Residents press county on playground rehab, Lake Street traffic safety and a long‑jump pit at Weekway Park

Several residents used the public‑comment period to press county officials for park repairs, road safety work and new athletic facilities.

Dana Dennis, a resident and transportation and special education advocate, said the Monte Irvin Park playground has suffered long delays on repairs, called out a broken swing that has been out of service since 2022 and urged progress on Safe Routes to School and traffic‑safety planning for county roads such as Central Avenue and Highway 280.

Rayler Still Montandon Adamus, a resident and retired Newark firefighter, described a persistent safety problem on Lake Street, saying his wife lost a vehicle in a crash and that the stretch has had few stop signs or traffic controls; he asked the county to coordinate with Newark engineers to consider traffic‑calming measures. The board responded that Lake Street is a city road and offered to forward the concerns to municipal engineering staff for review.

Advocates for Weekway Park, including Maggie Freeman and a community sports representative, presented a petition seeking construction of a long‑jump pit and other track and field improvements. Mister Johnson (parks staff) said the parks department plans a full playground redo at Monte Irvin Park with inclusive equipment and that the county executive directed staff to explore a long‑jump pit at Weekway.

County staff said written follow‑up will be provided to commenters and that engineering and parks staff will evaluate feasible traffic‑calming and repair timelines.