About Outdoor Chattanooga

Over the past decade, the Chattanooga region has gained a considerable reputation for its many outdoor activities and amenities, and for its environmental and conservation efforts. In May 2003, the Mayor of Chattanooga, Bob Corker, initiated a citizen-based process that established a Strategic Plan for Outdoor Recreation in the Chattanooga Region. This comprehensive initiative was shaped during a region-wide planning effort (October 2003 - January 2004), in which well over 1,000 citizens participated, sharing their ideas and concerns in a series of public meetings and work sessions.

Outdoor Chattanooga was formed as a direct response to this initiative. It was established as a regional mechanism with facilities dedicated to the recreational use, education, and stewardship of the region's natural areas. In September, 2004, Rob Healy was appointed Executive Director and went about the process of implementing the mission of Outdoor Chattanooga, including the planning and oversight of Outdoor Chattanooga's future building site at Renaissance Park.

Mission:

The Chattanooga Regional Outdoor Recreation & Education Initiative will make outdoor recreation an attractive, healthy, and distinguishing lifestyle for its resident and visitor populations, which, in turn, will maintain and enhance the value of the region's natural and built resources, and help grow the region's economy.