From Park To Parking Lot?

Ward 2 Alderman Carl Hammack suggested on June 18 that the city should look into turning part of Sites Park, which sits at the corner of Pine and Elm, into a parking lot, even as the Bourbon Boosters pursue a grant to redo the area.

Hammack operates a business in the building where a mural is painted on the side.

Mayor Danny Skaggs said any modification of the property should be left up to the people of Bourbon. He also pointed out how the revitalization effort by the Boosters.

Ward 2 Alderwoman Mary Heywood, who also is the Boosters president, verified they have applied for a grant.

The Boosters are using ideas presented to them by engineering students from Missouri S&T, who created a plan as part of their course.

Heywood said they envision a fountain and redoing the mural.

“Before we consider that, we have to have a town hall,” Skaggs said. “That is the people’s park. We have to get their input.”

Hammack said the intention was not to tear up the entire park. He said it is currently being used by dogs and has overgrown shrubbery.

“I think we should pursue that somewhere down the road,” he said.

Sites Park was part of the Bourbon Facelift 2000 project initiated in 1999. 

A committee worked with Washington University architect students to generate ideas for improving Bourbon.

The lot was donated to the city by the Sites family and the renovation work was done by local citizens, according to the Bourbon history book.

Paintings of Bourbon’s historic buildings created by late local artist Ralph Missey were commissioned to be turned into a mural. The late Tom Burnett, who operated a drug store in the building, gave permission to have the mural painted where it is now.

The mural was painted by Judy Campbell.

In 2000, the park was completed and dedicated at the Fall Festival.