Benton park General Assembly Meeting Tuesday May 5, 2026
Date: MAY 5 2026
LORI AND COURTNEY
Board Attendees
President Courtney Armistead, Vice President Lori White, Board: Christina Cousins, Bill Kranz
Welcome & Introductions
New Members:
Rachel (new to the neighborhood)
Baby Judy (VP Lori’s 5 month old baby)*
*Do you have a new baby? Bring it to the meeting and let the neighborhood meet it!!!
Benton Park Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes
Date: May 5, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Bluewood Brewing
Website:Benton Park Neighborhood Association
Based on meeting transcript.
Guest Speakers & Community Updates
Water Division Rate Proposal & Advocacy
Community advocate Cheryl spoke regarding the City Water Division’s proposed rate increases and concerns around the city’s current water billing structure. The news was here!
(Dear reader, the creator of these minutes thinks the news should be at EVERY neighborhood meeting!)
Key Discussion Points
Cheryl argued the issue isn’t a simple revenue shortfall — it’s a broken rate structure duct-taped to decades of political avoidance. Residents questioned why regular households are expected to keep bailing water out of a sinking boat while major institutional users and giant corporations allegedly continue enjoying bargain-basement rates on the same system everyone depends on.
Discussion included frustration with:
aging infrastructure held together with hope and deferred maintenance
lack of transparency around rates and revenue allocation
ongoing MSD debt and rising utility costs
county development pushing stormwater downhill while city residents absorb the consequences — and the bill
Residents were encouraged to:
attend the Public Infrastructure & Utilities Committee meeting
advocate for rate structure reform before approving additional increases
contact city officials and demand accountability instead of another round of “trust us, we’ll fix it later” governance.
Upcoming Public Meeting
Public Infrastructure & Utilities Committee
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 3:30 PM
Location: St. Louis City HallResidents were encouraged to attend and provide public comment.
Alderwoman Cox Antwi Updates
Water Division
Alderwoman Jami Cox Antwi confirmed the Water Division is facing a major financial crisis.
Warned St. Louis could lose local control of its publicly owned water utility if the system keeps limping along on deferred maintenance, accounting tricks, and civic prayer circles
Said the Board of Aldermen must vote on proposed rate increases
Noted subsidy structures for large institutional users may need to be reconsidered now that regular residents are basically financing civilization one water bill at a time
Encouraged residents to attend the May 13 public meeting and speak up now instead of waiting until the utility bill arrives looking like a ransom note typed by an infrastructure consultant
Bus Rapid Transit (Green Line)
Two proposed Bus Rapid Transit routes are under review
Routes would connect West Florissant through downtown and potentially down Jefferson
Additional public meetings were scheduled at the Polish Heritage Center and online
Residents were encouraged to review the plans now instead of discovering them six months later through blurry Facebook screenshots and a cousin who “heard something from a guy at City Hall”
Police Shooting Range Sound Barrier
Residents continue advocating for relief from shooting range noise near I-55
Officials identified possible funding to rebuild the removed sound barrier wall
The remaining challenge is getting agencies to actually install the thing instead of commissioning another exciting 47-page PDF about “next steps”
Residents were encouraged to continue documenting complaints and contacting officials until the solution exists somewhere beyond the realm of meeting language and ceremonial nodding
Smoke Shop Property / Public Safety
Recent enforcement action followed the shooting incident at the smoke shop property
Officials stated the property has now been abated
Residents discussed hopes for future redevelopment and safer community-focused uses
Ideas included arts programming, youth mentorship, and replacing “recurring police tape” with literally anything that contributes to neighborhood life instead of draining everyone’s nervous system every quarter.
Neighborhood Stabilization Updates
Neighborhood Stabilization Officer Dr. Harris shared updates regarding:homeless encampment monitoring near I-55abandoned vehiclesnuisance reportingneighborhood documentation effortsResidents were encouraged to:call police first for serious issuesmaintain documentation timelinesutilize the Conflict Resolution Center for mediation services
Conflict Resolution Center
Residents were reminded mediation services are free for St. Louis City residents.
Committee Reports
Friends of Benton Park
Contact: friendsofbentonpark@bentonpark.org
Cristina shared updates from recent park volunteer efforts.
