Meet Your NCNA Officer Nominees (all running unopposed)

Alison Poole

Alison Poole – President

I’m Alison Poole, and I’ve lived on Normal Avenue since 2016 with my spouse Jonathan (who leads the NCNA Road Safety Committee), and our son and daughter who attend Normal Park School. We also share our home with Brownie, our golden doodle.

I’ve loved watching NCNA grow from a “What if?” conversation in fall 2023 into an impactful, civically engaged group of neighbors. It has been an honor to serve as president since our founding. This summer, I returned to the classroom as a 6th grade ELA teacher at CCA (right here in the neighborhood!), and with the support of this strong leadership team, I look forward to continuing in my role. Some of my favorite NCNA efforts so far include the redevelopment of the Sylvan Park Bird Sanctuary and our Play Streets events. I’m especially passionate about road safety, multimodal transportation, and engaging neighbors in conversations about zoning, affordable housing, and sustainable growth.

Kala Wright

Kala Wright – Vice President
Kala Wright, along with her husband Nathan and their son Landon, is proud to call North Chattanooga home. Their love for the neighborhood began in 2016 during a birthday trip, when they stayed in North Chatt and found themselves strolling to Publix and Frazier—often passing the home they now own.

Kala believes privilege carries a responsibility to help create smoother paths for others. She brings leadership experience from serving as Chairwoman of the Lake County Green Congregations in Illinois, coordinating nursing home and community responses during COVID-19, and serving as Executive Director of a local memory care community here in Chattanooga.

Currently, Kala is Treasurer of the Wilderness Response Network (WRN), which connects trained wilderness first responders to communities impacted by disasters—always with local consent. WRN has dispatched volunteers and vital supplies to affected areas, including our own region. She looks forward to bringing her values and skills to NCNA as Vice President.

Alex Epstein

Alex Epstein – Secretary

I’m Alex Epstein, and I’ve lived on Franklin Street since 2018 with my wife, Mary Catherine, and our dogs, Crash and Poppy. We love the restaurants, parks, and walkability of North Chattanooga. I currently serve as NCNA secretary, and I’m excited to help foster a welcoming, connected neighborhood for all residents.

Jennifer Carstens

Jennifer Carstens – Treasurer

Hello neighbors! I’m Jennifer Carstens. Since 2019, I’ve lived on Druid Lane with my husband (originally from South Africa), our three homeschooled boys, and our Siamese cat. We were drawn to North Chatt for its outdoor access and vibrant community—and we love that it still feels like a small-town neighborhood day to day.

As NCNA’s current treasurer, I’ve helped establish our 501(c)(3) and organize our finances. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our community while ensuring we preserve the charm and livability that make this neighborhood special.

Lindsey Wright

Lindsey Wright – Communications

I’m Lindsey Wright and I live on the north end of North Chatt on Rainbow Circle. My husband and I moved to Chattanooga from Dallas, TX in December of 2023 with our three kids and two dogs. After a couple visits and lots of research, we landed on North Chatt for its amazing public school, great restaurants, local shops, and walk/bike accessibility. Coming from the suburbs of Dallas, it was exactly the change of scenery and pace we were looking for. 

I’m a freelance writer, specializing in nonprofits and mental health. I love how a good story can make all the difference in how we see and understand ourselves, others, and our world. I hope to bring that kind of compelling storytelling to NCNA, so together we can create a community we’re all excited to be a part of. 

Leadership Team & Gratitude

Alongside our elected officers, NCNA is supported by an incredible group of leaders:

• Ben Connor (Parliamentarian)

• Jonathan Poole (Road Safety)

• Stewart Williams (Road Safety)

• Amy Packer (School & Community)

• Diane O’Sullivan (Responsible Growth)

• Max Downen (Green Spaces)

We also want to thank those who have recently transitioned out of leadership: Cassie Nice and Alex Close. Your hard work and vision helped build the foundation for what NCNA is today.

