Chickamauga, GA (May 22, 2026) — Trust for Public Land (TPL), Walker County, and the City of Chickamauga today officially dedicated the John Culpepper Chickamauga Battlefield Connector Trail — a new 2.2-mile multi-use path, named for Chickamauga’s longtime former City Manager, linking the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park to downtown Chickamauga. A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the trail’s northern terminus on Wilder Road, attended by local elected officials, funding partners, and community members, marked the completion of a project nearly a decade in the making.

The Battlefield Connector Trail provides a safe, scenic route for pedestrians and cyclists, connecting one of the nation’s most visited Civil War sites to Chickamauga’s historic downtown business district. The trail retraces portions of the old Dry Valley Road, where Union soldiers once marched from Mountain Cove through Crawfish Springs, and passes near the Gordon-Lee House, which served as a field hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers following the Battle of Chickamauga.

Trust for Public Land was enlisted by the Walker County in September 2024 to manage the project, providing expertise in land acquisition, trail design, community engagement, and philanthropic fundraising. Groundbreaking for the project took place in August 2025.

“Today we’re not just opening a trail — we’re connecting people to one of the most remarkable landscapes in American history,” said Noel Durant, Tennessee State Director for Trust for Public Land. “Linking tourist destinations to business districts can grow local economies while protecting irreplaceable natural and historical assets. We want to thank our many funding partners for their support and the people of Walker County for inviting TPL to help bring this remarkable project to life.”

The project was funded through a $434,131 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), supplemented by grants from the Lyndhurst Foundation, Riverview Foundation, Jewel Memorial Foundation, and Ironman Foundation, along with $50,000 contributions each from the City of Chickamauga and Walker County Government — the county’s first such financial commitment to a new public trail in nearly a decade.

“The Battlefield Trail Connector is a true win-win-win for our entire region,” said Walker County Commission Chairwoman Angie Teems. ”It will promote healthy lifestyles, preserve our history, and stimulate our local economy — and it’s a considerable quality of life enhancement for the people of Walker County. On behalf of everyone in North Georgia, I am grateful to TPL for their invaluable assistance and proud of what we have built together.”

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