Second time the charm for Luling park

The second time was the charm for Rathborne Park, with St. Charles Parish securing $150,000 in funding - that combined with $150,000 from development fees - will cover most of the park’s amenities.

In 2008, the parish submitted a funding application for the park, which will be located south of Lakewood Ridge Estates at the end of Lakewood Drive in Luling. However, the application finished sixth out of 19 applications and only the top four applicants received funding.

The parish submitted another application in April 2009 and qualified this year.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund will provide funding of up to $150,000 per phase of development of the park. The parish will have to match the $150,000, and Parish President V.J. St. Pierre said they will do so using development fees from the area subdivisions.

The funding will cover much of the park’s construction, which will include a parking lot, a baseball field, bleachers, playground equipment, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, two pavilions with picnic tables and BBQ grills, park benches, and fitness stations.

The Parish Council is scheduled to consider a resolution to approve the funding agreement at the next council meeting on March 22.

The council will also decide whether to award a construction contract with Civil Construction Contractors, LLC for a walking trail around the area. The 8-foot-wide trail will circle the perimeter of the park with a connecting segment in the middle of the park. The trail will also connect to Beaupre Drive to allow residents of the Willowdale area access to the park via the trail.

Civil Construction submitted the lowest bid of $557,665, of which $90,385 is funded through a Louisiana Recreation Trails grant awarded to the parish last year. The parish will also use $118,500 from subdivision development fees to help pay for the trail.