Leaders call on residents to clean up community
A lump of dirt and clay will will serve as the foundation for a gazebo and pavilion to be constructed for seniors, and is the first of many area beautification projects slated for New Sarpy.
Audrey Taylor and James Burns, leaders and organizers of the community’s New Sarpy Civic association, have been spear-heading and completing projects they hope will grasp the support and attention of the younger generation.
So far, it’s working.
“We want the children to value where they live and that’s why we try our best to keep things beautiful,” Taylor said. “When we do park clean ups or any other type of area beautification projects, neighbors come out of their homes and help us and we appreciate their support.”
Burns says he welcomes the monetary donations to the organization from the oil refineries and chemical companies, but knows that the community has to be a part of the process to keep things going.
“We received $10,000 from Valero Oil Refinery in Norco and $5,000 from Dow Chemical Company in Taft to start the work on the gazebo for senior citizens,” Burns said. “We’ve partnered with the St. Charles Parish Recreation Department and they donated the sand.”
Burns says these types of partnerships are important, but he still encourages community involvement.
“We built the concession stand in our community with the support of neighbors and friends,” he said. “We also work with the church to have summer reading and tutoring programs for the children.”
Taylor says the organization started in the 1950’s, but support gradually began to fade away. Then, after Hurricane Katrina, the community started to come together again.
“We are planning a community clean-up event,” she said. “We’ll meet at the site of the new pavilion and we’ll gather as much trash and debris as we can.”
Taylor says this encourages everyone to take pride in the place where they live.
“We want the children to be proud to live in New Sarpy and our children aren’t the only ones that come to use the park and play equipment,” she said. “Children come from everywhere in the parish.”
St. Charles Parish Parks and Recreation Director Duane Foret says the leaders in New Sarpy are showing an excellent example of what happens when industry, the parish and its community partner together.
“Ms. Audrey and Mr. Burns are doing a wonderful thing and are a good example for community leaders everywhere,” he said.
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