There is a debate over who owns the Town Square in Downtown Collierville, and a few people believe it’s not the town.

Evan Leake, a business owner whose heirs have long roots in Collierville, bases his claim on a post-Civil War document that he contends proves his family ownership of the property.

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Leake, who owns Consignment Music Store, said Collierville never owned the centerpiece of its historic district. The park and adjoining land belong to his family and have for more than 150 years, he said. The Shelby County Assessor and Register of Deeds sites show the Town of Collierville owns it, but it doesn’t show sales records for the transaction. 

“The park itself has never been deeded or designated or dedicated,” according to Evan Leake’s brother, John Leake Jr. “...It was noted as a public park with the owners of the properties around the park having an interest — never deeded to them — just having an interest in that park, which meant they were to take care of it and use it as they needed.”

But despite the claims of the Leake family, town officials contend that not only is the square town property, but they have invested in making it a Collierville attraction. And they contend that the courts may have to determine the ownership if Leake takes that route.