CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- “I don’t know if you can tell in my demeanor, but it is such a relief.”
Will Enterprise South Nature Park be expanding soon?
A purchase by the Hamilton County Government could make that a possibility.
In the woods across Volkswagen Drive from the park lies 19 acres that used to belong to the Boy Scouts of America.
Following their bankruptcy, that land has been up for sale, and a purchase of the property was recently approved by the Chattanooga City Council.
Now, the Hamilton County Commission has joined suit, albeit with many questions.
That land is currently zoned for industrial use, and the zoning change would have to come through the Chattanooga City Council.
This is something that concerned several commissioners like Gene-O Shipley.
Shipley asked, “Is the city of Chattanooga going to do that? They’re starting valuable industrial property here to turn into a park. Are they gonna be willing to do that?”
Commissioners put into the resolution that they intend to make the land green space, and that as co-owners, they have equal say in the future of that property.
The county is using recreation funds to purchase that property.
Commissioner Steve Highlander asked Hamilton County attorney Janie Varnell, “I don’t want to develop it, but if we don’t want it industry, the city can’t do it without us, correct?”
Attorney Varnell responded, “We would be co-owners of the property, correct.”
As for the park’s future, Melissa Ray with Save Enterprise South Nature Park says discussions have started as that organization says the county’s decision to purchase this property will be beneficial for the park.
Ray said, ” I definitely see a future for that area of the park. I know that some of the park employees that I’ve spoken with like the Park superintendent, they have ideas. They have tons of ideas for additional programming for the park as a whole but specifically for that side of the park.”
She says it’s important that the entrance onto Volkswagen Drive will remain as a gateway to the park.
Ray said, “It is important that we keep this ecological resource of having that wooded and maintained in a natural state.”
With this purchase, it is unclear when the park could be rezoned.
