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Recreation director details programs and projects; committee approves Ascension Catholic'fairgrounds agreement
Summary
The recreation director updated the committee on programs, facility repairs and new amenities, citing attendance figures and upcoming soft openings; the committee also approved a cooperative endeavor allowing Ascension Catholic High School to use the South Louisiana Fairgrounds for softball.
The Ascension Parish recreation director presented a broad update on Jan. 15, detailing program attendance, recent park improvements and several near-complete capital projects, and said staff will continue outreach and coordination with community partners. The committee then approved a cooperative endeavor allowing Ascension Catholic High School to use the South Louisiana Fairgrounds for its softball program.
Recreation Director (unnamed in the transcript) said senior programs are well attended, reporting "about 500 to 700 at Lamar Dixon and 150 to 300 over at the Donaldsonville Lisonbee Center." He highlighted seasonal programs, partnerships with Ascension Flight for a winter indoor futsal league and a Donaldsonville outreach program, and facility work including a new roof at Geismar Community Center, repaired sidewalks at multiple parks, restroom upgrades and new kayak launches at PJ's Landing and Laurel Creek.
Asked about the National Guard and Army building renovation, the director said final design documents and grant-agency approvals are pending and said he would consult Randy Mullins for exact costs; he characterized the project as "a very high dollar project, a couple million dollars or more." The director said a soft opening is planned for a new multi-purpose field and that a grand opening will wait until grass is established.
On agenda item 6, the committee approved a cooperative endeavor agreement with Ascension Catholic High School to use the South Louisiana Fairgrounds for the school's softball program. The motion was made and seconded and carried with no objections recorded in the transcript; as with other votes that evening, no roll-call tally appears in the record.
The director closed by describing staff trainings (NRPA and regional turf and sports-field conferences) and CPR/first-aid certification for full-time recreation staff, emphasizing safety and customer service improvements.
What comes next: the department plans ribbon-cuttings and continued community meetings (for example, a Lemonville Park community meeting was promised within two weeks). Funding sources and exact budgets for the larger building renovation were not specified in the transcript.