The Ultimate Front Porch Hang

Why Free Movie Night Isn’t Just for Kids 

Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors is hosting a FREE Movie Night in our neighborhood this Friday! But don’t let the selected feature (Inside Out 2) deter you from joining if you’re not into animated films. Because while Movie in a Park offers free entertainment for the kids, it offers something even bigger for all of us: community. 

In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General called loneliness a public health epidemic. For many of us, that proclamation comes as no surprise. On the heels of the pandemic's isolation and amidst the incessant hustle of our culture, loneliness is a logical outcome. The obvious antidote is connectivity. But that can often feel daunting. Especially because connection isn’t something we can add to our to-do list. It isn’t something we can accomplish. And it isn’t something we can do on our own. By its nature, it requires all of us to show up and choose one another. And that takes a level of vulnerability and intentionality.

One of the things that makes our neighborhood so special is the community. We have front porches for hanging out, sidewalks for strolling, and a recreation center for gathering. But those anchors of our neighborhood are only as meaningful as we make them. We still have to choose to sit on the porch, take the walk, and utilize the gathering spaces. But when we do, something magical happens – not all at once, but consistently over time, we become more connected to one another, less alone, and consequently, less lonely. 

This Friday, as the sun sets and the weather cools, make your way to Wyatt Park, even if not for yourself, perhaps for your neighbor who may be feeling the ache of disconnection. Bring a drink, a blanket, and an openness to meeting someone new. The time and space we carve out of our days for simply being together is how we foster a sense of community. It’s how we combat loneliness. And ultimately, the connectivity it brings is what gives our lives meaning. 

ALL THE DETAILS

When: Friday, July 18th at dusk

Where: Wyatt Park, 406 Colville Street

What: Inside Out 2

Bring: Chairs, blankets, snacks, family, and friends! 

MAKING IT EXTRA SPECIAL

Kids – Bring your goodies to sell! We’re talking friendship bracelets, lemonade, cookies, face paint – whatever you’ve got to share! We’ll have a special market-like space set up for you!  

Adults – Bring your garden bounty to share! Snip some sprigs of basil, pick some ripe tomatoes, and gather the peaches off the tree in your backyard. Whatever you have in your garden, let’s do what our community does best – come together and share whatever we have to offer. 

NCNA hats and t-shirts will also be available for purchase as we continue to raise funds for the revitalization of another community space – Sylvan Park!

July 14th NCNA Book Club

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi — hope you can join us for this July book discussion about community and being a neighbor.

July Book Club Sign Up

Please join us to read and discuss Theo of Golden by Allen Levi,

the “endearing story of a curious old man who quietly moves into a southern city and, for reasons unknown to anyone but himself, undertakes a campaign of anonymous generosity. Theo’s love for people, combined with his fondness for books, art, birds, and story, unite in a colorful expression of outreach and affection… Beautifully written stories of kindness and neighborliness are always timely, but perhaps especially so now” 

Sign up here to express interest and receive more information. We will meet to discuss the novel on July 14th, 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Real Roots Cafe (607 N Market St). We encourage you to arrive a few minutes early to order dinner and drinks (and support a local business), and then we’ll gather for our discussion after Real Roots closes to other customers.

Community Voices Shape Vision for a Safer, More Walkable Hixson Pike and Riverview Village

In response to longstanding safety concerns and two separate car accidents in late 2024, five neighborhood associations—Baker Hilltop, Dallas Heights, Fairhills, North Chattanooga, and Riverview—collaborated to gather community input on improving Hixson Pike between Fernway and Barton, and in the Riverview Village area. This effort was initiated by invitation of Councilwoman Jenny Hill who we thank for inviting our input on this important shared space.

Over three months, the group conducted a survey that garnered over 350 responses and hosted a community meeting attended by more than 60 residents. The feedback coalesced around two primary goals:

1. Slowing traffic speeds to enhance safety for all road users.

2. Developing continuous pedestrian pathways to improve walkability through the Riverview Village area.

Key recommendations towards those goals include relocating the southbound lane merge on Hixson Pike to a safer location north of its current spot, adding crosswalks, and constructing sidewalks where they are currently absent.

