NPP PRESENTS “PUBLIC LANDS PARTNERSHIPS” WITH SCOTT MARTIN
The Rita Vital Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series concludes its 2025 season with “Public Lands Partnerships: The Fort Monroe National Monument Model” featuring Scott Martin.
National Park Partners of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Moccasin Bend welcomes the public to the final event of the 2025 Rita Vital Memorial Moccasin Bend Lecture Series (MBLS) on Monday, November 10th at 7:00 pm at the Tennessee Aquarium River Journey Auditorium. Titled “Public Lands Partnerships: The Fort Monroe National Monument Model,” the talk brings Scott Martin, former Department of Parks and Outdoors Administrator for the City of Chattanooga, back to town in his new role as the CEO of the Fort Monroe Authority. Linda Moss Mines, Hamilton County Historian, will give a brief overview of Chattanooga’s plans to celebrate ‘America 250’ in 2026 before introducing Martin.
Fort Monroe National Monument is the outgrowth of a unique partnership between the nonprofit Fort Monroe Authority, the National Park Service, and the City of Hampton, Virginia. Together, these organizations maintain selected portions of the 565 acre park, providing tourists and residents with pleasant experiences all year round. Martin will outline how the partnership began, how it has changed throughout the years, and how the best practices of this model for public lands management may be replicated in other communities. Seating is limited and advance registration is required (register here) to guarantee a spot.
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the MBLS has been underwritten since its inception in 2006 by Tennessee State Representative Greg Vital and was memorialized in 2024 by National Park Partners to honor his late mother, Rita Vital, who attended every lecture series event held in her lifetime. Designed to explore topics related to National Parks and conservation; Indigenous culture and history; and Chattanooga’s place in the U.S. Civil War, the MBLS events are FREE and open to the public, thanks to Rep. Vital’s generous sponsorship. Recordings of previous lectures are available on-demand on the National Park Partners YouTube Channel.
Prior to becoming the CEO of Fort Monroe Authority last December, Scott Martin served as Administrator of the Department of Parks and Outdoors (DPO) for the City of Chattanooga. He guided the development of the first comprehensive DPO plan in over 25 years, engaging more than 5,000 residents in the process, and helped secure $8.4 million in philanthropic and public funding for parks and recreation. Previously, Martin served as Executive Director of the River Heritage Conservancy in Indiana, where he led efforts to establish a 4,400+ acre urban park system celebrating the historic Falls of the Ohio River. Martin’s experience also includes serving as Parks Director for 21st Century Parks in Louisville, Kentucky, where he helped develop a 4,000-acre nonprofit-run park system. Earlier in his career, Martin was the first Director of Franklin County (VA) Commerce & Leisure Services.
Martin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from Boise State University. He is a Fellow of the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration, serves as North American Chair for World Urban Parks, and is recognized internationally for his work integrating conservation, recreation, and economic development in urban settings.
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.
