Auburn Restaurant Owner Wants To Turn Part Of Park Into Outdoor Eating Space

By Kelly Ryan

AUBURN (CBS13) — In Auburn, the owners of a restaurant are hoping to create a fine-dining experience in a local park, but critics say a public park is no place for a private business.

Patty Dooley has an idea for Herschel Young Park which is directly next to her new restaurant. She says the public park attracts the homeless and needs to be improved.

"I want the best for old town Auburn and there's other people that all they want is the best for themselves," she said.

Dooley has gone to the city, asking to cordon off a portion of Herschel Young Park for her restaurant's outdoor dining. That has opened up a heated debate.

"This is the only public park that we have per se in old town and they wanted for their own personal dining," said Ty Rowe, owner of a nearby business.

He is one of a number of old town businesses coming out against the proposal.

"We are businesses here in old town who use the park for pictures with Santa and for different events here in old town—don't want a public tax-payer paid for park privatize by the city for just one singular business," he said.

He doesn't mind it being used as an outdoor eating space but as a public park thinks it should be used by everyone.

"They want to take two thirds of the park close it for their customers only," he said.

The city is studying the request including the idea of getting paid for its use.

Dooley says she has a vision and it will not be deterred.

"I don't care what the City Council says; I don't care what they say; I don't care what any anybody says," she said. "I will take it to the state if I have to or nationally; I don't care."