No money to turn Legion into public park

GAINESVILLE - The city council representative on the Gainesville Parks & Recreation Board says it would appear that a plan to turn part of the American Legion into a public park is dead.

Councilwoman Ruth Bruner says the board agreed Monday night that the department just doesn't have the money, "They are stretched to do what they have to do already with the parks they have and with the long range plan, a capital improvements plan."

Parks and Recreation Director Melvin Cooper has said it would cost about 2.1 million dollars to develop the park as proposed. The city council still must act on the proposal.