12/05/10 — City Council to hear presentation on Stoney Creek Park

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City Council to hear presentation on Stoney Creek Park

By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on December 5, 2010 1:50 AM

Members of the Stoney Creek Park Alliance are expected to make a presentation Monday evening at the Goldsboro City Council's pre-meeting work session -- one City Manager Joe Huffman said would unwrap the organization's vision for the near future of the Ash Street site.

And by the time Dr. Peter Roethling is done with his remarks, the board is expected to be asked to support and attend a Tuesday evening public forum meant to give local residents an opportunity to weigh in on that plan.

The Alliance, with assistance from the city Parks and Recreation Department, is working to secure a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant -- money, officials said, that would be used to enhance a park that has been transformed over the past several years

Since the Alliance was formed, trails at the site have been improved, a disc golf course and butterfly garden were created, climbing rocks were installed and a dog park is currently under construction.

And several weeks ago, Parks and Rec Director Ruben Wall told council members that he was working to secure $150,000 for a project that would bring even more excitement to the one-time eyesore -- an amphitheater, restrooms and improved trails -- but added that the grant application could only be submitted if the city government agreed to provide matching funds

The board agreed to the match and urged Wall to move forward with the process, which includes the public forum, Huffman said Friday.

"We want to have a sufficient amount of public participation," Huffman said.

For more information on what Roethling reports to the council Monday about Tuesday's public forum, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the second-floor conference room inside City Hall, see Tuesday's News-Argus.