The North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy is the beneficiary of a land gift
totaling about $590,000, according to the donor and conservancy officials.
Kincaid Mills, chairman of the conservancy’s land acquisition committee,
said 119 acres of land below the W Road will be preserved. The land also
will serve as a jumping off point for further conservation along the slopes
of Signal Mountain and Walden’s Ridge, he said. The property stretches from
the switchbacks portion of the W Road nearly to the valley. "The view you
get coming down those switch-backs on the W Road is breathtaking," Mr. Mills
said. "The McDonalds’ generous gift ensures that the view will be there for
a long time to come."
The donor, Jack McDonald, said he and his two grown children — Rob and
Frances — held the land for almost 30 years. He said he saw the importance
of conserving the property rather than developing it.
"It’s a gorgeous piece of land," Mr. McDonald said. "The mountain’s
beauty is one of the things that makes our city so beautiful."
Currently, the public cannot access the property, Mr. Mills said. But
motorists will be able to see preserved portions of land during the drive up
and down the W Road as well as from the valley, he said. In the future,
there may be guided public hiking tours on the property, Mr. Mills said.
The McDonald property will become the third tract of land the North
Chickamauga Creek Conservancy has acquired along the slopes of Signal
Mountain and Walden's Ridge.
To date, the conservancy has preserved 6,500 acres of land in the North
Chickamauga Creek watershed and surrounding area. The conservancy helped in
acquiring land for the Falling Water Falls State Natural Area and the North
Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area, Mr. Mills said.
Conservancy officials are hoping to replicate their success on the sides
of Lookout Mountain, which is preserved by the Chickamauga and Chattanooga
National Military Park. Signal Mountain’s ridges currently have no
conservation restrictions, Mr. Mills said.
"If we drive or look up from the road and we enjoy the geography of our
Scenic City, then we care about this side of the mountain," he said. "That
area would be forever green, and that would be the most direct impact."
Mr. McDonald said the mountainous area is becoming a primary attraction.
"This is a great addition to the city (Chattanooga) and the ambiance of
this place," he said.
E-mail Kimberly Starks at kstarks@timesfreepress.com
