FOLEY, Ala. — The Tough Mudder Mud Run won’t be coming to the Forward City anytime soon, thanks to a group of southeast Foley residents.

Representatives of several neighborhoods surrounding Graham Creek Nature Preserve assembled at Monday’s Foley City Council Work Session to protest consideration of the mud run. Although exact numbers of the assembly was not determined, the work session was moved from the Council Conference room to Council Chambers to accommodate the group.

Both during the Work Session and Council Meeting, numerous residents voiced opposition to the Council’s consideration of Tough Mudder, as well as the addition of a multi-purpose building and archery park at Graham Creek.

“To try to slow down the process you started at Graham Creek,” Bay Forest neighborhood resident Paul Robbins told the Council, “so we can have some input, which we haven’t had before.”

Arguments made included maintaining the state of the city park, disturbance to the surrounding neighbors, crime and traffic, especially as Graham Creek can currently only be accessed by a single two-lane road.

“We see deer in our yard,” Robbins said. “We fear for the deer.”

He and other residents emphasized the latter half of Graham Creek’s name, “Nature Preserve.” However, city leaders pointed out that the facility is not a nationally-recognized wildlife preservation but was intended to be an outdoor recreation area for Foley citizens.

But the resident’s arguments focused heavily on the impact of Mud Run on Graham Creek, decrying the mud run organizer’s claim that “not a twig would be broken.”

“That’s just insane,” one resident said.

Residents also asked city leaders why such competitions couldn’t be held on the city’s new sports complex. City leaders replied that while the facility will sit on 80 acres, all of the land surrounding it does not belong to the city.

Those voicing concern pointed out that Tough Mudder’s website says it attracts in the tens of thousands of competitors. But city leaders said that was in larger metropolitan areas and that measures such as shuttling would limit the number if such an endeavor came to Foley.

As for the building, Councilman Ralph Hellmich explained that it would be designed to house classrooms and offices in an interior space of 5,000 square foot.

“The main purpose of that building is an interpretive center for our outdoor classroom,” Gahaga added.

That would be surrounding by a porch. However, plans for its location haven’t been set.

“We still have to do soil testing,” Gahagan said, adding that it would have a low-impact environmental footprint.

In addition, Council President Wayne Trawick said he trusted Foley Environmental Manager Leslie Lassiter Gahagan, who joined Sports Complex Director Don Staley in bringing Tough Mudder to the Council.

But when Councilman Rick Blackwell tried to compare a possible vision to the sports complex at Gulf Shores, it was met with resistance.

“We don’t want to live in Gulf Shores for a reason,” Francis Schultz said. “They sold out. We live in Foley.”

The Council removed Tough Mudder from consideration on Monday’s agenda. This was met with heavy applause from the audience.

However, it did move forward with plans to add the archery park, which city leaders explained would be used by Foley students. This was backed by Staley, who brought the plan to the city at its last workshop.

“It pains me to say we need to pass this time,” he told the Council after hearing resident input, “but we should.”

Also, Foley resident Merita Johnson said residents surrounding Graham Creek had formed a committee and planned to address the Council at its next meeting.

At press time, Monday’s actions haven’t affected the Nov. 30 Power Man U.S.A. Duathalon Event, which the Council approved earlier this month. City leaders also stressed that they didn’t wish for current events held or scheduled at Graham Creek to be affected, either.