NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The City of New Orleans is looking to enhance its recreational facilities and improve community spaces.
"My goal has always been to create as many opportunities for our youth and as many recreation opportunities here in the City of New Orleans as possible," Mayor Helena Moreno said.
Moreno, city councilmembers, and New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) members toured Joe Brown, Sampson, and Bodenger parks to see firsthand the upgrades needed at each facility.
From improved restrooms and playground equipment to new outdoor tables, community members said several areas are in need of attention.
They hope the mayor's visit will spark improvements that are long overdue.
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"There's a lot that's beautiful in this park that can be handled relatively quickly and soon and not as expensive. I think that building partnerships would be a very good thing," Tangee Wall, with Friends of Joe Brown Park, said.
At Sampson Park in the Desire neighborhood, residents hope to see new bleachers, a playground, and more spaces where older residents can stay active.
Over in Algiers at Bodenger Park, Jasmyne Pollard, executive director of the Wellness Collective, said the basketball goals and water fountains need to be replaced.
She also said the park's bathrooms have been closed, leaving kids without access to the facilities.
"The water flows, but it flows from down underneath, which is an issue here because we really need to make sure, with the heat index here in New Orleans, if they have to use the restroom, that means going all the way home or possibly doing it out in the park. And we definitely don't want that because then that becomes a public health issue," Pollard said.
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Moreno said visiting each park gave her better insight on how to move forward with improving the parks.
"I know that with that, through the foundation, we can raise some dollars to do those cosmetic improvements, which ultimately go a long way and go a long way for the perception of the park," Moreno said.
She now hopes to get the improvements done as quickly as possible.
"We're looking at cosmetic fixes that are not really that high cost-wise. And they make such a difference perception-wise. They make such a difference. I'm making that directive now that I want these fixes done, figure out a path, get it done as quickly as possible," Moreno said.
The mayor says the NORD Foundation is using previously unallocated funds to make needed cosmetic repairs.
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