"Roast Beef" - one of the more controversial of the city's public art pieces, has replaced the Japanese maple at E.C. Phillips Park near the County Courthouse.
Gene Hyde, city forester, said the stately maple had to be dug up and moved a short distance at the time the city changed several streets from one way to two way.
The small Phillips Park is at the corner of Georgia Avenue and McCallie Avenue.
Mr. Hyde said the roots were apparently damaged in the move.
"I have done everything I know to do, but since then it has been slowly, slowly dying," he said.
He said he received a call from Larry Zehnder, who heads city parks, asking if "Roast Beef" could be moved to Phillips Park. Mr. Hyde said the Japanese maple then was cut down and the sculpture put in its place.
"Roast Beef," which includes some boulders in a metal basket, formerly was sited near the Tennessee Aquarium.
City Councilman Manny Rico once questioned the worth of "Roast Beef," saying, "I've got a lot of rocks."
Mr. Hyde said the wood was saved from the Japanese maple.
He said it will be among the wood put up for a drawing to woodcarvers and others by the city. It will be Friday at 900 E. 11th St. behind the Paul F. Clark Building.
Registration is from 9-10 a.m. and the drawing is at 10 a.m.