With the growing concerns related to the spread of the
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
, Mayor Andy Berke issued a formal statement today and signed an Executive Order suspending all public events in the City of Chattanooga for 30 days to combat the spread of the virus. This comes one day after Governor Lee declared a State of Emergency in Tennessee and a few days after the
CDC recognized COVID-19
as a public health emergency in the US and the World Health Organization declared it a global pandemic.
At this time there are no known confirmed cases of the virus in our community. The city is taking precautions and implementing
strategies recommended by the CDC
to prevent the potential spread and to lessen the impact of the coronavirus on the Greater Chattanooga area.
As a division of the City, Outdoor Chattanooga will implement the strategies presented by the Mayor and the CDC and cancel all scheduled events to reduce the opportunity for the virus to spread. We make this decision with a heavy heart and with the safety of our community in mind.
Per the Mayor’s statement, effective March 14, Outdoor Chattanooga will suspend all public programs for the next 30 days. This includes our Cumberland Trail Guided Hikes on March 15, all Archery Programs through the end of March, the Big Foot Hike on March 28, our Mountain to Town downhill bike adventure on April 4 and all Fireside Outdoor Concerts at Tatum Park, scheduled for Thursdays in April. If you are registered for any of these events, we will notify you personally and issue a refund if necessary. For now, our building, located in Coolidge Park, will remain open to the public during regular business hours.
We plan to return to normal operations on April 13, although City Officials will continue to monitor the situation over the next few weeks and updates will be posted here:
https://connect.chattanooga.gov/covid/
Outdoor Chattanooga
encourages individuals to find ways to get outside and explore in nature with family and friends. Our plea is that you don’t stay cooped up indoors out of fear during this public health challenge. Go for a hike or a bike ride, visit a local park or simply get out and play in your backyard. All of these are great ways to connect with nature and each other in small settings. We will offer suggestions on some outdoor activities to try and places to go through our social media outlets over the next few weeks. Again, we encourage residents to exercise good judgment during this time and stay away from large gatherings and other people if they don’t feel well or have any of the symptoms associated with the
coronavirus
.
Thank you for your support and understanding as we work through this public health challenge together.
For more information on the city’s response plans and preparations. →
