Residents press council to repair Stony Creek skate park; business owners cite road closure, inspection disputes

Several residents used the public‑comment period to press the council on two recurring neighborhood concerns.

William Michael Thomas told the council Stony Creek Park’s skate facility is "falling to pieces" and urged the city to repair or replace it, stressing the park’s role in youth engagement and recovery programs. He said local skaters — some now professional athletes — work in the community on mentorship and addiction outreach.

Ben Jammin and Wayne Woodard described recent skate events that drew community participation and said more park improvements would allow further outreach. The speakers asked the city to consider using the nearby public land to expand skate facilities.

Bevan Foster, a local builder, described a dispute with the inspections department after an inspector attended a job site and, Foster alleged, contacted the state without following what he said should have been local supervisory steps. Foster said the incident halted work on his mother’s renovation project and urged the city to improve builder‑inspection communications.

Kendra Edwards, owner of Healing Well Counseling Services, said a road closure on Central Heights Road on Aug. 28 restricted access to her office at 3002 Central Heights Road and disrupted client appointments, including clients with disabilities; she asked staff for immediate help coordinating access and emergency services addresses.

City staff collected contact information to follow up with each speaker.

What’s next: Staff indicated they would follow up with the speakers to provide details and resolve access or inspection issues; council suggested connecting public speakers with relevant departments for direct responses.