May 23, 2012
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- A ridge overlooking the Tennessee River and downtown Chattanooga has been signed over to the Tennessee River Gorge Trust.
Developer Jimmy Hudson announced Friday the 55 acres had been donated to the preservation group.
Rick Wood, who directs the Trust for Public Land, called the donation "a great next step" toward conserving an urban forest.
The trust already held a conservation easement for the property along with 37 acres on the other side of the ridge.
Hudson said he was surprised by negative public reaction when developers proposed buying his land for condos in 2008. The plans were scrapped.
