Trust For Public Land (TPL) and the city of Chattanooga held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the project's first phases, which will connect Broad Street to St. Elmo Avenue. Construction was funded by a $500,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), with matching capital funds provided by the city of Chattanooga.

“What was an old rail line will now connect Alton Park residents with a safe way to walk or bike to parks, essential services and job opportunities,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly.

“Extending our Riverwalk has always sparked economic growth along its path, and we hope to see that here. Thanks to TPL for their continued dedication to Chattanooga and to our state and federal partners."

The Alton Park Connector converts 1.3 miles of a former rail line into a multi-use path, connecting residents to more than 25 miles of existing trails. First proposed in 2018, the Connector is intended to serve census tracts with the lowest local rates of car ownership, helping residents commute to parks, schools, jobs, and essential services more safely.

The next phase of the Connector is supported by a $6.4 million federal appropriation secured through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), championed by Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn). TPL has been managing the design and construction of the project since acquiring the original rail bed segment in 2018.

“This project is a perfect example of TPL’s mission at work,” says Noel Durant, Tennessee State Director for Trust for Public Land. “After so many years of planning, fundraising, and building, we are so thrilled to finally welcome Alton Park families to an asset that we believe will benefit this community for generations.”

The line ran from the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad west of Broad Street to Alton Park.

At the time, Alton Park had multiple railroad connections, including one on the east from Rossville that branched off the Central of Georgia line. The Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia (TAG) line from Chattanooga to Gadsden also went through Alton Park.