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2003-2004
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Originally the site of the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant (VAAP) constructed in the 1940's and operated by the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Army declared the property excess in September 2003.
Approximately 2,800 acres were acquired through the Federal Lands to Parks Program of the U.S. Department of the Interior for public recreational use in perpetuity. This federally protected land is what we know today as Enterprise South Nature Park (ESNP).
Here is the deed to Enterprise South Nature Park.
The deed uses the word โ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซโ three times and โ๐ข๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒโ three times all to make one thing unmistakable: ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ค ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ.
Approximately 3,000 acres were purchased for economic development, which is what we know today as Enterprise South Industrial Park (ESIP). -
2006
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Construction of Enterprise South Nature Park begins, funded through a combination of federal and state grants.
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Dec 2010
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Enterprise South Nature Park officially opens, becoming Hamilton Countyโs largest outdoor recreation asset.
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Dec 2021
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Hamilton County purchases McDonald Farm for $16 million.
The property includes approximately ~2,027 total acres.
~1,442 acres are located within Hamilton County, while ~585 acres are in Rhea County. -
April 2022
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Completion of the Magnolia Loop bike trail. The paved, six-mile trail was the result of a generous $750,000 anonymous donation. This loop trail directly borders the area proposed for industrial conversion.
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May 23rd, 2022
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Parcel ID 131 099.02 (~32 acres along the southern border of ESNP) is sold from Chattanooga Community Kitchen Inc. to John M. McDonald for $110,000. The County would need to use taxpayers money to purchase this property from McDonald to develop the Hilltop Drive Extension.
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Oct 23rd, 2023
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Croy Engineering, LLC completes the McDonald Farm Preliminary Land Plan .
The request includes 871 acres for development and 238.4 acres for parks. -
Feb 8th, 2024
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County Mayor Weston Wamp withdraws a proposal to rezone part of McDonald Farm, citing a need to evaluate alternative land uses.
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August 2024
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County Commission approves Croy Engineering, LLC for engineering design services for a preliminary engineering report for a roadway extension from existing Hilltop Drive to Volkswagen Drive adjacent to I-75, not to exceed $210,500.00.
Resolution No. 824-18 and Resolution No. 924-7 . -
October 2024
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Consultant Randall Gross Development Economics presents โMcDonald Farm Highest & Best Use Analysisโ findings to the County Commission.
Presentation
The study highlights recreation, agriculture, and agritourism as the most viable uses for McDonald Farm, and states that only 220โ275 acres (โ10โ14%) are flat enough for industrial development. -
February 2025
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Croy Engineering publishes the Hilltop Drive Extension Preliminary Engineering Report.
Estimated cost: $22.5 million.
โBoth Alternative 1 and Alternative 2 would require property acquisition and easements from the Enterprise South Nature Park owned by the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County. Both alternatives would also be expected to have potential impacts to the ATLAS Bike Trail and/or aquatic resources (such as streams, wetlands or open waters) located within Enterprise South Nature Park. In addition, both alternatives have the potential to impact aquatic resources on the eastern portion of the project corridor, adjacent to I-75.โ
The County anticipates applying for State Infrastructure Fund (SIF) grants, which require new economic development along the proposed roadway. -
April 2025
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Chattanooga becomes North Americaโs first National Park City.
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June 19, 2025
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McDonald Farm Report - Recreation Feasibility Proposal conducted by UT Chattanooga is released.
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Summer 2025
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Mayor Wamp and his staff brief select commissioners prior to any public disclosure of the proposal.
Notified individuals include: then-Chair County Commissioner Jeff Eversole, Commissioner Lee Helton (then Economic Development Chair), Commissioner Ken Smith (then Finance Chair), and former Tennessee Commissioner of Economic & Community Development Stuart McWhorter.
Briefings also include a visit to Nashville involving Mayor Wamp and then-Chair Commissioner Eversole to discuss the proposal with Governor Bill Lee. -
Aug 2025
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Hamilton County Commission unanimously approves a $1.5 million contract with Croy Engineering to design a 2-mile road connecting Hilltop Drive to Volkswagen Drive / Ferdinand Piech Way. Resolution 824-18 .
The potential impact on Enterprise South Nature Park is ๐ง๐จ๐ญ mentioned in the public meeting or prior to the vote. -
Aug / Sept 2025
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Eleven federal, state, and local officials submit letters to the U.S. Department of the Interior supporting a proposed Enterprise South / McDonald Farm deed swap ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ the plan is made public.
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Oct 8th, 2025
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The Chattanooga Times Free Press breaks news of the proposed deed swap to lift federal deed restrictions and sell approximately 500โ600 acres of Enterprise South Nature Park for industrial development.
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp holds a press conference, stating he had intended to inform the public of the planโdeveloped over eight monthsโat an unspecified later date.
โThis proposal would lift restrictions on more than 500 acres of currently inactive land at Enterprise South to support industrial development, without impacting existing recreation areas or trails within Enterprise South Nature Park.โ Source
Officials state that public presentations are expected at both City Council and County Commission in late October / early November. Source. -
October 9, 2025
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Melissa Ray and Hadrien Turner launch an online petition opposing Mayor Wampโs proposal to lift federal deed protections on Enterprise South Nature Park.
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October 10, 2025
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The future cofounders of Save Enterprise South Nature Park meet in person for the first time at ESNPโs Halloween Trail Fest, where they spoke with more than 1,000 attendees marking the beginning of a coordinated grassroots effort to protect the park.
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Oct 31st, 2025
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Hamilton County launches YourHamiltonCounty.com to gather public input on the deed swap proposal.
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Nov 12th, 2025
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Save Enterprise South Nature Park (SaveESNP) officially receives 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation, enabling the organization to fundraise for legal support, outreach, and awareness campaigns. Press Release
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November 13, 2025
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Save Enterprise South Nature Park surpasses 10,000 petition signatures opposing County Mayor Weston Wampโs proposal to lift federal deed protections and industrialize a portion of Enterprise South Nature Park.
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December 29, 2025
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Save Enterprise South Nature Park surpasses 12,500 petition signatures opposing County Mayor Weston Wampโs proposal to lift federal deed protections and industrialize a portion of Enterprise South Nature Park.
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June 30th, 2026
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Date on which the Volkswagen land option expansion expires, per the Volkswagen MOU dated June 30, 2014.
Volkswagen, operating inside Enterprise South Industrial Park (ESIP), has a โProject Siteโ of approximately 1,340 acres (current factory site) and an โOption Propertyโ of approximately 880 acres (originally 1,200 acres minus Released property up to 300 acres noted in MOU and minus 182-acre tract for Novonix) within ESIP for potential future expansion. The option extends until June 30, 2026, with a purchase price of $1,000 for VW to take title.
Until that date, โthe Local Governments covenant that they will not offer, lease, sell, convey, assign, transfer, or otherwise make available to any third party, or place or grant any encumbrance upon the Option Property that would hinder the Company in exercising the purchase option granted by this Section 2.2 without the prior written consent of the Company.โ -
TBD
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County Mayorโs Office introduces proposal to local bodies:
-Hamilton County Commission vote (majority approval required)
-Chattanooga City Council vote (majority approval required)
If both bodies approve:
-County submits a land conversion application to TDEC, in accordance with the Land Conversion Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) .
-County submits a land exchange application to the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (final decision authority)