GASTONIA, N.C. -- It's a well-known park in downtown Gastonia, but it's also become the center of controversy.

  • Two developers have expressed interest in building a multi-family project where Center City Park is located
  • The city says there isn’t an actual plan
  • Businesses near the park are torn about the possibility 

The city says nothing is official, but two developers have expressed interest in building a multi-family project which could possibly mean more than 100 units at the Center City Park.

When a couple residents heard about that, they started a petition to save the park. It already has more than 2,600 signatures.

“This [park] has been repurposed already. We don’t have to start over,” said Curt Butler who owns an art studio next the park and is a co-founder of Save Center City Park. “We haven’t considered the stories we're about to wipe away here.”

“We love the park, but there are other places we can place the park,” said Tom McPhaul who owns a real estate company near the park. “We must get people downtown living.”

The city says there isn’t an actual plan. if the project is approved, the the park could be relocated.