For a comprehensive overview of the community's priorities and suggestions, please refer to the following documents:

• Survey Response Report: Hixson Pike Survey Responses

• Community Priorities Statement: Hixson Pike - Riverview Village - Community Priorities Statement

• Presentation: Hixson Pike Community Survey D2 Presentation

This community-driven effort exemplifies how local collaboration can lead to actionable plans for safer, more accessible neighborhoods and we hope it encourages continued collaboration and engagement in our community.

Treasure Found During Trash Pickup!

At our neighborhood clean up day, a neighbor came across this old cast iron mailbox sign that had a name and address for a home in Red Bank. The neighbor brought the sign home, cleaned it up and set out to look for its owner.

Cast iron mailbox sign found in the Sylvan Park Bird Sanctuary!

Turns out the family still lives at the home, and he was able to return the sign to the son who hadn’t seen the sign since he was a little boy. The son now has the mailbox sign displayed in his home, and his sisters have been equally overjoyed to be reunited with the bit of family history.

We loved the story of the trash collection turning up a treasure! Makes us wonder what other glimpses of Chattanooga’s history we will uncover as we continue to reclaim the space at Sylvan Park.

Play Streets Are Coming!

Many adults can remember a time when children spent more time outdoors, and neighborhood streets were filled with the sounds of kids playing. While we still see many children in our neighborhood today, kids are more likely to play in their own homes, yards, or on screens.

In order to encourage more outdoor play and community connection, the North Chattanooga Neighborhood Association (NCNA) is excited to announce our Play Streets initiative. Play Streets are scheduled times when selected streets are closed to through traffic, creating safe spaces for children to play and neighbors to connect. This concept, already successful in other cities, represents a return to a time when streets weren’t just for cars – they were extensions of our front yards and gathering places for our communities.

The first NCNA Play Streets event will take place on Boylston Street, on Friday, April 11th from 5:00 PM–6:30PM. Please note, Boylston Street from Tremont to Beck will be closed to cars from 4:30 PM until 7:00PM the day of the event.

Play Streets will take place in the streets and in public spaces like sidewalks and greenways. Attendees should not be in a private yard unless invited.

RSVP Here

- The event is intentionally "low-program" and meant for parents to "life guard" rather than to be overly involved in the playing.
- We will provide bubbles and chalk, and we ask you to bring Amazon boxes for fort building and other creative play!
- We will also have an section for young children to play together with a bit of protection from older kids.
- All attendees should clean up after themselves as they leave.
- A parent or caregiver is required to be in attendance. Please bring a camp chair and enjoy the fun!
- Pets are not allowed at Play Streets.

We would love to see you at the event, and all are welcome even if you aren't a part of NCNA! Remember, Play Streets aren’t just about creating spaces for play – they’re about strengthening our community bonds, improving all of our well-being, and making North Chattanooga an even better place to live.

The future Play Streets are already planned. Hope you can join us!

May 9th on Hanover Street

June 13th on Colville Street

July 11th on Endicott Street

August 8th on Normal Avenue

September 12th on Dartmouth Street

October 10th on Boylston Street (again!)

If you would be interested in helping us with some of these future events, fill out this form!

Join Us for NCNA Clean Up Day – Hyper Local Impact!

Feeling like you want to make a difference but don’t know where to start? Look hyper local. Join us for NCNA Clean Up Day on April 5, 2025, starting at Frances B. Wyatt Community Center. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with neighbors, beautify our streets, and celebrate our hard work with a neighborhood potluck!

Why Join NCNA Clean Up Day?

We love our community, and this event is a chance to show it! A cleaner neighborhood benefits everyone—it boosts our quality of life, brings people together, and fosters local pride.

