The St. Charles Parish Parks and Recreation Department has endured a lot of criticism in the past, but with a new administration in place and other leadership changes, plans are underway for some upgrades, like a BMX racing track and a skateboard park similar to one in Hammond.
Helping the department accomplish that goal will be the renewing of a decade old tax that allows the department to operate.
“There are 37 parks in St. Charles Parish maintained by parks and recreation staff,” Duane Foret, the new director of parks and recreation, said. “On Feb. 9, voters will be asked to renew this tax that provides funding to support needed recreation services to the parish residents.”
Foret says renewal of this tax means that the department will get to maintain the $2.5 million in its operating budget for the parks department.
“We offer a lot of programs that not only benefit the youth in our community but senior citizens too,” he said. “Having recreational programs in the community creates an opportunity for children to make lifelong friends and improves the quality of life for all residents.”
The National Organization for Parks and Recreation says that having public parks in the community is viable. Foret agrees with the organization.
“Recreational programs have an economic impact on the community,” he said. “Wherever there is a public park in a community our economy is strengthened, the activities for the children give kids something to occupy their time instead of getting into trouble, and seniors in the community benefit because they have something to do that’s fun and to look forward to.
“That’s why it’s important for us to maintain all of our area parks, so we can keep our children involved in positive activities year round.”
Activities offered at the St. Charles Parish Recreation Department include, football, basketball, all stars, booster club, cheerleading camp, industry leagues and a radio control racetrack where kids can race motorized cars,
For seniors, which is anyone over 50, the department offers bowling, softball, arts and crafts, and other sporting activities.
Foret says that’s not enough and plans are underway to look at building a skate board park for kids. Foret also wants to build a BMX bicycle track, expand the Special Olympics program, create a volleyball league, and possibly add a boat launch either in Des Allemands or in the Bayou Gauche area.
“These are just a few of the ideas we’re looking at right now,” he said “We’ve already been to Hammond to look at their skateboard park to get an idea about what we’ll need in our parish, and we’ve been to Gretna to look at their BMX bicycle track.”
While those upcoming projects are in the works, plans are being made to improve, and even increase, the number of parish parks.
“We will begin Phase 2 of the park in Killona and upgrade concession stands parishwide,” Foret said. “We are also looking for land in St. Rose to add a park for that area, and at the future development of a park in Montz.”
Voters will also be asked to renew a tax for Council on Aging, a separate tax from the recreation department, though both taxes will be listed on the Feb. 9 ballot.
Stephanie Boudreaux, administrative manager of all four senior centers throughout the parish, says elderly residents in the community depend on the agency for things like transportation, social activities and health maintenance. Renewing the tax would enable seniors to have these activities on a continuing basis.
“We want to continue to serve the seniors in St. Charles Parish,” she said. “The majority of our seniors participate in our activities daily at the four centers. Some of those activities include dances, trips, exercise classes and other leisure activities.”
Boudreaux says the senior centers have televisions with DVD players where seniors can come and watch movies and computers with Internet access.
Seniors are provided with transportation to the local banks, medical facilities and shopping.
Boudreaux says seniors need to know what’s available for them in the community.
“We try to keep the seniors informed about what services we have to offer,” she said. “Currently, we have four senior centers in St. Charles Parish, which are designed to serve an estimated 6,000 seniors in the parish.”
Although COA is listed on the ballot with the recreation center, Boudreaux says they aren’t part of that tax; it’s just that the renewal has come up at same time.
“We are encouraging all residents, not just senior citizens, to take part in our open house in March where they can visit the senior centers and see what’s available and get the word out to friends and family members,” she said.
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