga.

How Red Bank + TPL hope to reach the goal:

• Red Bank budgeted for and will soon be hiring its first-ever parks + rec employee.
• A large focus of the campaign will include adding park space to northern Red Bank — currently, Kids Corner Playground is the city’s northernmost park.
• Another focus will lie in connecting pre-existing parks in the southern part of Red Bank. In particular, the city and TPL want folks to be able to get from White Oak Park to Kids Corner Playground safely + efficiently.
• A new “bicycle boulevard” is part of the plan to connect these parks, and also happens to be phase 1 of the 10-year NorthShore Greenway project.
• Thanks to the TPL partnership, Red Bank will gain access to tools and assistance in park mapping, securing land, and more.

Get involved

• TRY Archery! | Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 3-5:15 p.m. | Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St., Chattanooga | Free | Try this drop-in archery class for all ages to learn a new skill this year.
• Rishard & Friends: Wednesday Jazz | Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 7-9 p.m. | Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave., Chattanooga | $5 | Jazz vocalist Rishard will be joined by Kash Wright on piano + David Schwab on bass for an evening of jazz music.

• Winter Workshop Series: Wonders of Weather with Brian Smith | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St., Chattanooga or virtual | Free | Former meteorologist Brian Smith will break down weather planning into a few easy steps in this class.
• Gardening 101 | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 6-8 p.m. | Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St., Chattanooga | $30 | Learn the ins and outs of starting your own garden with “Garden Chick” Karen.

• 3rd Annual Tivoli Gala | Friday, Feb. 24 | 8 p.m. | Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga | $79.50-$300 | This year’s annual gala will feature a show by Bob Weir & The Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack.

• 2023 Bubbles of Fun Run 5K + 10K | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 8-10 a.m. | TN Riverpark-Hubert Fry Center, 4301 Amnicola Hwy., Chattanooga | $15-$40 | Run through bubbles to support the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.

• 75º | Mostly cloudy | 10% chance of rain 🌥️

• Yesterday, Moon River Music Festival announced its 2023 lineup with headlining performances from CAAMP + Hozier. Presale tickets will go on sale Thursday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m. EST — sign up to get your presale code.

• Applications are now open for EPB’s Home Uplift program. The program aims to provide substantial home energy upgrades (at no charge) to reduce resident electricity usage, improve home air quality, and save money on energy costs. See income qualifications + apply.

• Two affordable housing projects received preliminary approval from a city panel this week. The apartment complexes (expected to be available by the end of 2025) will provide a total of 156 units between the sites on Shallowford Road + East Main Street. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

• The City of East Ridge will host its National Women’s History Month Celebration on Saturday, March 4. Come out to the East Ridge Community Center from 12-4 p.m. for over 20 vendors providing information on various local women’s services + offering local handmade goods. (Chattanoogan.com)
• Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults is launching a series of American Sign Language classes through the organization’s Deaf Services. Next week, the organization will offer Level 1 and 2 Beginner ASL classes + a Conversational ASL class via Zoom. Learn more and register online.

• ArtsBuild launched a new grant opportunity for organizations to purchase equipment, build organizational capacity, train staff in key skills, and more. Learn more + apply for the Technical Mastery Grant — applications close on Thursday, Feb. 23.

• Tech Goes Home Chattanooga — The Enterprise Center’s digital inclusion program for residents of Hamilton County — has limited spots available for its free Computer Basics course that begins this evening, Wednesday, Feb. 22. Those interested in learning digital skills training can call 423-521-2071 to register. 💻

• Did you know that March 18 is Tennessee Tree Day? Join the Chattanooga Parks & Outdoor Department at Jefferson Heights Park for the installation of lightning protection, tree care information, a tree climbing demo, and more from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. 🌳

• UTC’s theater department will present the award-winning musical “Into the Woods,” with performances running Tuesday, Feb. 28 through Saturday, March 4. Grab your tickets at the UTC Box Office or online. 🎭 (The Pulse)

• Looking for a career that combines your love for exercise and desire to help others? Physical Therapy Assistants (PTA) use therapeutic exercise, physical therapy modalities, and special treatments to improve patient mobility, relieve pain, and more. Explore ChattState’s PTA program to learn how to get your career started in this field.*

• What we’re eyeing: Zulily’s sneaker shop and some fresh kicks for spring. Shop street styles from Nike, versatile New Balance picks, or fashionable Tory Burch sneakers all on sale now. 👟*

• Who | 20 restaurants and bars competing to win the “Best Margarita” title
• What | Become a judge for which spot has the best margarita in Chattanooga — your ticket gets you 12 sample-sized margaritas, access to an onsite photobooth and activities, and music from a live DJ
• When | Saturday, Aug. 5, 6-9 p.m.
• Where | First Horizon Pavilion
• Why | Benefits the Chattanooga Market (and it’s fun)