Event Details

Date: April 5, 2025
Time: 10 AM-1:30 PM
Location: Frances B. Wyatt Community Center @ 406 Colville Street

Schedule:

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Neighborhood Clean-Up
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Potluck Lunch

We’ll provide the trash bags, gloves, and even flower seeds to add some extra beauty to our streets. All you need to bring is comfortable clothes, a water bottle, and some friends and family to make it even more fun.

Stay for the Potluck!

After a productive morning, let’s celebrate with a potluck lunch at the small building near the playground. Sign up for a dish here.

Spread the word! We’ll see you on April 5th.

Tennessee Smart Yards

Please join us at 6 p.m. on April 16th at North Chattanooga Community Center (406 May Street) for a joint presentation for the NCNA and Hill City neighborhood association. Laurie Michell and Ann Brown will be presenting on the Tennessee Smart Yards program. Tennessee Smart Yards is a program from the University of Tennessee Extension that guides and assists homeowners and neighborhood associations on practices they can apply in their outdoor spaces to create healthier and more sustainable living spaces and communities. The program is a cooperative with TVA and the Tennessee Water Resources Research Center.

The program guides the homeowner through the 9 fundamental principles to sustainability. Some examples of the 9 principles are watering efficiently, providing for wildlife, and reducing storm water run off and its pollutants.The homeowner doesn’t have to be an expert gardener or landscaper to create and certify a Tennessee Smart Yard. With the guidance from the Tennessee Smart Yard handbook and educational videos, the 9 principles are attainable for the homeowner. Both HCNA and NCNA residents have shown that they are very conscientious of the environment, and we are confident that they will be interested in becoming a Tennessee Smart Yard. 

In addition to smart yards, the University of Tennessee also has a program for your communities to become a Tennessee Smart Yard Community. The program has three categories to reach the community, Education, Stewardship, and Connection.  They will discuss this program at their presentation as well.

The event will include information about Tennessee Smart Yards, and they will also have a table at the NCNA Earth Day celebration April 5th. Hope you can join us!

In Praise of Frances B. Wyatt Community Center

"Can we go to the Wyatt Center??" 

It's a request I now expect from my 3rd and 4th-grade boys at school pickup each day. And the answer is always an easy "YES!"

Earlier this year, the Frances B. Wyatt Community Center on Colville Street started offering youth open gym every weekday from 3:00-5:00 PM. Whoever came up with this timeframe is brilliant. (If that was you, from the bottom of my heart -- THANK YOU!) It's the perfect post-school activity for kiddos who need to burn some energy in a safe, temperature-controlled, contained space. It's especially enticing for my boys, who are always looking for an opportunity to play basketball in a real gym (as opposed to the small basketball hoop in our cracked driveway). And in the winter, we can all only bear to be outside for so long! Enter the community center. 

Photo from an NCNA meeting in 2024 in the Community Center

A few years ago, my husband and I spent a little time in Europe and became enamored with the concept of "third spaces" for people to gather. A "third space" refers to a social environment that is separate from the home (the first space) and the workplace/school (the second space). Think of cozy cafes, lively parks, community centers, libraries, or local clubs—these are all great examples! "Third spaces" are about creating a relaxed atmosphere that encourages socializing and building relationships. They help foster a sense of belonging and community, making it easier for people to meet up, enjoy each other's company, and hang out without the pressures of daily life. In an increasingly individualized world, "third spaces" offer a counterbalance towards togetherness. 

My family moved to Chattanooga and landed in North Chatt just over a year ago. The neighborhood we left in North Dallas was a master-planned community with an extensive greenbelt that included a playground, a walking trail, a volleyball court, multiple pavilions, and several large fields perfect for a game of pickup football or soccer. Upon our move, our kids lamented the loss of a common space where they could always count on finding friends to run around and play with. 

Since our move to Chattanooga, we've been searching for places where our kids can gather safely with other kids without needing a scheduled playdate and without spending money every time, as we do with places like trampoline parks. 

NCNA Movie Night at Wyatt Community Center in summer 2024.

