Chattanooga Is Now the First ‘National Park City’ in North America. Here’s What That Means.

In a landmark achievement for urban sustainability, Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been named North America’s first National Park City by the UK-based National Park City Foundation. Once deemed “the most polluted city in America” in 1969, Chattanooga now joins London and Adelaide as one of only three cities globally to hold the National Park City designation — only adding to its reputation as a remote-friendly adventure hub.

The National Park City movement, inspired by the sweeping vision of national parks but independent from the National Park Service in the United States, aims to make urban areas greener, healthier, and more deeply connected to nature. It emphasizes long-term, grassroots efforts to improve air and water quality, access to outdoor spaces, and biodiversity within the urban fabric.

For Chattanooga, this recognition affirms the city’s ongoing reinvention. Industrial decline in the late 20th century prompted local stakeholders to reimagine the city’s relationship with its environment. What followed was a decades-long campaign to clean the air, revitalize the downtown riverfront, and transform brownfields into parks, trails, and public gathering spaces. Today, Chattanooga is known as an outdoor destination with more than 150 miles of trails, a growing urban farming movement, and active conservation programs.

To achieve this status, Chattanooga submitted an application addressing 23 criteria, including climate adaptation, environmental education, equitable greenspace access, and sustainable agriculture. The application process underwent peer review by international experts and leaders from existing and candidate National Park Cities. Final approval followed after gathering more than 5,600 signatures from local citizens and organizations.

“We’ve used the National Park City movement to encourage folks to think about Chattanooga as a city in a park rather than a city with some parks,” Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly said in a press release. “The outdoors is our competitive advantage; it’s at the heart of our revitalization story as well as the core of our identity. We’ve always known how special Chattanooga’s connection to the outdoors is, and now it’ll be recognized around the world.”

The designation comes amid a growing global movement. London received the first National Park City title in 2019, followed by Adelaide in 2021. Several other cities — including Breda, Glasgow, and Southampton — are currently nominated or exploring the pathway to join.

To mark the milestone, Chattanooga will host a citywide celebration on April 19 during Earth Week. The event will feature more than 50 public activities, a keynote presentation by movement founder Dr. Daniel Raven Ellison, and performances by local artists.