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GREENSBORO - Plans for a $2 million Greensboro-specific downtown carousel have taken another turn.

"We think we've found a home," said Ed Kitchen, a member of the Rotary Club of Greensboro, which plans to raise money for the project. "It is not very well utilized."

Rotary Club members said Wednesday they want to build the carousel on a ¾-acre plot of city-owned land bounded by Church Street, Summit Avenue and Lindsay Street.

The tree-dotted property currently contains 22 parking spaces for the Greensboro Historical Museum and its neighbors, plus a small plaza.

Rotary officials say they plan to give the carousel to the city, which would let the parks and recreation department operate it.

Kitchen said city officials have given the idea their informal approval.

Efforts to reach City Manager Mitchell Johnson Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Tentative plans call for the city to close Lindsay Street between Church and Summit and turn the road into a parking area for the carousel and the historical museum.

The heads of other nearby attractions say they like the idea of having a new neighbor.

"We are looking forward to having it across from the museum in the very near future," said Fred Goss, director of the historical museum. "It is another thing to offer in the cultural district, which helps everyone."

Betsy Grant, chief executive officer of the Greensboro Children's Museum, said, "I think it is fantastic. The carousel is a destination in and of itself. People are charmed with the idea of a carousel."

Rotary officials say they wanted to locate the carousel in the cultural district, which includes the historical museum, the Greensboro Public Library, the Greensboro Cultural Center and the children's museum.

They say building the carousel on what is now a parking lot will put the land to better use.

"It makes that whole end of downtown come alive," said Bernie Mann, immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Greensboro. "Everybody we've talked to likes the idea."

Mann said it would probably be three months before the club knows a timetable for the project.

The idea is to build a carousel that would feature 18 panels depicting Greensboro's history, plus 48 hand-carved figures that would include objects from the city's past.

The club also plans to erect a building to house the carousel.

So far, $200,000 has been raised, including $150,000 from the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation and $50,000 from the club.

Contact Donald W. Patterson at 373-7027 and donpatterson@news-record.com