According to older newspaper articles and information on websites for the Land of Public Trust and the Hamilton County Regional Planning commission, Alton Park was once an early hub for manufacturing, featuring the Chattanooga Cotton Oil Company and the Chattanooga and Southern Railway.
Originally a white suburb, it transformed into a predominantly Black community by the 1950s, partly due to the construction of the McCallie Homes housing project.
This industrial community originated in the late 19th century near Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga Creek. Alton Park used to be lined with oak trees, but the area was developed for manufacturing, supported by rail lines and natural resources.
These local industries allegedly polluted the air and land. According to The Trust for Public Land, residents faced significant environmental contamination from nearby chemical corporations, something that has impacted the community’s health for decades…