Ifanyi Bell/OPB
The row over the title of world’s smallest park jumped to another level Tuesday night. Portland’s title-holding park came under fire from a town in the United Kingdom, questioning the legitimacy of Portland’s beloved Lilliputian landscape.
After that, representatives from Portland’s Parks and Recreation let us know that a bit of “volunteer stewardship” addressed a few of the criticisms that UK town has levied against the Portland park’s official status as the world’s smallest.
The story quickly went viral online, sparking a myriad of responses from both side of the Atlantic. (I even took the opportunity to stoke the flames a little bit and to be honest will probably keep doing so until this thing flames out).
Oh, it’s on. Bring it, UK. #parkfight bit.ly/YbQWcC
— Jason Quigley (@photojq) April 9, 2013
BTW, @lichfieldlive, Burntwood’s bid is rubbish. Isn’t Guinness HQ in London? #GetItSorted #parkfight.
— ifanyi bell (@ifanyi) April 9, 2013
@ifanyi Hahaha! Not our fight anyway, we’re just reporting it ;) @kpeventsuk1 are the challengers!
— Lichfield Live (@LichfieldLive) April 9, 2013
@lichfieldlive lol. Well tell them @gwrnews has already sided with the Americans and they are wasting tax dollars. ;) @kpeventsuk1
— ifanyi bell (@ifanyi) April 9, 2013
The main criticism from officials from the town of Lichfield, who are looking take the crown from Portland by issuing a formal complaint to Guinness Book of World Records, was that in order to be named a “park,” the area must be fenced-in.
And while that goes against a lot of the principles of what people here in the civilized world might consider reasonable, aesthetically and morally appropriate, lo and behold last night, Portland’s tiny park had a tiny fence erected around it, complete with a sheep and a tiny armed guard.
Your move, Lichfield.