When we heard about youth open gym at the Wyatt Center, our whole family rejoiced! And I don't mean that as hyperbole. I want my kids to grow up with access to community spaces where they can gather with friends and play, even without parental supervision, where they're given the opportunity to work things out with one another.

What a gift to live in a city with community centers scattered throughout. Here are a few things I've learned since my kids started playing at the Wyatt Center: 

1. Open Gym is Monday-Friday from 3:00 - 5:00 PM

2. The Wyatt Center is open Monday - Friday from 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM and Saturday from 12:00 - 4:00 PM, primarily used to play pickleball and table tennis. It's also available to rent. Find more info at https://chattanooga.gov/services/community-centers/francis-b-wyatt-community-center 

3. We owe a big thanks to the community center manager, Butch, who pushed to create open gym for our kids! 

4. The Wyatt Center is also used for neighborhood meetings and community social events, all of which have been possible because of the support and help of Butch!

5. Sign in! The city's community centers are funded based on usage. Signing in at the front desk indicates that our community is using the Wyatt Center. This allows our neighborhood's community center to receive more funding. 

Our hope for the future is that more neighbors begin to utilize the Wyatt Center as a community space to foster belonging among all kids and adults alike! 

• Lindsey Wright

Butch at the NCNA Glow in the Dark Dodgeball Event.

P.S. The city is currently asking for feedback on community centers, and it is a great way to support the programming that we love at Wyatt, so be sure to respond to the survey here.

Bringing Play Streets to North Chattanooga

Many adults can remember a time when children spent more time outdoors, and neighborhood streets were filled with the sounds of kids playing. While we still see many children in our neighborhood today, kids are more likely to be in their own home, yard, or screen. 

In order to encourage more outdoor play and community connection, The North Chattanooga Neighborhood Association is excited to announce our upcoming Play Streets initiative, a movement that temporarily transforms residential streets into safe, car-free spaces for play and community gathering.

The idea came from a book club that NCNA hosted earlier this fall to discuss The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. The book explores the detrimental effect of screens and social media on young people, and it delves into the huge benefits of outdoor play. More than 20 neighbors came to the book club, and nearly everyone agreed that their primary concern with their own children playing in our neighborhood is the danger of traffic. 

What are Play Streets?

Play Streets are scheduled times when selected streets are closed to through traffic, creating safe spaces for children to play and neighbors to connect. This concept, already successful in cities like Seattle, Portland, and New York, represents a return to a time when streets weren't just for cars – they were extensions of our front yards and gathering places for our communities.

Why Now?

In recent years, childhood has undergone a dramatic shift. Research shows that today's children spend significantly less time in unstructured outdoor play compared to previous generations. This decrease in outdoor activity and face-to-face social interaction has been linked to increased rates of anxiety and decreased social development among young people.

Contemporary research, including recent studies on child development, highlights several concerning trends:

• Children spend 50% less time in unstructured outdoor activities than they did in the 1970s 

• Average radius of play (how far children roam independently) has shrunk by 90% since the 1970s

• Screen time has replaced much of children's free play time

Benefits of Play Streets

Play Streets offer multiple benefits for our community. In addition to mental and physical well-being for children, Play Streets also build community by fostering a greater sense of community safety and intergenerational interaction. 

North Chattanooga’s Play Street event

The first step in planning our event is to seek a permit from the City of Chattanooga to close a selected street to traffic on a specific date. We have identified Boylston Street, between Colville Street and Beck Ave, as a potential location for the initial event. Because this stretch of road does not include any residences, it should pose minimal disruption to traffic flow (and it can serve as a wonderful test case for creating a public park in that vicinity!). The date of the event has not yet been determined. 

We need your help! 

We are currently seeking volunteers to help plan this event. Please let us know here if you are interested in helping out and/or staying in the loop on this event!

Remember, Play Streets aren't just about creating spaces for play – they're about strengthening our community bonds, improving our children's well-being, and making North Chattanooga an even better place to live.