10.06.2023

Today’s Forecast

78º | Morning clouds | 24% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:39 a.m. | Sunset 7:18 p.m.

🚲 Park it on the ridge

Now open after seven years: Walden’s Ridge Park

NOOGAtoday | Walden's Ridge Park is now open to the public.

Get an inside look at this new park, its history, and the vision driving it. | Photo by @northchickconservancy

It’s been a long time coming, but the ridge was worth the wait — Walden’s Ridge Park, that is. Hamilton County’s latest outdoor scene (located on the side of Signal Mountain) has officially opened + folks can now enjoy all 200 acres of this park.

The beginning ideas of this park trail back to 2016 when a partnership and vision sparked between North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy and The Land Trust for Tennessee. That vision started to come to fruition in 2018, when Hamilton County Commissioners agreed they would manage + conserve the park once it was complete.

After years of fundraising, collaborations with local organizations, and time to build out the park plan, here is what you can expect during your next outdoor adventure.

NOOGAtoday | Mountain biking Walden's Ridge — Be mindful of your safety as there are downhill trails without guard rails, no reflectors, and in wooded + rocky areas.
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Photo provided by the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management

Mountain biking
Home to the first purpose-built, progressive, downhill trails in the greater Chattanooga area, bikers can experience varying levels of terrain + technicality over a 10-mile course. Get familiar with this type of trail design.

Climbing
With the help of Southeastern Climbers’ Coalition and its crew, there will be easy access to boulders from flat trails (located within a mile of the parking areas) that vary in levels of difficulty.

Hiking + trail running
Navigate the different trail systems surrounded by native plants and animals, walk alongside a natural spring and creeks + see views of the city and the Tennessee River Valley.

NOOGAtoday | Walden's Ridge park map — Hit the trails with this park map.
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Photo by @northchickconservancy

Now that the park is open to the public, it has transitioned to “Phase 3" of its construction plan — a continuation of fundraising to build future trails and maintain the grounds.

Note: To access parking points, there is a lower lot located at 1009 Reads Lake Rd. (just off of Mountain Creek) and an upper lot located on the W Road (before the switchbacks) + the park is officially closed after dusk.

Follow the trails

Events

Today, Oct. 6

Noontunes | Friday, Oct. 6 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Broad Street (Aquarium Way-High Point Climbing Gym), Chattanooga | Free+ | Spend your lunchtime with CHI Memorial, don your best pink outfit for breast cancer awareness, and enjoy music by The Essentials.
3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival | Friday, Oct. 6-Saturday, Oct. 7 | Times vary | Ross’s Landing, 201 Riverfront Pkwy., Chattanooga | Free+ | Grab your favorite lawn chair to celebrate this festival’s “Sweet 16th” year, see live performances, and enjoy food + beverage vendors.
The Black Jacket Symphony | Friday, Oct. 6 | 8 p.m. | Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga | $51.50-$56.65 | Spend a night listening to a special rendition of “Saturday Night Fever.”

Saturday, Oct. 7

Phoenix Fest | Saturday, Oct. 7 | 10 a.m.-11 p.m. | Greenway Park, 755 Raider Dr., Cleveland | Free+ | Come out to this music and arts festival that features various acts, food vendors, and plenty of activities for the kiddos.
Lovett or Leave It | Saturday, Oct. 7 | 8 p.m. | The Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga | $23.90-$57.40 | Watch Jon Lovett live and in person as he records his weekly “hit comedy and variety show” podcast.

Sunday, Oct. 8

Chattanooga Pride Festival + Parade | Sunday, Oct. 8 | 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. | Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter St., Chattanooga | Free+, RSVP | End Chattanooga Pride Week with a parade and festival celebration, featuring live entertainment and a vendor market.

