Most city and county officials are happy with calling the soccer park — to be located on 70 acres in the Burns Bottom area — Tan Yard Park, a tentative name for the project. But not every city and county official is behind it.
Still, much more important than the name, officials stress, is the park”s importance to the community, offering myriad opportunities for recreation, in addition to an impressive venue for soccer.
“I think it”s a great name,” said Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor. “We”ve come a long way to get to where we are now and I think the name”s great.”
“I like the name and I have no problem with the name,” said Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens. “It goes back to where the past, present and future can come together and meet.”
Local historian Rufus Ward earlier noted the area now referred to as the Hitch Lot or Burns Bottom was the site of the earliest known industrial site — a tan yard — in Columbus.
Animal hide was turned into leather in a tan yard; by 1823, a hide tanning business existed on the site on which the park will be located.
A 2009 charrette — or planning process — group in Columbus first suggested the name after conversations on the historical value of the site.
“I don”t have a problem with the name,” Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority Executive Director Roger Short said of the proposed park name, noting the CLRA board ultimately will decide on the name. “What they”ve attempted to do is tie some history in with the name, because it was a tanning yard back in the 1800s. There has been a suggestion to maybe call it the Tan Yard Park at Burns Bottom. I don”t have a problem if they call it Tan Yard Park. We”re just excited it”s going to happen.”
“I think it”s wonderful,” said Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box. “I”m very excited about it. I love to see it tied to something historical like that and I think it”s good.”
“I think Tan Yard is a good name,” said Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem. “I really don”t have a specific name for the park. I think the idea for a sports (park) is a good idea and I was real impressed with the plans (for the park).”
“Personally, I think it”s a great fit,” said Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin. “I like the name and I think it”s appropriate.”
“Really, it doesn”t matter to me (what they call it),” said District 3 Supervisor John Holliman. “Personally, I really don”t have a preference.”
“I think it”s neat,” District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks said of the name Tan Yard Park. “I”m impressed with it. I kind of think it”s a pretty neat name and I can live with it.”
Not everyone is sold on Tan Yard, however. Board President and District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders and District 2 Supervisor Frank Ferguson weren”t thrilled with the name, preferring to get public input on the matter instead.
“I”m not crazy about the name,” said Ferguson. “I don”t know if I”ve got a better name or not. I would welcome some things thrown in there; something about it doesn”t hit me, doesn”t give me a warm feeling.”
“I think there should be more input from the public on what it should be named, instead of arbitrarily naming it Tan Yard Park, without any input,” said Sanders, who first heard the name during the charrette planning process in Columbus. “If push came to shove, we ought to have a contest of some sort to get a good name for it.”
Residents asked about the name Monday also preferred a different name, though they had no immediate suggestions.
“I”m not crazy about the name,” said Kim Davis, a local Realtor.
“But I do respect the history behind it,” she added.
“I don”t particularly like the name,” said Whirrlie Byrd, who attended a public hearing on the park. “I don”t know what else we”d call it, but I don”t like (Tan Yard Park). I”d like something more attractive for the city.”
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith, Ward 4 Councilman Fred Stewart and District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith could not be reached for comment on the name.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.