Mission
In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Ragan + Smith Associates — and a consortium of dedicated Tennesseans — We are creating innovative, eco-friendly & creative gateways into Chattanooga & throughout Tennessee. A landscape of trees, wildflowers & native plants — An attainable objective forged by economic development & community pride.
As an organization, the primary goal of the Tennessee Interstate Conservancy is to ‘Be a Friend’ to our state roadways by installing & maintaining aesthetic vegetation & reforestation, protecting scenic & natural resources & designing landscapes that create a sense of place & pride. The Gateway to Chattanooga project alone will include the installation of over 1,000 trees, 1,300 day lilies, 1,200 blue iris’ & over 4 acres of wildflowers.
“The Gateway to Chattanooga beautification project highlights the successful cooperation between State, County, & City governments and private donors. This highly visible gateway will be a welcoming image to those traveling to and through the City of Chattanooga that is beautiful, ecologically restorative, encourages economic growth, and is a display of civic pride. The introduction of over 1,000 new trees to the built environment is a further demonstration of Chattanooga’s vision and values that will be a model of inspiration for communities statewide.”
Our Work
Planning & Design
Through coordinated efforts of civic organizations, businesses & benefactors, we are designing, installing & financially maintaining interstate exchanges. We have worked with the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, the Tennessee Department of Transportation & Ragan + Smith Associates to develop the plans and renderings for our first project, The Gateway to Chattanooga.
Horticulture & Installation
Working with landscape architects, general contractors, horticulturists & donors, we are coordinating over 22 acres of landscape installation for the Gateway to Chattanooga project, featuring over 1,000 trees & 100 species of plants and wildflowers. Projects are designed for sustainability, ecological restoration & ease of maintenance. Once installed, we partner with local businesses & municipalities to continue the beautification beyond interstates & roadways and onto locally owned properties.
Maintenance & Support
Once planted, each of our new greenway spaces will require regular maintenance & perpetual financial support. Our job at The Tennessee Interstate Conservancy is to ensure financial support is in place to keep our roadways beautiful — now & well into the future.
“Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Ragan - Smith Associates, Inc., Tennessee Interstate Conservancy, Inc., and the City of Chattanooga’s Department of Public Works did a fabulous job of formulating a landscape plan that incorporates three of Chattanooga’s most important and cherished core values into the overall design of the landscaping component of the Highway 27 renovation project. The team proved that the economic, ecological, and aesthetic factors did not clash, but rather were blended into a well-designed scheme that brought out the best of all three core values... ”
