Opinion ID: 2490430
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The City's operation of the park is a discretionary function.

Text: ¶ 9. A governmental duty is discretionary when the government or municipal official is required to use his or her own judgment in performing the duty. [8] But where the duty is one which has been positively imposed by law and in a manner or upon conditions which are specifically designated, the duty to perform under the condition specified, not being dependent upon the officer's judgment or discretion, the act and discharge thereof is ministerial. [9] As we have put it, discretionary acts which enjoy immunity are those acts which promote some social, economic, or political policy. [10] ¶ 10. To identify a discretionary function, this Court uses a two-part test in which we first determine whether the activity involved an element of choice or judgment; if so, we then consider whether the choice or judgment in supervision involves social, economic or political policy alternatives. [11] ¶ 11. As to the first prong, the defendants argue that the operation of the park involved an element of choice because [t]here is no obligation imposed by statute or regulation stating the manner by which the City of Jackson should provide recreational facilities for its citizens or whether it should provide them at all, and because there is no obligation imposed by law stating the monetary amount the City of Jackson must spend/budget to develop, operate or maintain the city's parks and recreational facilities.... We agree. ¶ 12. As to the second prong, Section 55  9-29  the statute that gives a county or municipality the authority to create public parks  provides that any recreational district under the provisions of 55-9-21 through 55-9-37 may authorize any project constituted thereunder to ... operate properties to the end that such project may be able to promote the public interest and welfare ... to acquire, develop, provide and improve public parks ... in this state.... [12] The plain language of the statute indicates that the creation and operation of a city park is within the discretion of the municipality. [13] The statute also says that the acquisition, development, provisions, and improvements of city parks are made to promote the public interests and welfare of the municipality. [14] So we hold that the operation of a city park is a discretionary function of the city. [15]