1st National Park City in America
Our region — Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and the surrounding communities within roughly 50 miles of downtown — is becoming America's first National Park City. Our mission is to lead the world in improving quality of life for all of us by treating nature as our most valuable shared asset — today and for generations to come.
Seeds are place-based, actionable projects that require collaboration from many groups. Backyard gardens, bike corridors, housing experiments, public art, neighborhood networks — and even major civic infrastructure — can all begin as Seeds.
Seeds with the most community support get planted. Once successful, they can spread to other parts of our region with the benefit of shared learnings.
Name
What do people call this idea?
Gardeners
Who is responsible for this seed?
Soil
Where is this seed planted?
Water
What resources are needed to grow?
Sunlight
Who has energy and excitement for it?
Roots
What does this seed connect to?
Support
Who can help this seed succeed?
Harvest
What do we hope to experience?
We use the simple, proven principles of nature to guide our culture, our connections, and our growth.
Nature is open and accessible to all — the best aspects of a city should be too.
We commit to making nature easy to access and part of everyday life for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Nature is fun, joyful and beautiful — city life should be too.
We commit to cultivating a culture that regularly experiences the fun, beauty, and wonder of the outdoors together.
Nature grows in balance with the whole ecosystem — a city should grow the same way.
We commit to guiding growth and development using the principles of healthy, thriving, self-sustaining ecosystems.
Nature is a living system that must be understood and cared for as a whole — a city should be too.
We commit to understanding, respecting, and preserving the unique ecology, history, and cultural roots of this place.
Nature thrives through connection — so does a city.
We commit to strengthening connections between people, neighborhoods, wildlife, and local systems.
The National Park City Seed Drive: 100 Seeds from across the region.
Seed Drive Kickoff
March 5
iFixit, 812 E 12th St.
5PM–8PM. Public kickoff, open idea sharing, early teams form
Seed Workshop
March 25
Chatt Library, 1001 Broad St
4:30PM–7:30PM. Feedback, strengthening, mentor & nonprofit support
Seed Expo
April 11
Choo Choo, 1400 Market St.
11AM–7PM. Table-style expo, pitch practice, final collaborators
Seed Pitch Night
April 24
Studio Ours, 1401 Fort St.
6PM–9PM. Ticketed. 3-minute pitches, 20–30 Seeds, funding & support awarded
NPC Festival
April 25
Greenway Farm, 4960 Gann Store Rd.
Gear sale, seed pitch, music + more
Harvest
Late Summer / Fall
Celebrate and enjoy the results of our labor