City Council members were told Tuesday that the city must spend $412,000 buying a new city park in Ridgedale because of a mistake made by a prior administration in 2003.
Dan Thornton, general services administrator, said at that time the city sold the former Ridgedale Recreation Center to McCallie School for $200,000. He said the appraisal at the time was $240,000.
Mr. Thornton said city officials have been told by the state that, since federal and state funds were used to acquire the Ridgedale Recreation Center property, that a replacement park must be found.
The city will be required to spend $412,000 in today's dollars, he said.
Mr. Thornton said the city is seeking property for the new park within a few miles of the one that was sold.
Councilman Jack Benson noted that the mistake was under "a different mayor and a different parks and recreation director."
He asked who sold the property, and Mr. Thornton said Harvey Webb was real property manager for the city at the time.
Mr. Thornton said city officials are much more careful now to try to flag such restrictions.