Kenner council backs House Bill 196 to enable Lake Town amphitheater; mayor says project moving forward

The Kenner City Council unanimously approved a resolution April 25 expressing local support for House Bill 196 of the 2025 regular session, which authorizes a commercial lease of a portion of Lake Town to the Kenner Lake Town Area Development Corporation for construction of an amphitheater.

Councilmember Lahat, who introduced the resolution, described the months-long effort led in part by Jefferson Parish District 4 office staff and local state representatives to secure the necessary lease authority from the state. Lahat said the planned amphitheater would seat “8,000, 9000 seats” and host roughly 20 musical acts per year once completed.

Mayor Michael J. Glazer said he testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources, which reported the bill unanimously out of committee. Glazer said he expected the bill to reach the House floor the following week and that the council's resolution would be attached to the bill to show local support. The mayor added that engineers and contractors were due to meet with city officials and that a mound of fill at the site would be raised about 22 feet and monitored for roughly nine months to allow settlement before construction begins.

Councilmember Bridal said the amphitheater is intended as part of broader redevelopment of north Kenner that could attract businesses and sales tax revenue. Other council members and the mayor thanked parish and state partners, including Aretha Bohannon's office in Jefferson Parish and state representatives Debbie Villio and Joe Stagney, for moving the project forward.

The resolution was offered by Councilmember Lahat and seconded by Councilmember Brannigan; the council approved it by voice vote, 7-0. According to remarks at the meeting, the House Natural Resources Committee reported the bill favorably 11-0 before it moved to the full House for consideration.