MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The near-decade long battle between the Memphis Zoo and a group called the Overton Park Conservatory seems to be coming to an end.
The battle has included everything from protests to demonstrations, even an arbitrator at one point appointed by the mayor.
Back in March, both organizations (along with the city) planned to reconfigure Zoo parking that would leave the Greensward on the eastern and southern border of the parking lot in tact.
Since then, specifics got a bit complicated. Still, seven months later, all parties seem to be on the same page.
The biggest parts of the agreement to note — all of the city's maintenance facilities are moving out of Overton Park by the end of next year, leaving the land to be divided between the Zoo and the conservancy.
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The Zoo will use its portion for its maintanence facilities, the conservancy to use for additional parking.
Once Zoo maintenance makes the move, that will free-up space for a North Parkway public entrance and 300 new parking spaces.
The city is turning over 17 acres south of the zoo in the old forest back to the conservancy as well.