Monday, Oct. 9

Fall Break Extravaganza | Monday, Oct. 9-Thursday, Oct. 12 | Times vary | Audubon Acres, 900 N. Sanctuary Rd., Chattanooga | $3-$100 | Spend fall break at one or all of the many events being put on, like animal yoga on Monday + a kids survival class on Wednesday.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

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News Notes

Community

A UTC team of researchers is working to determine the exact amounts and types of microplastics in the water of the Chattanooga metro + ways to filter them out. The team received $25,000 from the US Environmental Protection Agency to research methods of sampling stormwater. (The Pulse)

Number

$54,000. That’s how much in grant funds TDOT recently awarded winners of the Keep Tennessee Beautiful Awards of Excellence competition. Among the 17 winners was Keep Soddy Daisy Beautiful, which received $1,000 in funding.

Closing

Latina Professionals of Chattanooga Founder Jocelyn Loza announced the dissolution of the local organization due to challenges regarding participation and support. Despite the closure, the organization noted that its commitment to supporting Latina women and girls remains unwavering.

Edu

East Lake Montessori will break ground on its new preschool and kindergarten building on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The new facility at 842 S. Germantown Rd. will feature three preschool and kindergarten classrooms.

Sports

Tomorrow, Oct. 7 marks UTC’s 2023 homecoming game. The Mocs — who are currently unbeaten in conference play — will take on No. 17 Western Carolina at Finley Stadium at 4 p.m. Purchase tickets.

Tech

Today from 12 to 4 p.m., you can learn about low and no-cost internet options at the Chattanooga downtown public library for Digital Inclusion Week. Info sessions will discuss the Affordable Connectivity Program + HCS EdConnect, powered by EPB.

Community

Your NOOGAtoday Editors here. We care about Chattanooga. We also care about the people in it. That’s why every day, we bring you positive, impactful news stories about our city — skipping the political talk, crime coverage, and biased reporting. Support our approach to local news by joining our NOOGAtoday membership club.

Giveaway

Chattanooga has how many public EV charging stations — more or less than 250? Take a guess for a chance to win tickets (courtesy of EPB) to the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival Friday, Oct. 13-Sunday, Oct. 15.*

Active

Fall means perfect biking weather — and studies have shown that e-bike riders typically ride more often (and for longer distances) than traditional bike riders. This brand carries new and certified pre-owned e-bikes at up to 60% off retail; delivering them 99% assembled to your doorstep. Use code RUN for $100 off.*

Environment

🌱 Not taking the environment for granted

Local environmental efforts funded by Tennessee American Water

“Great cities are defined by great parks, and that starts with ensuring existing parks are well cared for.” — Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly | Photo provided by Tennessee American Water

Tennessee American Water (TAW) recently announced its Environmental Grant Program recipients.

Funds were awarded to eight projects that “improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and groundwater supplies in our local communities.”

Warner Park Bioretention Gardens | $3,500 | Installing photo monitoring brackets + educational signs to measure public engagement and reduce negative impacts
Camp Wildernest Wildlife Center, Inc. | $1,500 | Supporting needs of the increased intake of wildlife patients
City of Red Bank, City of East Ridge + Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center | $1,000 each | Helping the community clean-up events during the Tennessee River Rescue tomorrow, Oct. 7
WaterWays | $3,500 | Expanding the Green Team program at Hixson High School

TAW additionally offers invitation-only grants through its American Water Charitable Foundation, funding:

Lookout Mountain Conservancy | $3,500 | Restoring Calvin Donaldson Elementary School’s outdoor classroom after flooding
Chattanooga Zoo | $2,400 | Expanding its collection of juvenile and hatchling hellbenders, furthering its research of the creatures in our local waterways

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Haley Bartlett

From the editor

Remember when we announced Project Milkweed, the state’s mail-order pollinator initiative? Well, all orders are being shipped out — a total of 779,601 red and common milkweed seed packets going to Tennessee residents.

Ordered some? Check out these planting tips. Don’t fret if you missed out, this project will return in 2024.

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