MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A beautiful Saturday had people packed into the Memphis Zoo. When overflow parking moved to a grassy area near Overton Park, protestors were ready to protect the space and keep vehicles out.
“When they dropped the chains, cars started rolling in. Several people laid down across the driveway and two big trucks turned back and drove the other way. They finally got people moved back. Police were wonderful, ” said Rodney Nash, a greensward supporter.
Zoo officials told WREG they requested police presence as a precaution.
This ongoing dispute between the zoo and greensward supporters is nothing new. Both sides met just last week and are supposed to be working out a compromise that will give the zoo needed parking space and save treasured green space at the park.
“The zoo has never been willing to compromise on anything. They have provoked and run roughshod over everything that the people in this neighborhood and Overton Park want to do,” said Bill Stegall of Midtown Memphis.
The Memphis Zoo told us in a statement, “This is one of a series of stunts planned for this holiday weekend to make the zoo look like a bully. We are attending mediation and trying to work out a solution in the best interest of everyone.”
So far the mediation hasn’t found a solution. We are told all sides will be back at the table again next week.
“We are asking them at this point please err on the side of saving some of the natural area left in this city,” said Nash.
The protestors say they have been having their “sit-ins” in the park the last several weekends and plan to be back next weekend.
The zoo also issued the following statement Saturday in response to allegations it took eggs from a planned Easter egg hunt on the Greensward:
“The Zoo did not take any Easter eggs. This is one of a series of stunts planned for this holiday weekend to make the Zoo look like a bully – we are attending mediation and trying to work out a solution in the best interest of everyone.”
