<p>Letting the federal government maintain The King Center would allow the King family to focus on spreading Martin Luther King Jr.'s message of nonviolence carried on by his widow, a King Center board member said Thursday.</p><p>Former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young, who was an associate of King, said the board is considering transferring maintenance of the property to the National Park Service. The park service currently operates the King National Historic Site, located across the street from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. The facility includes the tomb of the slain civil rights leader.</p><p>The legislation that established the National Historic Site in 1980 grants the National Park Service right of first refusal should The King Center decide to sell the property, said Saudia Muwwakkil, spokeswoman for the King Historic Site.</p><p>Muwwakkil said the agency has not discussed details, but is interested in exploring options for an agreement.</p><p>Coretta Scott King founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta after her husband's assassination in 1968 and has traveled widely to help carry out his dreams and goals. The center moved to its current site on Auburn Avenue in 1981.</p><p>"The center's main mission is to help end violence in the world. The task of maintaining the property ends up being a formidable responsibility," Young said, adding that millions of people visit the center each year.</p><p>"That's a considerable amount of wear and tear," he said.</p><p>Young said the family would remain responsible for King's marble tomb, which rests on King Center grounds. The historic site's geographic boundaries include the King Center, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the King birth home, and the visitors center.</p><p>The King family still owns the King birth home.</p><p>Maintaining the King Center facility _ including the upkeep and appearance of the site _ is an option for the Park Service, along with helping with such issues as exhibition development and education programs, Muwwakkil said.</p><p>"The overarching goal of both facilities is to ensure that Dr. King's message and legacy is carried out for present and future generations," Muwwakil said.</p><p>"If this relieves the King Center of the burdens of interpretations and facilities management, we are sure we would be able to work together on an agreement that is best for all."</p><p>_____</p><p>On the Net:</p><p>HASH(0x1cdc268)</p>
