Herenton ends talks with UT on leasing park Mayor hoped to
sidestep renaming controversy By Jacinthia Jones
August
18, 2005
The
day after the Memphis City Council rebuffed Mayor Willie
Herenton's plan to lease a public park to the
University
of
Tennessee,
the mayor abruptly shut down talks with the school.
Herenton notified UT Health Science Center chancellor William
Owen Jr. by letter Wednesday.
"It is
with regret that I am advising you of our decision to terminate
discussions regarding the proposed Maintenance Agreement for
Forrest Park," the letter reads. "I appreciate very much your
spirit of cooperation."
University officials couldn't be reached late Wednesday.
In the
midst of a public debate on whether to rename three Confederate
parks in the city, Herenton had pitched a plan to the City
Council to let the university lease and manage the park.
The
plan, Herenton said, would help the cash-strapped city and at
the same time let city leaders sidestep the controversy around
the possible renaming of Forrest, Jefferson Davis and
Confederate parks.
University officials approached the city several years ago about
managing the park, which is next to the campus and used by
students and faculty.
City
and university attorneys had nearly finished negotiating the
deal, which needed council approval.
The
Riverfront Development Corp. already manages 10 Downtown parks,
including Jefferson Davis and Confederate parks and
Mud
Island, for $2.5 million a year.
The
Forrest Park lease would have been a nominal cost for the city,
such as $1 per year.
Herenton outlined the agreement for council members Tuesday, but
the plan died when no one seconded a motion to approve it.
Wednesday, Herenton said he was disappointed in the council.
"After
the stalemate with them, as far as I'm concerned, the issue of
renaming parks, moving graves -- it's all dead. I'm washing my
hands of it."
The
mayor said he still wants to work with the council to merge and
close under used parks or use them for public housing or
educational needs.
He
also advocates selling "surplus" parks and investing the money
in the city's general fund. In all, the city has nearly 200
parks. Council member Scott McCormick said the mayor's decision
was a stunner..
"I
felt that we were close to working out whatever differences we
had and would bring it up to the next meeting."