15 volunteers worked on native garden maintenance at Jefferson & Arsenal and Missouri & Arsenal
Volunteers weeded, mulched, and maintained the gardens because apparently “waiting for the city” is no longer considered a viable ecological strategy
Friends of Benton Park partnered with Open Space STL this year
Volunteers came from Benton Park, Belleville, Northampton, St. Louis Hills, and surrounding neighborhoods
Ongoing tree watering efforts continue for the 24 newly planted trees
Residents were thanked for helping keep Benton Park looking less like “post-industrial resignation” and more like an actual neighborhood people love
Community Events Committee
Contact: events@bentonpark.org
Ariel shared updates on upcoming community programming and volunteer opportunities.
Upcoming Events
Family Fun Day
Returning this summer
Includes music, activities, and family programming
Organizers described it as one of the best examples of neighbors actually meeting each other instead of just silently recognizing one another at Schnucks
Kids Entrepreneur & Makers Market
New event encouraging youth creativity and entrepreneurship
Gives local kids a chance to start their first business before adulthood crushes the human spirit with payroll software
Bike Decorating Party
Planned with prizes for participants
Community still determining prize structure, though neighborhood glory remains priceless
Movie Night
Planned for July
Picnic in the Park
Planned for late August
Tunes on Tap
Scheduled for October
Seeking new hosts and locations throughout the neighborhood
Encourages the ancient St. Louis tradition of wandering between porches listening to live music while holding a beverage
Residents were encouraged to volunteer and participate because, as always, about six emotionally overextended people are currently holding together most organized civilization.
Mighty Pines Concert Volunteer Request
Contact: vicepresident@bentonpark.org
Lori White shared updates regarding the upcoming Mighty Pines concert.
Date: May 17, 2026
Approximately 2,000 attendees expected in Benton Park
Volunteer needs include:
beer sales
merchandise support
general event help
short volunteer shifts
Residents were reminded that neighborhood events do not magically assemble themselves overnight like a suburban HOA newsletter. Humans must physically carry folding tables into parks.
Community Improvement District (CID)
CID petition draft is nearing completion
Signature collection may begin in July
Additional public education and outreach planned for future meetings
Residents were encouraged to learn more about the proposal before forming strong opinions based entirely on one guy muttering near the beer cooler
Gardens & Caves Committee
Contact: caves@bentonpark.org
Bill and Kendah shared updates from the Gardens & Caves Committee.
Gardens
Monthly garden meetings will take place on the last Thursday of each month
Caves Committee
Current activities include:
cave tours
historic preservation discussions
partnerships with conservation organizations
fundraising efforts related to future English Cave access
Committee members described the group as:
“history nerds”
people who enjoy wandering around old caves
residents deeply committed to preserving Benton Park’s weird underground river-town energy before somebody turns everything into luxury vinyl flooring and gray paint
Featured Presentation
Community Conversation on Hate, Safety, and Belonging
Helen Turner from the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum led a community conversation following recent swastika vandalism incidents in Benton Park. The discussion focused not only on the symbols themselves, but on the deeper question of what kind of neighborhood Benton Park chooses to be in moments of fear, division, and tension.
Discussion centered on:
the difference between intent and impact when hate symbols appear in public spaces
the reality that symbols of hate wound entire communities, regardless of the motivations behind them
the importance of standing visibly and collectively against antisemitism, racism, extremism, and all forms of dehumanization
creating a neighborhood culture where all residents feel seen, safe, and heard
building spaces for intergenerational conversation so history, memory, and lived experience are not lost between generations
fostering respectful dialogue across differences while still maintaining clear moral standards about hate and violence
Residents reflected on:
feelings of fear, anger, exhaustion, and disappointment following the vandalism
pride in the neighborhood’s rapid collective response and cooperation
the role neighbors played in sharing information, supporting one another, and helping identify the individual responsible
the belief that silence and isolation create fertile ground for extremism, while community participation weakens it
the need for visible community standards that make clear Benton Park will not normalize hate, intimidation, or threats against marginalized groups
Speakers emphasized that communities are not defined only by the harm that occurs within them, but by how neighbors choose to respond afterward. Several residents spoke about the importance of continuing these conversations beyond moments of crisis — in homes, schools, parks, community meetings, and everyday interactions — so that empathy, accountability, and shared humanity become active neighborhood practices rather than abstract ideals.
Learn more: St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum
Closing Remarks
Board members thanked residents, volunteers, guest speakers, and community partners for continuing to show up for Benton Park — not just when things are easy, but when the neighborhood is navigating difficult conversations, public safety concerns, infrastructure frustrations, and questions about what kind of community it wants to become.
The meeting closed with continued informal conversation among neighbors, volunteers, organizers, and guests, reflecting the association’s ongoing emphasis on participation, visibility, and the belief that strong neighborhoods are built less through perfection than through people repeatedly choosing to stay engaged with one another.