developments. We’re also getting some housing that’s getting built,” he explains.The transformation centers on the I-75 corridor, where major retailers like Bass Pro Shops and Topgolf anchor the Jordan Crossing shopping center, with expansion now reaching the middle and western portions of the city. Camp Jordan Park is the economic engine behind this growth. The 300-plus acre regional complex draws thousands of visitors, players, and families who stay in local hotels and spend money at area restaurants and stores.“We have a regional complex that draws thousands and thousands of visitors into our city, which is driving economic benefits from them spending money at our stores and restaurants,” Mayor Williams notes. Originally farmland purchased in 1973, the park now features 13 baseball/softball fields, 14 soccer fields, a 34,000-square-foot arena, amphitheater, and comprehensive recreational facilities that generate significant sports tourism revenue. BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE East Ridge’s new animal shelter is a community catalyst that brings residents together around a shared purpose. The facility, significantly larger than the previous location used since 2004, provides space for volunteer programs. Cameron McAllister, Administrator of Economic & Community Development, describes the collaborative approach: “The new animal shelter, built in 2024, allows us to expand the services that we offer within the department, but also host programming that we may not have had the chance to do at the previous location.” The facility’s community impact became evident before its official opening. “A week or two prior to the grand opening of the facility, we hosted a community workshop volunteer opportunity for individuals to come together and assist us in putting pieces of equipment in the animal shelter in order to prepare for our public grand opening,” McAllister explains. The shelter exemplifies East Ridge’s broader infrastructure strategy of creating assets that serve multiple community functions. Unlike traditional municipal projects focused solely on service delivery, the facility actively fosters civic engagement through hands-on volunteer opportunities. McAllister confirms this dual purpose: “It’s certainly been an opportunity for members of the community to come together as a whole.” The shelter’s success has established a template for future projects that combine essential services with community-building elements, demonstrating how strategic infrastructure investments can strengthen municipal capacity and social connections. 165 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09 EAST RIDGE, TN
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