The majority of a park between Music Row and the Edgehill neighborhood has been fenced off to be used as a staging area for a nearby development.
Tony Rose Park sits off Music Circle South where a new office building is being put in where the CMA building used to be.
The developer, Panattoni, had been working with neighbors to create a building with the best fit for the neighborhood as possible, according to councilman Freddie O'Connell, but never informed the public about the use of the park.
"The developer came in extraordinarily good faith, worked with the neighborhood at length about the design of the building," O'Connell explained, adding that he was surprised the public was never informed based on his previous dealings with the developer.
According to the Parks Department, the allowance of using the park for a staging area was approved back in February, but only after the fencing was put up did they realize the public wasn't able to voice their opinions on the project.
Because of that fact, the Parks Department is revisiting the project during their next meeting on August 1st at noon, and they're inviting the public to come and share their thoughts.
As part of the allowance of having the developer use the park for a staging area, the developer agreed to create $90,000 in park improvements following the completion of their project.
If the Parks Department continues to allow use of the park, it's possible the public could have more of a say in how that money is spent when it comes to park improvements.
