Meet America’s First National Park City

Today, there are 433 sites managed by the National Park System, each one recognized for its natural beauty and historic significance. But in April 2025, Chattanooga, Tennessee, made history as America’s first “National Park City” — a designation you might be surprised to learn has nothing to do with the National Park Service itself. If you haven’t heard of a National Park City, you’re not alone — while the concept is gaining momentum, it’s still relatively new. Learn all about America’s first National Park City and why it’s generating so much buzz.

What Is a National Park City?

In 2019, the National Park City Foundation, a U.K.-based grassroots charity organization, introduced the National Park City designation. To be recognized as a National Park City, a city needs to show commitment to incorporating nature and outdoor pursuits into everyday living, which in turn makes life better for residents. These efforts should be driven by the community itself, which entails local involvement, community collaboration, and developing a shared vision for a greener, healthier, more sustainable city. Before Chattanooga joined the list earlier this year, no U.S. city had been recognized by the foundation.

According to the organization’s website, a National Park City is not a type of national park, but rather an entirely new concept inspired by the same ideals. “National parks are defined differently around the world,” the website states. “They are special places where we have a better relationship with nature, culture, and heritage and can enjoy and develop ourselves. Combining the long-term and large-scale vision of national parks with cities has the potential to shift our collective understanding of what and who a city is for.”

America’s First National Park City

Chattanooga has come a long way to obtain the coveted National Park City title. Back in 1969, it was considered the single most polluted city in the U.S., largely due to excessive emissions from railroads, coal plants, and factories. Its location in a valley surrounded by mountains only made matters worse, trapping the smog and pollution in the air.

Today, Chattanooga has done more than shed its former reputation — it has outpaced many other U.S. cities when it comes to clean-air projects, sustainable development, and a dedication to green space. Indeed, the same landscape that once compounded the city’s pollution problem is now Chattanooga’s biggest appeal. 

Outdoor adventure is woven into Chattanooga’s identity, with easy access to lakes, waterfalls, and wooded trails on Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain, and Missionary Ridge — all within reach of the city’s compact, vibrant downtown. The 16-mile Riverwalk, a scenic paved path stretching from Chickamauga Lake into town, perfectly captures the nature-focused spirit of the city, with serene views of the Tennessee River, public bike stations, and plenty of cafes and restaurants where people can stop and recharge along the way. 

Wherever you turn, there’s an opportunity to embrace the outdoors — whether by kayaking or paddleboarding on the river, driving 15 minutes to world-class mountain biking trails, exploring underground caves, bouldering on the edge of town, or tackling a 100-foot sandstone cliff for experienced climbers. We think that Mayor Tim Kelly summed up Chattanooga’s character perfectly when he described it as “a city in a park, rather than a city with some parks in it.”

Worldwide National Park Cities

While Chattanooga is the first of its kind in the U.S., it joins a very exclusive list of National Park Cities around the globe:

• London, England: In 2019, London became the world’s first National Park City, supported by the mayor and 260 partner organizations. Taking advantage of its many parks, green spaces, and waterways, these city leaders and grassroots community organizations are striving to create more ways in which Londoners can connect with the beautiful outdoors and nature at their fingertips. 

• Adelaide, Australia: In 2021, Adelaide, Australia’s beautiful coastal capital, earned National Park City status, in part due to its long-standing dedication to green space. This is exemplified by the Adelaide Park Lands, a continuous ring of 29 parks that has shaped the city’s identity and supports its efforts to enhance urban nature and protect biodiversity.

• Breda, the Netherlands: The newest city to join the list, Breda earned recognition in May 2025 for its commitment to equitable access to nature. Located in the southern Netherlands with green space covering approximately 60% of the city, Breda has embraced community-driven, nature-based solutions to tackle climate challenges like flooding and extreme heat.

How Does a City Apply?

Think your city deserves to be on this list? Anyone can take part in the application process. You’ll need to rally support for the cause, sign the National Park City Universal Charter, and fill out a registration form. The city should also showcase standout projects, accomplishments, and attractions that make it a compelling place for people to visit and explore.

Once the application is submitted, the National Park City Foundation makes the final decision. A team of passionate representatives visits the city to experience it firsthand before determining whether it meets the criteria to earn the title. Stay tuned to find out which cities join the list next!