Council tables Georgia Massband stadium request, asks staff to survey nearby residents

The Forest Park City Council on March 16 tabled a special-facility usage request from Georgia Massband after neighbors and council members raised noise and nuisance concerns.

Elijah Thompson, who identified himself as president and a founder of Georgia Massband Incorporated, told the council the nonprofit provides music education, college fairs and scholarship opportunities and said the group has grown since 2016 to serve hundreds of members. Thompson said the organization pays fees up front, tries to end practices promptly and would prefer to keep Kowana Stadium as a practice site rather than travel elsewhere.

Nearby residents and Councilwoman Gun said that weeknight practices in May–July, sometimes continuing after 8:30 p.m., have disrupted sleep and posed difficulties for seniors. Council members asked for specific data on how many Forest Park residents participate and on what the band offers directly to the city’s youth. Several council members suggested alternatives including county stadiums, a trial period with a strict end time, or changes to the schedule.

Council ultimately voted to table the request and directed Parks & Recreation staff to design a resident survey (a neighborhood census) and return with registration data and a recommended pilot/trial timeline so the council can make a data-informed decision at a follow-up meeting.

What happens next: Parks and Recreation was assigned to collect registration numbers and resident feedback and present results to the council, with mid‑April identified as a target timeframe to return recommendations.