The Overton Park Conservancy is turning over $250,000 to pay half of the cost for design and engineering work on the Memphis Zoo's reconfigured and expanded parking lot.

The conservancy board approved the release of the funding to the city this week and the funding goes to the Memphis City Council Tuesday, March 21, for approval.

A zoo parking committee that includes representatives of the conservancy and the zoo as well as other citizens selected Powers Hill Design for the job of coming up with a plan for the zoo parking that will create 415 new spaces. That is expected to include some parts on the western border and northern border of the Overton Park Greensward.

The cost of the parking solution is to be shared by the zoo and the conservancy.

The conservancy anticipates Powers Hill should have specific plans for the parking area as well as cost estimates by the fall.

Eric Barnes, publisher of The Daily News, is on the Overton Park Conservancy board. He did not participate in the reporting or editing of this story.