Video: Louisville Mayor Addresses Park Rumors

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LOUISVILLE, MISS. (WCBI) — Academy Park has been referred to as a “hidden gem” for the city of Louisville. Now closed to the public, rumors have started flying about the future of the park.

The 2014 April tornado devastated parts of Louisville, Mississippi.

Completely wiping out more than 200 homes left the city with a major problem.

” Housing is a factor. It’s not only the need for housing, but it’s the speed by which we provide housing in our city,” said Mayor Will Hill.

Academy Park was closed prior to the tornado due to vandalism and that’s when future development planning for the city led Mayor Hill to consider the area for residential development.

” When looking at the overall picture of the city of Louisville, how the tornado came through and what property the city had available, a park came to mind. So it was a suggestion, an idea,” said Mayor Hill.

Discussion on the options for development on the park grounds have stayed at just that… simply discussion.

” I posed to the board of alderman a suggestion that ‘hey, maybe we want to look at this, discuss the options’. From there, it developed to talking points and discussions throughout the community and from there, there was obvious reason for some concern because there’s a lot of rumors running throughout the community as to what is the plan. Is the park just closed? It’s not necessarily that and it’s all about what’s best for the city overall,” said Mayor Hill.

After recent board meeting city officials decided to let the public weigh in on the outcome during a public hearing.

” Make an informed decision. Basically, look at it from every angle, what is best, do we do what we’ve always been doing or do we look at what the opportunities are for and we said it so many times since the tornado, the key word is opportunity,” said Mayor Hill.

Mayor Hill doesn’t have a set date for the public hearing yet but says it will be within the next few weeks.