On Oct. 4, the City of East Ridge and East Ridge Parks and Recreation hosted a dedication and ribbon cutting of the two canoe launches funded by the Lyndhurst Foundation at Camp Jordan.
Bruz Clark of the Lyndhurst Foundation was joined by East Ridge City officials and those who worked to complete the Creek and Cherokee launches, named after the Indian tribes that once inhabited the park.
Clark thanked those who worked together to complete the projects and spoke about the importance of the launches to the Blueway System.
East Ridge Parks and Recreation Director Stump Martin thanked Clark and the Lyndhurst Foundation for what they have done for East Ridge and Camp Jordan Park.
“These canoe launches will help to provide a better quality of life through recreation,” Martin said. “We scheduled this dedication in conjunction with the annual Tennessee River Rescue, which celebrated 25 years of cleaning the contributories that feed the river.”
East Ridge City Services Supervisor Melvin Petty was impressed with the results of the work done by volunteers at Spring Creek and Camp Jordan. “They pulled 121 car tires, one truck tire, and more than 3,000 pounds of trash from Spring Creek and Camp Jordan,” Petty said.
Martin said outdoor enthusiasts are already enjoying the recreation provided by the launches, located on the West Chickamauga and South Chickamauga Creeks at Camp Jordan. “The landscaping by Phillips|Creasy provides a serene setting,” he said. “To protect that beauty, Parks Supervisor Bill Owens and his staff water the vegetation around the launches almost daily.”
Martin said walkers and cyclists enjoying the park’s two-mile paved walking track stop frequently when the staff is watering to comment on the beauty of the area.
The Lyndhurst Foundation provided more than $230,000 in funding for the Cherokee and Creek launches.
Source: City of East Ridge