Statement Concerning the Transfer of Bill Evans Field
College Park, GA – June 12, 2024 - In response to recent concerns regarding the transfer of Bill Evans Field, the city maintains having acted in accordance with Georgia law.
Certain public statements contend the transfer was improper due to allegations that:
1. The conveyance violated the public trust doctrine, and
2. The transfer failed to follow specific court-mandated procedures in cases where municipalities attempt to alienate title to un-abandoned public park land.
On the contrary, the public trust doctrine is rooted in common law and has traditionally been used to protect a limited scope of resources, such as navigable waters, the lands beneath them, and tidelands. Under Georgia law, the public trust doctrine is based on the principle that the State acts as a trustee of the rights of the people of Georgia to use and enjoy tidewaters and navigable streams for activities such as fishing, passage, navigation, commerce, and transportation. The public trust doctrine has not been extended by the State to apply to recreational parks, such as Bill Evans Field, and is inapplicable here.
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