Staff photo by Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free Press – Pictured from left, siblings Mason LaRose, 6, Eisobel Larose, 4, Elisha Larose, 7, and Kaiden LaRose, 7, play in Tatum Park in the Highland Park neighborhood. The city of Chattanooga recently bought the park from Tennessee Temple University.Shaun LaRose and his five children love going to Tatum Park in the summer.
It’s the only green space in Highland Park, he said. There are picnic tables, a walking area and a nice green field in the middle. His children can play there.
“When it’s warm, they use it quite a bit,” said LaRose, who lives on South Greenwood Street. “They bike down here.”
The city bought Tatum Park from Tennessee Temple University a month ago for $205,000. The city paid $75,000 this year and will pay $130,000 next year.
Residents of the Highland Park neighborhood are elated to find out that they’ll still have the park.
“It’s better than condos,” said Kevin Bate, who lives on Chamberlain Avenue.
Councilman Peter Murphy, who represents the district, began talking to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department more than a year ago about trying to acquire the property. Murphy said it is a big deal to keep this park.
“It’s huge,” he said. “Their park isn’t going away.”
Parks and Recreation Director Larry Zehnder agreed the city needed to buy the park and keep it from being turned into homes or condominiums.
BY THE NUMBERS* $205,000: City payment to Tennessee Temple University for Tatum Park* $75,000: City payment this year to Tennessee Temple* $130,000: Planned city payment next year to Tennessee TempleSource: Chattanooga
“It’s the Highland Park in Highland Park,” he said.
Tennessee Temple University officials could not be reached for comment.
Lisa Flint, a past president for the Highland Park Neighborhood Association, said the university built the park in the mid-1990s.
Emerson Burch, who lives on Chamberlain Street, said that city ownership may mean more leeway in how the space may be used. It could mean that more events could be held there, or interactive statues or a playground put in, he said.
“Playground equipment would be cool,” he said.
LaRose said the options are wide open.
“We hope people find new and creative ways to use it,” he said.
Contact staff writer Cliff Hightower at chightower@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/CliffHightower.