Pedestrian and bicycle path to connect Chickamauga and the National Military Park

The Appalachian Regional Commission has awarded Walker County a $434,131 grant to fund a direct pedestrian and bicycle connection between the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and downtown Chickamauga, known as the Chickamauga Battlefield Connector Trail.

“Walker County is committed to improving access to outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors,” said Shannon Whitfield, Chairman of the Walker County Board of Commissioners. “Outdoor recreation is not only a huge quality of life component for our residents, but is also the lifeblood of our tourism industry. This project will have a significant impact on our community by connecting a population center to a popular natural and cultural asset.”

The ARC grant will be combined with a local competition to build a nearly one-mile multi-use trail that will connect two existing paved trails to complete a 2.2-mile trail from the Chickamauga Battlefield on Wilder Road to downtown Chickamauga.

Walker County partnered with the City of Chickamauga, Trust for Public Land (TPL), Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, Lyndhurst Foundation, Riverview Foundation, Jewell Memorial Foundation and others to make this strategic investment to capitalize on one of the county’s most important assets region.

“The Battlefield Connector Trail is a great first opportunity for Trust for Public Land to partner with Walker County, Chickamauga and the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission to realize a long-held and shared vision of connecting more people from more communities to the remarkable natural resources around the world. North Georgia and the Tennessee Valley,” said Noel Durant, TPL Tennessee State Director.

“We know that quality of life is important to this community and that carefully connecting tourist destinations with business districts can grow local economies. We are grateful to the ARC for their generous investment in this project, our philanthropic partners and the people of Walker County for inviting TPL to help them with this wonderful project.”

Letters of support for the project came from U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia State Rep. Mike Cameron, and the Acting Superintendent of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, among others.

Construction on the trail could begin as early as late summer and the project could potentially be completed by the end of the year.