Coolidge Park should not be the site of the proposed Medal of Honor Heritage Center. Green space is hard earned in Chattanooga. Hundreds of citizens worked to save Stringer’s Ridge from development, and now thousands of people enjoy its trails and views every month. Tens of thousands of people enjoy the expansive lawn of Coolidge Park each month, and it must likewise be preserved.

Civic visionaries, community advocates and generous donors helped create the city's anchor waterfront park and riverside greenways — all spurring the city's urban revival. By turning over the city's most popular and intensively used and visited park to a private entity, the city and county would set a terrible precedent for the security of parks across the city.

We in no way think the Heritage Center is a bad idea. We should honor our veterans who made huge sacrifices and risked or gave all for our country. But there has to be a better place.

Those behind this project explain they only want a small parcel of land, but the reality is they are seeking a lease of 2.25 acres that extends from the Walnut St. Bridge to Tremont St., the entire park area east of the bridge. While the building itself would take up just a portion of that space, it diminishes from the view-shed, and the lease itself would put the rest of the property at risk.

If you like to use this area and enjoy it for what is, an undeveloped space, let our city leaders know!

More: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/opinion/columns/story/2016/jul/24/austin-dont-sacrifice-parks-green-space-museu/377151/