Woody Park, which sits just north of Lawrence Memorial Hospital and has been home to many a neighborhood baseball game, could become a parking lot. That suggestion has raised concerns among members of the Pinckney Neighborhood Association. Among their concerns is the idea that in losing the park, named for Elgin Woody Sr., Lawrence is losing a piece of its history.

Lawrence city and hospital leaders are considering turning a historic park into a parking lot.

The two parties are discussing using Woody Park, a 4-acre park just north of Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 325 Maine, as parking space.

That has raised concerns among the hospital’s neighbors.

“It’s just a bad precedent, said Steve Braswell, Pinckney Neighborhood Association president. “The city giving up park land, giving up green space for something as … unsexy or such a seemingly mundane purpose as a parking lot.”

He said at a time when the city is talking about needing green space and having places for children to play, this seems contrary. “It’s got a ball field and baseball diamond, which is neat,” Braswell said. “Anytime I go by there, I see kids playing there and they still schedule practices there.”

Braswell also is concerned about losing a piece of Lawrence history.

Woody Park was purchased by the city in 1936 and named in honor of Elgin Woody Sr., a Lawrence resident who organized baseball and softball leagues for minority children.

David Corliss, city manager, said discussions about the park are preliminary. He said the final decision would be made by the city commission.

“We are not near that point at all,” he said. “We know that the hospital has an interest in additional parking opportunities, and we also want to talk with the neighborhood association.”

If the park was turned to pavement, Corliss said the city would consider enhancing the area’s other parks. It also would need to figure out a way to honor Woody.

“It’s my understanding that Mr. Woody was very much involved in baseball youth sports, and I think it would be appropriate that if the hospital was using it for parking that we continue some recognition of him at a different facility,” Corliss said. “So, we need to talk about that.”

Janice Early-Weas, LMH spokeswoman, affirmed that the hospital was looking at Woody Park as a way to expand parking.

“Parking continues to be a challenge,” she said. She had no details on Friday about the hospital’s parking needs.

She added, “We very much welcome the input and feedback of the neighborhood. We are part of it. We care about this neighborhood a lot.”

Hospital leaders plan to have a formal discussion with the Pinckney Neighborhood Association at its Aug. 15 monthly meeting.