$10 million commitment will enhance downtown riverfront as part of ongoing revitalization plan
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Representatives from River City Company, the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County and the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation recently gathered to announce the development of the BlueCross Healthy Place at Ross’s Landing.
The latest BlueCross Healthy Place project will be completed as part of the ongoing Riverfront Parks NEXT plan to revitalize downtown Chattanooga’s connection to the Tennessee River. With this $10 million commitment, the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation has become the campaign’s leading private funder.
The revitalized space will bring a variety of new amenities to the Ross’s Landing area, including:
- Sports courts underneath the Olgiati Bridge (Highway 27 bridge)
- Nature-themed, ADA-compliant playscape
- Installations along the Chattanooga Pier
- Gathering spaces, seating and walking trails
With its design, the space will focus on incorporating local landscapes, nature and art, as well as fulfilling the core mission of the BlueCross Healthy Place program — bringing communities together.
“The riverfront area is one of the most important public spaces in Chattanooga, a city BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has called home for more than 80 years,” said JD Hickey, president and CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. “We’re proud to join River City Company, the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County in imagining downtown’s next chapter — and in providing a space along the Tennessee River for residents and visitors to enjoy for generations.”
Program partners added:
“Thanks to the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation and the other generous private and public funding partners, our community’s dream for an iconic waterfront parks district is going to come true. This remarkable gift will directly lead to healthier lifestyles and a stronger sense of community by allowing us to build something truly visionary.”
Emily Mack, President & CEO, River City Company
“The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation continues to demonstrate its commitment to the health and vitality of Chattanoogans. Through their much-loved BlueCross Healthy Place program, this gift takes their generosity to the next level. I want to express my deep appreciation to them for helping to create an iconic public space that is unique, welcoming and accessible for visitors and Chattanooga residents alike.”
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly
“On behalf of the tens of thousands of families, including my own, who will enjoy our revitalized riverfront parks, I want to thank the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation for continuing to invest so significantly in our community. Ross’s Landing was once a hub of activity and gathering in our region, and this investment will help make it that way again.”
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp
“BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee continues to raise the bar in terms of corporate philanthropy in Southeast Tennessee. This generous investment in Chattanooga’s Riverfront Parks will directly improve the quality of life of our residents for generations to come, and I commend them on their exceptional gift.”
Tennessee State Senator Bo Watson
“While our community is home to many exceptionally generous companies, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has long been emblematic of what it means to be a good corporate citizen in Chattanooga. The private and public sectors in our community have a long and proud history of coming together to make big investments in our future, so I am grateful to BlueCross for making yet another historic investment downtown.”
Former U.S. Senator Bob Corker
The Ross’s Landing project is the fifth BlueCross Healthy Place in the Chattanooga area, following Highland Park, St. Elmo and the Chattanooga Airport and Pavilion Park spaces, which are currently under construction. To date, the BlueCross Foundation has invested $89 million in projects across Tennessee. There are 31 BlueCross Healthy Place projects open or in progress statewide with more on the way.
BlueCross Healthy Place projects are funded through the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation’s endowment, not from the company’s current business operations. For more on the BlueCross Healthy Place program, see BlueCrossHealthyPlacesTN.com.
For additional information about the full Riverfront Parks NEXT project, visit RiverfrontParksCHA.com.
About BlueCross®
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is a taxpaying, not-for-profit health plan serving more than 3.4 million members in Tennessee and around the country. The Chattanooga-based company was founded in 1945 and has brought peace of mind to its members and local communities for more than 80 years. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company’s news center at bcbstnews.com.
About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc.
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized to promote the philanthropic mission of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. It has awarded $120 million in grants since 2005. The foundation provides funding for the BlueCross Healthy Place program, which creates active, healthy spaces across Tennessee.