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Tig's land could end up for sale Photo by Bob Pennell A year and a half after his death, some of Tig Dunham's signs are still up along Highway 99 south of Talent, covered with leaves and brush. Gary Converse shared Tig's dream of a senior activities center on the property. Talent considers park, but it would take money By WENDY SIPOREN TALENT -- Time is taking its toll on "Tig" Dunham's property at 206 South Pacific Highway. Blackberry bushes cover his dilapidated house. Debris litters the ground around "Tig's Fun Land" concession stand. And what's left of his yellow, white and blue signs lie rotting on the ground. Dunham It's been a year and a half since Cedric Dunham's death brought an end to the eclectic mix of profanity and conspiracy theory he displayed in traffic-stopping size along Highway 99 -- a feat the Talent City Council never succeeded in doing in the courts. Death also has brought an end to Dunham's more altruistic side -- his dream of using his three acres for the public good. Even though Talent is eyeing the property as the gateway to a planned Wagner Creek greenway trail, a longtime friend of Dunham's is dismayed by the way his legacy may be coming to a close. "I have a feeling that whatever happens is not going to be what Tig wanted," said Gary Converse. "There was supposed to be a sense of purpose for that property." In his will, Dunham specified that his property be given in trust to Jackson County to be used for a youth and senior center. "The last three to four years of his life, he might have felt a little bit of remorse -- not guilt -- but of remorse for the signs. That was his gesture to most of Jackson County and city government. `I'm sorry.' I believe that." Jackson County, however, was less than thrilled with the idea. "We didn't have any money for that kind of activity down there," said County Administrator Burke Raymond in explaining the decision of the county commissioners in 1998. "It didn't interest us, so we passed on it." Dunham's sister, Delma Peters of Medford, is named as the next beneficiary of the property. She says it's going to be sold. Approximately $16,000 in back taxes owed to the state and county along with an unknown amount of other creditors' liens will come off the top before she sees any proceeds. Converse, who launched two unsuccessful bids for the Talent City Council, shared Dunham's dream of a community center that would benefit society's underdogs. In 1984, the two formed the Talent Youth and Senior Association, with the intention of convincing the City Council to help fund the plan. His scheme involved the city donating land in an industrial park for a senior citizens mobile home park that would in turn generate income to build a community center. "I've always thought seniors and youth have as much right to that land as anyone," Dunham said at the time. After the City Council declined to build the center, Tig went back to his dream of building a for-profit fastfood restaurant and miniature golf course called Fun Land -- board by board and hole by hole. His work was hampered by finances, city regulations and lawsuits over his signs. Former Mayor Frank Falsarella recalls a later request of Dunham to build the youth and senior center. "He wanted the city to build it, pay off all the debt -- back taxes and all ... and build him an apartment at the back ... and name it after him," said Falsarella. "The City Council said `no.' " "He probably didn't realize the city couldn't take on a obligation such as that," he said. "For some reason he got on the wrong track. He was after everyone. He was an intelligent man. His priorities were just in the wrong spot." In the end, Dunham's legacy may come around full circle, as the city of Talent has listed the property as potential park land. "The property is more than 50 percent riparian and wetland -- not a good development property, but prime habitat ... in a strategic location for the (Wagner Creek) greenway," said city planner Nancy Kincaid. "It's very lush with wonderful trees." She emphasizes that there are several obstacles to the city acquiring the property -- not the least of which is money. It would take a lot of work to clean the property up. But, she says, turning his property into a park would be a fitting end to Dunham's battle with the city. "It would kind of be justice since he was always in everybody's face here," said Kincaid. "It would kind of be justice -- not only for the city to inherit that land as a park but also to inherit his mess." Current Mayor Marian Telerski says Dunham's mix of political negativism and social altruism was a big part of who he was. "During all the trouble that he may have caused the city, it was never finely honed anger," said Telerski. He was outspoken but outspoken doesn't preclude ...generosity. That was his way. ... He was one of ours." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA