CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp revealed his plan to preserve McDonald Farm last week.
Matt Folz is the Director of Hamilton County Parks.
He said, “I would love to see us save all of it. For me, I would hate to lose this trail but I would hate to lose the farm more.”
Hamilton county’s plan to preserve McDonald Farm offers land up at the Enterprise South Nature Park.
Folz said, “We are discussing this land that is north of I-75 and south of what we call Steel Hollow loop. This is the land that is a part of the deed restriction swap.”
The land swap will give 535 acres of undeveloped land up for industrial expansion inside the nature park.
Nathan Janeway is the Director of development services for Hamilton County.
He said, “None of that land will be affected until we start through that process. It could be five years, could be 10 years, could be 50 years. We don’t know. All we are trying to do is unlock some available land for the future in case we need to add more jobs to the community.”
The reason the 500 plus acres is being put on the market is to preserve over 1300 acres at McDonald Farm.
Jennifer Duvall is on the McDonald Farm Advisory Committee.
She said, “Resoundingly everyone came together and said let’s protect McDonald’s Farm. Let’s give this back to the county in the way it is now, and better, without going into the industrial route where it isn’t suitable.”
McDonald Farm backs up to the Audubon Mtn and the Cumberland trail, which with the farm added, will add thousands of protected green spaces in Hamilton county.
Jim Stewart is the Executive Director of the Chattanooga Audubon Society.
He said, “We are not at all opposed to industrial growth or residential growth. We feel development and protection can occur at the same time. What you want to protect is the really beautiful places like where I am standing right now.”
At McDonald Farm 1300 acres will be preserved, 240 acres will be used for festivals and events, and 140 acres will provide future services for the farm.
