A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony for Inspiration Park will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, in North Stockton.
Inspiration Park, located at 7149 Scott Creek Drive in the Westlake area, was named in honor and memory of Officer Jimmy Inn and Fire Capt. Max Fortuna.
Both men died in the line of duty.
“This space will stand as a lasting tribute to Max and Jimmy’s service sacrifice, and the legacy they leave behind in the community they proudly served,” the Stockton Fire Department said in a social media post.
Early last year, the Stockton City Council voted unanimously on the name of the park.
Councilmember Michele Padilla, whose district includes the park, told the community at a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3, that “the fences are coming down.”
She said the park was donated to the city by the Spanos development company, and the transfer took time to complete.
The park was developed in conjunction with the city of Stockton, A.G. Spanos Companies and Lennar Homes, according to city officials.
“Inspiration really reflects their legacy,” Padilla said. “I say that because they inspire us, one another, the public through their courage, through their service and just their dedication to the community.”
The 12.4-acre park includes play structures, benches and a large grass area for families to enjoy, Padilla said.
Other park amenities include a lighted 64-stall parking lot with accessible parking stalls and vehicle charging stations, a self-cleaning three-stall restroom, a full basketball court, a large covered picnic shelter with tables and accessible playgrounds.
“This will be a lasting reminder of their sacrifice and love for the city of Stockton,” she said.
In a statement, City Manager Johnny Ford said, “This park is more than a place to gather. It’s a promise that Stockton will never forget the sacrifice of Officer Inn and Captain Fortuna.”
“Their families lost husbands and fathers. Our police and fire departments lost brothers and our city lost two of its finest. Inspiration Park ensures their legacy of service lives on in the hearts of our community,” he added.
Fortuna, 47, was killed on Jan. 31, 2022, while responding to a fire at 142 S. Aurora St.
While extinguishing the blaze, firefighters noticed it was advancing toward a structure and attempted to enter the building. However, Fortuna, a 21-year veteran of the department, was shot and killed by a man inside the building.
Fortuna joined the fire department in 2000 and had served as a fire captain since 2008.
The city said in a statement that Fortuna had worked at some of the city’s busiest stations and led the Urban Search and Rescue response team.
Fortuna is survived by a wife and two adult children.
Inn, 30, who was also a first responder, died on-duty on May 11, 2021, while responding to a domestic violence call on La Cresta Way in North Stockton.
The officer, a six-year veteran assigned to the Field Operations Division, was hired in December 2015.
He is survived by a wife, who is also a Stockton police officer, and three children.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Inspiration Park opens with dedication honoring fallen Stockton fire captain, police officer
Reporting by Victoria Franco, The Stockton Record / The Record
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