National Parks Are a Home Run!

Over 800 RBI kids celebrated the legacy of Richard West at the Chattanooga Lookouts

The 16th annual National Park Night at the Lookouts combined “America’s best idea” - National

Parks - with “America’s game” - baseball + 800 happy Chattanooga kids.

The Chattanooga RBI program is the exclusive Chattanooga affiliate of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Initiative. Operated under direction of the City of Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors, this program brings kids from across the community together for healthy activity during the summer while teaching the value of teamwork and learning.

Greta Hayes, Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors Director of Recreation, in a Talk Radio interview, announced that the Chattanooga RBI program was the 3rd largest program in the United States that is not in a major league city. Listen to more of this interview here, and contact their team for information on registering your child at 423-643-6081.

NPP honored the late Richard West, who coordinated the Chattanooga RBI program for decades in his role at the City Parks and Outdoors department. A graduate of Howard High School and Fisk University, Richard’s dedication to the City of Chattanooga spanned four decades, serving as a TSSAA Official, Recreation Division Manager, and mentor. The energy in the stadium was electric with a sea of smiles as kids in blue and red t-shirts representing RBI and EKO (Every Kid Outdoors) cheered for their sport and honored the man who introduced it to them.

Tickets sold through National Park Partners provided support for NPP’s Community Engagement and Education program. This year’s game featured a competition between the Chattanooga Lookouts and the Rocket City team plus a special promotion hosted by Chick-fil-A featured a giveaway of a free item in their rewards for any fans who open their Chick-fil-A App inside the ballpark.

National Park Partners preserves and promotes the landscapes and stories of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, including Moccasin Bend National Archeological District. We believe the park belongs to everyone and everyone belongs in the park, and we engage the community in growing Chattanooga’s National Park legacy for current and future generations. Visit nppcha.org for more information.