Multiple speakers during the public‑comment period at the Jan. 7 Hamilton County Commission meeting thanked commissioners for recent county actions concerning Enterprise South Nature Park and called for permanent protections.

Nathan Griffin, a cofounder of Save Enterprise South Nature Park, told the commission the park is a critical public asset for recreation, history and ecological value and said the group has built relationships with state and federal agencies (including the Tennessee Historical Commission and National Park Service) to ensure protections. Griffin said community concerns arose from perceived lack of early transparency around proposals affecting the park.

Melissa Ray, another park advocate, celebrated the decision to retain park protections and listed near‑term objectives: protection and restoration of Old Summit Cemetery, documentation and interpretation of Civil War‑era artifacts, an ecological survey of parkland, and school‑focused educational programming. She said the group will continue outreach, volunteer events and exploration of long‑term protections that would keep the park preserved “in perpetuity.”

Other public commenters urged balancing growth with stewardship and highlighted opportunities for volunteer stewardship and public‑agency collaboration. Several speakers thanked specific commissioners and the mayor for meeting with advocates and visiting the park.

What happens next: Speakers said Save Enterprise South Nature Park will continue community organizing, biodiversity/archaeological surveys and outreach to state and federal agencies to formalize protections; the group announced volunteer events and intends to remain engaged in the county’s land‑use process.