At the conclusion of their 9-month Thriving Communities journey, community leaders in East Ridge, Tennessee pitched creative placemaking projects such as a public art walk, welcoming murals, and a vibrant local market to a panel of arts experts and funders in the Southeast.

East Ridge, Tennessee, the newest city to join the Thriving Communities network in early 2020, had a distinctly challenging year to spark placemaking in their community. But even virtually, leadership development and coaching sessions enabled the team to build a foundational understanding of their community’s needs and desires to amplify local pride and civic engagement. 

Last week, at a virtual event to culminate the placemaking accelerator program, East Ridge Mayor Brian Williams welcomed a panel of experts and funders from SouthArts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, ArtsBuild, and the Lyndhurst Foundation to hear the team’s learnings from months of community engagement in a virtual setting.

In addition to Mayor Brian Williams, the local Thriving Communities steering committee members include Debbie and Danny Lance of East Ridge Creative Arts; Justin Robinson of State Farm; Mary Chastain of Heritage Financial Planning; and artist Michelle Jackson.

Throughout the session, team members acknowledged limitations in reaching the full breadth of the East Ridge community, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, underpinning the conversation was a clear sense of hope and determination to build community pride and character through local assets and creative thinking.

Determined to move forward with placemaking projects that could bring the community together as the world reopens, the team focused on three assets where they could “experiment” ideas and capture feedback from fellow residents, visitors, and business owners. 

In the coming year, stay tuned for several creative projects designed to spark community ideas, feedback, and engagement, such as:

Pop-Up Market @ McBrien

Hosted in the green-space by the historic McBrien School, this event would illustrate the potential of a centralized outdoor gathering hub for residents, neighbors and visitors alike to enjoy and purchase local arts and locally-sourced goods in East Ridge.

Art Trail at Camp Jordan

This concept would test the idea of a public art trail by incorporating temporal art such as sidewalk chalk, street performances, and interactive community feedback kiosks. 

Interactive Mobile Canvas

This simple, tactical project would use inexpensive materials such as canvas and paint, to capture a community vision, which would inspire a welcoming, colorful mural that would become the first impression of East Ridge, and instill local community pride.

In learning the pain points and desire of their city, and ideating potential creative solutions, the community members of East Ridge have demonstrated determination and gumption. With an experiment plan in place, an upcoming centennial celebration, and a dedication to listen to the diverse voices of East Ridge, this city is well-positioned to elevate its distinct sense of place and community identity. 

Thriving Communities is a creative placemaking program of Thrive Regional Partnership designed to leverage local arts and culture assets for economic vibrancy and growth throughout the greater Chattanooga region.