Main Terrain

Main Terrain Art Park is an urban green space located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The park was developed on a 1.72-acre former railroad right-of-way in the city's emerging Southside neighborhood. It opened to the public in 2013 as part of an effort to transform a vacant lot into a multifunctional public space.

The park's design integrates public art, fitness opportunities, and stormwater management. Its centerpiece is a large-scale art installation by artist Thomas Sayre, consisting of nine sculptural elements that span the entire length of the park. These structures, the tallest measuring over 24 feet in height and weighing 9,000 pounds, are modeled after the iconic Walnut Street Bridge. Three of these sculptures are interactive, featuring wheels at their bases that visitors can turn to rotate the massive bridge truss elements above, creating new sculptural formations.

Surrounding the art installation is an oval track for running and walking. This track is divided into 50-meter segments, each marked by terrazzo inlays featuring haiku poems that reference the four seasons. These poems, written by ancient and modern haiku masters, are intended to inspire reflection among park visitors.

Main Terrain Art Park also serves an important environmental function. The park's design incorporates bioinfiltration basins disguised as lawn areas, which collect and filter stormwater. This system helps keep 1.5 million gallons of water annually from rushing into the city's sewer system. The collected rainwater is filtered, treated, and then used to irrigate the park's landscape.

The park represents a collaborative effort between diverse experts, including sculptors, landscape architects, stormwater engineers, and playground equipment manufacturers. This interdisciplinary approach has resulted in an innovative public space that combines art, physical activity, and environmental sustainability.