Chattooga County buys artist Finster’s Paradise Gardens

Chattooga County, Ga., has purchased Paradise Gardens, the outdoor site in Summerville that serves as a showcase for folk artist Howard Finster’s works, according to a news release.

“This purchase ensures an ultimate protection for our communities’ treasured art environment,” Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Jason Winters said in a statement. “Our goal is to save this local, national and internationally renowned art site while creating a sustainable heritage tourism destination to promote our local economy.”

Winters said in the news release, which came from the Paradise Gardens Foundation, that locally donated money and local interest were part of a required match to make the purchase.

The foundation was created to ensure preservation of the art site and enhance development of the local economy, according to the statement.

Summerville native Jordan H. Poole has been hired as executive director of the foundation, which will work to promote tourism at the site.

“I am excited to be a part of such a prestigious project in my hometown community,” Poole said in the statement.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.