Benton Park Neighborhood Association General Assembly Meeting Minutes - June 5th, 2025

Location: 2911 McNair • Time: 7:05 PM

Welcome + Opening Remarks

We kicked things off with a packed house and lots of familiar (and new!) faces. Jesse, a new neighbor on Illinois, got a shoutout, as did folks from Indiana and Victor. Thanks to everyone who showed up to a packed house — including our former alderman and current Mayor, Cara Spencer. That’s how we do it.

Agenda Highlights

We breezed through committee updates, shared exciting upcoming events, and then welcomed a full slate of aldermanic candidates. It was a big night for local democracy!

Committee Updates

Friends of Benton Park – Park Cleanup + Events

• This Saturday at 9AM: Litter cleanup to prep for Movie Night + Family Fun Day!

• New signs + a new web landing page are up for Friends — scan the QR code to find the next cleanup date.

• Next Friends of Benton Park meeting: Wednesday, June 25 at 7PM (Riley’s house on Arsenal).

• Fishing pause: Missouri Dept. of Conservation has paused stocking the lake due to sinkholes/leaky lake — updates coming soon.

Events Committee – Amanda

• Family Fun Day – Sunday, June 8

  • Food from Good Strangers, Kid’s Maker Market, bike path with signs, Pride foam pit (!), crafts, and live music from Celia + Fire Dog.

  • Come dance! No experience needed. Amanda’s leading the YMCA and Chicken Dance.

• Mattie Schell Concert – Saturday, June 15

  • Featuring the debut of Bluewood Brewery’s brand new Benton Park Pilsner — 10% of beer sales support neighborhood events all year round.

  • Sneak peek party: Tuesday, June 11, 6–9 PM at Bluewood brewery — with your fave board members behind the bar! The brewery isn’t usually open on Tuesday, so this is our moment to takeover!

Vice President Report – Lori White

• Cherokee Street Market returns this weekend — neighbors finally get their market in Carnegie Park (take that, 1910)!

• Movie Night: Everything Everywhere All At Once plays Saturday at sunset in the Colorado Basin.

• Music From A Tent: June 22 — low-key, bring a blanket and chill.

• Tennis Clinic for kids and Adults: June 8, 11AM — donuts shaped like tennis balls included.

• Tool Library: $25/year for access to a growing tool collection. Thanks to Seebo’s Hardware for their generous sponsorship!

More info on instagram. Also: Check out the website calendar on bentonpark.org’s homepage. You can export individual events or the whole shebang straight to your phone or calendar app.

Safety Committee

• Victory! The problem property at 2922 Wyoming has been handled — neighbors celebrated with a 100+ person block party!

• Upcoming Events:

  • Alley Cleanup: June 12, 6:30 PM @ Carnegie Park (bring gloves + golf carts if you’ve got one).

  • Next Committee Meeting: June 26, 7–8 PM @ Small Change

  • National Night Out: October 7 — mark your calendar for Derrick’s wings, games, and community vibes.

Neighborhood Stabilization Officer – Ketosha Harris

• Want results on problem properties? Call them in. The city can’t act unless enough service calls are logged.

• Use the non-emergency line: 1 866 371 8477 or 314 231 1212

• For landlord/tenant or neighbor conflicts, check out the Conflict Resolution Center (free for STL residents): 314-255-7449.

Historic Plaques

• They’re back! After years of supply chain delays, Benton Park house plaques are available again.

  • Pre-orders will be emailed soon.

  • Once we get 25 new orders, we’ll do another batch.

Special Election – July 1

VP Lori reminded us: “A lot of what we get done depends on who we elect.”
So… vote. This one matters.

Aldermanic Candidate Forum

Each candidate had 5 minutes to share their story, priorities, and love for the neighborhood. Quick highlights below.

Jami Cox Antwi

• Lifelong public policy pro with degrees from Vanderbilt + global affairs.

• Works in affordable housing + community finance.

• Priorities: Downtown revitalization, small biz support, growing families, strong city partnerships.

• Endorsed by Mayor Spencer, Dan Guenther and several past alderpersons.

Alicia Lloyd

• 15-year Benton Park resident, business owner, and mom.

• Priorities: Safer streets (speed humps + signage), parks that feel safe for every family, and unshakable neighborhood accountability.

• “I don’t owe anyone favors. I owe you what I said I’d do.”

Shedrick Kelley

• Longtime organizer, single dad of 8, and proud public school parent.

• Priorities: Community-led safety, walkability, and youth opportunity.

• “Everything I’ve done is people first. Always has been.”

Jim Dallas

• Retired actuary and Soulard civic leader.

• Priorities: Smart budgeting, downtown investment, and block-by-block neighborhood wins.

• “Sometimes it’s just helping a neighbor get a new flag raised — and that feels great.”

Cam McCarty (Libertarian)

• Missouri Air National Guard member and engineer

• Focused on fiscal discipline, infrastructure investment, “not stepping on needles at the BP” and police funding.

• “Everybody's actually a libertarian. They just don't know that.”

🗣️ Want more? Catch them at the League of Women Voters Debate on June 10 at South Broadway Athletic Club — aka where they do the wrestling. 🤼‍♂️

Closing Announcements

• Don’t forget to sign in and scan the QR codes for events and volunteer opportunities.

• Plaques will be delivered once they arrive (safely, not via porch drop).

• Thank you to everyone who showed up, helped out, or danced it out. You’re what makes this neighborhood special.

Meeting adjourned at 8:01 PM.

Minutes prepared by: Lori White
For corrections, email: hello@bentonpark.org
More info + events: instagram.com/benton_park