Photo: Imilious/Wikimedia Commons
North America is home to hundreds of national parks — but only one National Park City. Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the first on the continent to be named as such by the U.K. nonprofit National Park City Foundation. It is only the third in the world. Chattanooga’s journey began two years ago when the city of around 190,000 undertook “a community-driven effort to celebrate, elevate, and conserve” the culture, people, and places that make it unique. The Foundation cited its “remarkable story” of transformation from one of the country’s most polluted cities to a biodiversity hot spot and outdoor destination. The area has been inhabited for 12,000 years, by the Creek, Cherokee, and Shawnee peoples, then by Europeans who colonized the land. In the 20th century, industry ramped up and it took decades for the city to consistently meet Environmental Protection Agency standards. In celebration of its new status, a free, daylong event was held April 19, with music performances from local artists, dancing, and food.
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