MEMPHIS, Tenn. — More controversy over who controls the Greensward in Overton Park.
The Memphis Zoo recently removed 27 trees from the area, and now the executive director of Overton Park Conservancy wants to know why.
OPC called police when it noticed the trees were removed when they got to work Monday.
“They’ve just destroyed trees that have had three years of growth in them,” said Ernest Kelly who helped plant the trees in 2012.
Kelly said he donated some of the trees back in 2012 on the Greensward.
He’s shocked to learn they were removed by the Memphis Zoo over the weekend.
“I think this is a dreadful thing for them to do both what they’re doing and the way they’re doing it,” he said.
The executive director over Overton Park Conservancy said the trees were removed without their permission by the zoo and they’re taking action.
“We expect that the trees are either going to be returned to us or will be compensated for their value and either way we do intend to replant,” said Tina Sullivan.
A spokesperson with the zoo said the trees were removed for parking space, especially on days when the zoo is extremely busy.
“We utilize that area only 60 days a year out of the calendar year and majority of the guests who park there are here on free Tennessee Tuesdays and field trip school groups. By denying access to that area, we do limit the guests who do come to the zoo,” she said.
Doug McGowen, Chief Operating Officer for the city released this statement
“We understand that passions are high surrounding this issue. And we know the friction is a result of the success that both the Memphis Zoo and Overton Park are enjoying.
We have agreements with both of these organizations – the Memphis Zoological Society and Overton Park Conservancy — to serve the people of Memphis. Today, the mayor asked the leaders of both the conservancy and the zoo to come to him and meet together. We’ll ask them to come back with a timeline for a mutually agreeable course of action.
In the meantime, we’ve asked both parties not to take any actions that would inflame the situation. Both have agreed to do that.
We know this won’t be fixed overnight. We ask that the community give us the time to reach a solution that works for everyone – most importantly, the people who use the park and the zoo.”
