Walnut Street Bridge The Parks FoundationBridging the Generations Since 1891 | Connect with us on Facebook
The Parks Foundation is one of many small nonprofit foundations supported by the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. Who and what is the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga (CFGC)? In essence, it’s you and all the other 653,000 people who live in this unique city. It’s through everyone’s interest and support that we are able to place your contributions where they will truly benefit those who need it most. From the young students at Battle Academy to Chattanooga Cares to Inner City Ministries and so much more, CFGC touches thousands of lives every year and through those efforts all of Chattanooga becomes greater. The mission of the foundation is to encourage giving and inspire action to improve lives in the Chattanooga area.
East Tennessee River Vally Geotourism MapGuide
Sponsored by National Geographic, The East Tennessee River Valley MapGuide, created through a collaborative process, will highlight the natural, historic, and cultural assets unique to the area. In this partnership, our region benefits from National Geographic's considerable map-making expertise. But the project could not work without input from people like you who know what makes this place truly unique and noteworthy. The Parks Foundation is proud that The Bridge was among the first sites to be approved for inclusion in the project.
Outdoor Chattanooga
Over the past decade, the Chattanooga region has gained a considerable reputation for its many outdoor activities and amenities, and for its environmental and conservation efforts. In May 2003, the Mayor of Chattanooga, initiated a citizen-based process that established a Strategic Plan for Outdoor Recreation in the Chattanooga Region. This comprehensive initiative was shaped during a region-wide planning effort (October 2003 - January 2004), in which well over 1,000 citizens participated, sharing their ideas and concerns in a series of public meetings and work sessions.
Outdoor Chattanooga was formed as a direct response to this initiative. It was established as a regional mechanism with facilities dedicated to the recreational use, education, and stewardship of the region's natural areas. In September, 2004, an executive director was appointed, and Outdoor Chattanooga went about the process of implementing its mission, including the planning and oversight of a new building in Coolidge Park, which opened at 200 River St. in March, 2009. Philip Grymes is the current director and continues the mission of promoting Chattanooga's signature outdoor lifestyle.
Chattanooga was recently voted Outside Magazine’s 2011 “Best Town Ever” in a Facebook poll.
Mark Making
A nonprofit organization, Mark Making was founded by Frances McDonald in 2008. Mark Making grew out of Frances' many years of facilitating the creation of art in highly visible sites by students and non-working adults such as the homeless, and those with physical or mental challenges. Mark Making is funded by grants from local foundations, art and civic agencies, and the generosity of private donors.
In 2010, The Parks Foundation recently aided Mark Making in funding the Bluff Furnace Project. Mark Making, Dr. Nick Honerkamp and archeology students from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Institute of Archaeology partnered to create the "Art of History." The work is an artistic telling of the Bluff Furnace's history, processes and place in Chattanooga’s industrial past. The furnace’s story comes to life through the interpretation of historic facts & photographs and an industrial-inspired color scheme. The dynamic nature of the images invites the viewer to experience the informative piece from all angles. Read about the project here.
Art Creations
Chattanooga’s art supplies and framing store — with two locations — is our go-to framing specialist for brass plaques. Tony Mines and his crew do a wonderful job — and you can view examples of the framed brass plaques at the downtown location at 201 Frazier Ave. From his days as a high school and college art student until today, Tony has been immersed in the art world. A Certified Picture Framer [CPF] and a Guild Certified Framer [GCF], Tony has almost fifty years experience in the art and framing industry. He founded Art Creations in 1973 and is proud that his business in the oldest art and frame shop in Chattanooga, still owned and managed by the original founder.