• 2003-2004

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    Originally the site of the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant (VAAP) 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 .

    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.

  • Dec 2010

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    Enterprise South Nature Park officially opens, becoming one of Hamilton County’s largest outdoor recreation assets.

  • 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 trail loop directly borders the area proposed for industrial conversion.

  • 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, previous owner of McDonald Farm. This land would need to be purchased from McDonald to develop the Hilltop Drive Extension.

  • 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.

  • April 4th, 2024

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    Consultant Randall Gross Development Economics presents “McDonald Farm Highest & Best Use Analysis” findings to the County Commission.

    The study highlights recreation, agriculture, and agritourism as the most viable uses for McDonald Farm, and states that only 220–275 acres (≈10–14%) are flat enough for industrial development.

  • 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 .

  • February 2025

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    Croy Engineering publishes the Hilltop Drive Extension Preliminary Engineering Report .

    Estimated cost: $22.5 million.

    “Both 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.”

    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 America’s first National Park City.

  • 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 not mentioned in the public meeting or prior to the vote.

  • Aug / Sept 2025

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    Ten federal, state, and local officials submit letters to the U.S. Department of the Interior supporting a proposed Enterprise South / McDonald Farm deed swap before the plan is made public.

  • 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 500–600 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 plan—developed over eight months—at a later date.

    “This 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.”

    Officials state that public presentations are expected at both City Council and County Commission in late October / early November.

  • Oct 31st, 2025

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    Hamilton County launches a Wix-hosted site, YourHamiltonCounty.com, to gather public input on the deed swap proposal.

  • Nov 17th, 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.

  • 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 “Project Site” of approximately 1,340 acres (current factory site) and an “Option Property” of approximately 1,200 additional acres 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, “the 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.”