Plant a tree for UTC

A new campaign is underway to transform Chattanooga’s University with beautiful trees.

Ross-Fowler Associates of Knoxville has completed a UTC campus landscape master plan that features large shade trees, expanses of grass, definitive entrances at the campus borders, and improved campus circulation.

“Our campus will reflect the excellence of what goes on inside the classrooms at UTC,” said Landscaping Committee chair and biology professor Linda Collins.

To begin the greening of UTC, three locations have been identified for transformation. The main entrance to the campus at McKenzie Arena will have brick and stone gates that mirror the gates in the older parts of campus. East Fifth Street along the historic cemeteries will become a tree-lined boulevard from McKenzie Arena to Palmetto Street. Vine Street at the Lupton Library and University Center, the heart of campus, will welcome campus gatherings with large shade trees, grass, and brick benches.

Research shows that students’ first impression of a campus strongly influences their college choice. A beautiful campus landscape also is a significant factor in workplace satisfaction for faculty and staff.

To accomplish this transformation, we need your help. For each contribution of $500, a legacy tree will be planted and a permanent plaque will be placed underneath that can bear your name, a loved one’s name, or the name of a favorite organization.

For more information or to make a donation, visit the Office of UTC Development or call (423) 425-4232.