The City Board will hear today from the Zoo and UAMS on competing proposals to use the former minor league baseball park in War Memorial Park. The presentations start at 4 p.m. There will be no vote today. The City Board wants to hear first from its parks commission on its thoughts about city policy for sale and re-use of city park land.
UAMS has the money and clout, of course. It’s not much exaggeration to say the future of War Memorial Park is at stake in the outcome. A UAMS victory — on grounds of economic development arguments — paves the way for further encroachment after the hospital has also gobbled up the nearby National Guard armory and Red Cross facilities, both expected to move to new locations sooner or later.
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