A piece of land on Huntsville's Green Mountain that had been earmarked for a controversial shopping center will apparently become a public park instead.

During a meeting last week, the Huntsville City Council voted to pay developer Mike Friday $250,000 for the 4.4-acre tract at the corner of South Shawdee and South Village Square roads.

The deal is contingent on the Green Mountain Civic League raising half of the money, $125,000, by Feb. 2. Madison County Commissioners Phil Riddick and Eddie Sisk have agreed to contribute a total of $62,500, reducing the city's actual cost to $62,500.

Mayor Tommy Battle said the vacant tract will be turned into a park. As Green Mountain grows, he said, some of the land may eventually be needed for a city fire station.

Green Mountain is the only area within the Huntsville city limits still served by a volunteer fire department.

Battle said the property could also be used as a landing area for emergency helicopters. Green Mountain Road often becomes impassable during winter storms, isolating hundreds of residents.

Friday, the owner of Woodland Homes, announced plans last year to turn the property into a small shopping center to complement the Inspiration on Green Mountain neighborhood that he is developing nearby. There are no restaurants or retail stores on the mountain.

When about 70 percent of mountain homeowners signed a petition opposing Friday's idea, he offered to sell land to the Green Mountain Civic League for $250,000. The league vowed to try to raise half of the money privately if the city and county would contribute the rest.

Mark Prill, the civic league's president, said just under $110,000 has been raised so far from 80 donors. "We remain optimistic that we will reach the ($125,000) goal by the deadline," Prill told AL.com Tuesday.

City Councilwoman Jennie Robinson called the proposed joint purchase a "great collaboration."