Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) 2025 Conference

in 1969, CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite announced to the world that the federal government had named Chattanooga “the dirtiest city in America.” Thanks to heavy manufacturing, Chattanooga's air quality was so bad that drivers kept their headlights on even in mid-day, and smog discolored clothing. The mighty Tennessee River, which cuts through the city, fared just as poorly. The broadcast was an embarrassment and a wakeup call that became a rallying cry for transformation.

Barely a half-century later, Chattanooga collected a range of positive superlatives including being named “Best Outdoor Town” twice by Outside magazine. In April, Chattanooga became the first National Park City in North America, part of an international grassroots movements to make cities greener, healthier and wilder. This panel of community leaders will share the Chattanooga Story: how Chattanooga achieved its renaissance.