Romanticism in urban landscapes: parks, tourism, and the rebirth of Chattanooga, Tennessee

Abstract

Modern cities are increasingly emphasizing the positive influence of nature and greenspace on quality of life for urban residents and tourists. However, the impetus for these innovations and factors impacting their success have not been adequately studied. Is the commodification of environmental amenities (i.e. ecosystem services) a sufficient recipe for sustainable development, or does true nature-based ‘revitalization’ require appeals to deeper sentiments, attachments, and value systems rooted in emotional and esthetic experience (e.g. biophilic and romanticist principles)? This research uses a case study approach to explore the contributions of parks and other green infrastructure to the rebirth of the city of Chattanooga, once the ‘dirtiest city in America.’ Thirty key informants were interviewed to discuss the transformation of the industrial city. Response data were corroborated with secondary sources, photography, and informal consultations. Findings suggest that recognition of both instrumental and intrinsic values of nature and investment in the city’s environmental amenities played a pivotal role in Chattanooga’s rebirth as a popular outdoor mecca and tourist destination. While an emphasis on environmental assets helped the city craft a ‘green vision’ for the future, it was a strong connection to place and collective identity based on these assets that helped sustain that vision and make it a reality. Applications of similar modern romanticist thinking may help catalyze sustainable development initiatives that foster transformations in other aging industrial cities.

摘 要：

现代城市越来越强调自然和绿地对城市居民和游客生活质量的积极影响。然而, 这些创新的动力和影响其成功的因素还没有得到充分的研究。环境设施(即生态系统服务)的商品化是否足以促进可持续发展？或者真正的基于自然的“复兴”需要诉诸于更深层次的情感、依恋和植根于情感和审美体验的价值体系(例如, 爱生物和浪漫主义原则)?本研究采用案例研究的方法, 探索公园和其他绿色基础设施对查塔努加市的复兴所做的贡献, 查塔努加一度为“美国最脏的城市”。我们采访了30位重要的线人, 讨论了这座工业城市的转型。响应数据通过二手数据、摄影和非正式磋商得到证实。调查结果表明, 对自然的工具价值和内在价值的认识, 以及对城市环境设施的投资, 对查塔努加重新成为一个受欢迎的户外圣地和旅游目的地起到了关键作用。虽然对环境资产的重视有助于城市为未来打造一个“绿色愿景”, 但正是基于这些资产的场所和集体身份之间的紧密联系, 帮助维持了这一愿景, 并使其成为现实。运用类似的现代浪漫主义思想, 可能有助于促进可持续发展倡议, 促进其他老工业城市的转型。

Keywords:

• parks
• greenspaces
• romanticism
• Chattanooga
• well-being
• sustainability
• nature
• USA

关键词:

• 公园
• 绿色空间
• 浪漫主义
• 查特怒加市
• 幸福
• 持续性
• 自然
• 美国

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bernard M. Kitheka

Bernard M. Kitheka, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Kinesiology Department at Missouri State University. He teaches ecotourism, fundamentals of tourism and leisure education. His research interests include ecotourism, sustainable tourism, tourism competitiveness, urban change, citizen empowerment and other human dimensions of sustainability and recreation.

Elizabeth D. Baldwin

Elizabeth D. (Betty) Baldwin, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management at Clemson University. She teaches qualitative research methods, environmental interpretation and recreation resource management. Her research interests include conservation social science, cultural memory and environmental conflict and collaboration.

Lincoln R. Larson

Lincoln R. Larson, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management at North Carolina State University. His research and teaching focuses on human dimensions of natural resource management, with a particular emphasis on urban parks and green space.