The City of Chattanooga has received the 2007 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award in the category of Parks and Recreation for Renaissance Park. “Renaissance Park is an educational, environmental and historical resource for everyone,” said Mayor Ron Littlefield. “I am proud that Chattanooga is at the forefront once again for rejuvenating another industrial area into a clean livable space.”
The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards recognize exemplary voluntary actions on the part of public and private organizations that improve or protect an area’s environment and natural resources. Developed as a part of Chattanooga’s 21st Century Waterfront Plan, the Renaissance Park project is receiving this honor for enhancing river eco-systems, promoting the return of native plants and animals, restoring urban stream ecology, highlighting this area’s historical significance, and maintaining the balance between urban renewal and the conservation of natural resources.
According to Larry Zehnder, City of Chattanooga Administrator of Parks and Recreation, “Chattanooga has built a park that is a showcase for responsible, environmental stewardship, taking a previously un-usable brownfield site with polluted, urban drainage areas and transforming it into a park for people to learn about the process and enjoy nature, all within blocks of the downtown area.”
This marks the 21st year for the awards program with over 100 entries submitted. The awards will be presented on June 8th in Nashville.