The people of west Murfreesboro are understandably upset after the city's leaders told them the land for their longed-for park may instead be leased to a private developer.

The city of Murfreesboro started looking for a spot to place a new park on the west side of Interstate 24 way back in 2013. It took them three years to settle on Donald McDonald's land in Blackman but the delay didn't bother neighbor's so much once a plan was developed.

Well, fast forward another two years and the city is ready to back out of its promise to the people of Blackman and scrap the park for a shot at the corporate headquarters of the Tennessee State Soccer Association.

Around city hall, all you can hear is "room nights" and "economic impact," but nothing about the "quality of life" Murfreesboro's City Council prides itself on.

Two years ago park consultants (yes there are such a thing) told the city it needs more baseball and softball fields (not soccer).

The consultants also gave the city a few options to build a park in the much-neglected west side of the city.

Just consider the last census estimate had more people living west of I-24 than in all of Smyrna. That's a whole town without the "quality of life" amenities offered to the rest of the city.

In addition to needing a park, it also needs a library branch. It's getting another school. As Blackman, Salem and Rockvale residents will tell you, all they've gotten from the city in recent years is traffic, annexations and lawsuits about annexations.

It needs a lot of attention from the city's governing body (most of whom happen to live in north Murfreesboro) to clear up some of the bad blood from over the years.

Some residents have launched a Change.org petition in opposition to moving the park. (See the petition here)

Right now it looks like the west side is the bastard child of Murfreesboro. 

If I were them, I might secede from the union and found my own town.

But before I plant the Blackman, Tenn., flag, I'm going to look at it from another angle.

Back in 2016 when the city was considering which plot of land to buy for the west-side park, the McDonald property didn't top the list.

Former Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess's property did, followed by the Shelton property (now a subdivision) and then 115 acres offered by Hoyte Owen on the north side of Franklin Road and west of Veterans Parkway.

I'm not suggesting the city write Ernest a check. (Although he is unemployed now.) But maybe this is a blessing in disguise.

The consultants they hired two years ago recommended the Burgess property and the Owen land because they were closer to more people.

So moving the park to the 150 or so acres across the street from Burgess may result in an even better park that is more accessible to even more people.

The McDonald lot is closer to transportation corridors than it is the population center, which is why the TSSA wants it. 

Plus, Mayor Shane McFarland framed it as the city getting two parks for the price of one because Murfreesboro soccer players could use the TSSA facilities during the week.

It's not a done deal yet. TSSA has to decide between Clarksville and Murfreesboro, the "Youth Sportsball Capital of Tennessee."

If I were a betting person, I'd lay down odds that the people of Blackman will have to patiently wait for the nice things everyone else has.

But don't hold your breath. It's going to be a while.

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Michelle Willard is a freelance journalist who fills her days with social media marketing, politics, true crime, and taking complaints. You can complain to her on Twitter @MichWillard or by email michelle(at)murfreesborovoice.com.