Nola Reporter

NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today was joined by Director of Capital Projects Administration (CPA) Vincent Smith, CEO of New Orleans Recreation Development (NORD) Commission Larry Barabino, Jr., District 98 State Representative Aimee Freeman, former State Representative Neil Abramson and community member Burnell Scales to break ground on the $777,000 George Washington Carver Playground Improvement Project located Uptown.

"Today, we are in the heart of the Black Pearl community, and it feels good to be surrounded by residents who have been long and strong in ensuring their community is not lost," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "The group assembled here have been boots on the ground to ensure this project happens. It has taken a multi-tier approach to secure the necessary resources to fund the completion of the whole project, which includes our local, state and federal partners, and most importantly you, the residents. I want to thank our partners on the State level for working for years to get the funding needed to make this happen for our people. It is through these partnerships that we stand here today celebrating the restoration of this playground." 

The scope of work for this improvement project includes upgrades and renovations to the playground’s existing concessions building and restrooms to bring them up to City, Department of Health and Hospitals and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The new kitchen facilities will also support NORD programming and the existing play equipment is being replaced with a newly expanded playground and interactive play equipment. Additional safety accessibility upgrades will also be added in Zone B, including decorative steel fencing at the Prytania Street entrance.

“This project has been a long time coming, and I want to thank our State Representatives for being patient and working with us to get this project done,” said Smith. “We are doing this project in two phases. Currently, Phase I A is underway, which includes improvements to the park side. Under this administration, the City has invested over $57 million in recreation projects, which is a testament to her commitment to the youth and the people of this city.”

“Any time we can come out to a community to break ground on improvements and enhancements to a facility to build something new, that is a win for the community and the City of New Orleans,” said Barabino. “As we continue to move forward to bring this playground back into commerce, we are also looking to provide more programming to this park and community. At the end of the day, it is always about the community.”

This initial phase of improvements is being funded by State Capital Outlay dollars with the support of State Representative Freeman and former State Representative Abramson, in addition to City Bond funds. A second phase of improvements is planned for the ball field in Zone A that includes a new turf field, high mast lighting, fencing replacement as well as covered dugouts and viewing bleachers. The start of this project is pending the receipt of a recently approved $1 million fund appropriation by the State.  

“I want to echo the Thank You's, and the Mayor’s commitment to making this happen,” said Freeman. “This journey started with my predecessor State Representative Neil Abramson, who came to me and mentioned this was something he was working on and asked if I could pick up the baton and get it done. The youth in our community matter, and this neighborhood facility is for all our youth across the city. Whether you are coming from in the community or from Gentilly, this park provides another opportunity to learn skills, collaborate and have fun safely.” 

“I started working on this project at the beginning of my tenure as a State Representative because it was a priority for me as the first playground that I requested state funding to rehabilitate,” said Abramson. “The restoration of this playground here in the Black Pearl community has been a long time coming, and I want to thank State Representative Freeman for picking up the ball where I left it in Baton Rouge. I also want to thank Mayor Cantrell for her commitment to making this happen because this place is very special to me.”

The Cantrell Administration has invested $21 million toward the completion of capital projects in City Council District A that include:

• New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) damage repairs - $12.6 million
• New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) Headquarters Phase I - $1.9 million
• Cuccia-Byrnes Playground - $1.4 million
• Alma Peters Playground Improvements - $176,198
• Delgado Playground (FEMA repairs) - $134,483
• Easton Playground (Isaac HML repairs) - $49,851

Other upcoming capital projects include:

• NOMA Katrina Repair, Phase II (HVAC upgrades) - $1.8 million
• Municipal Yacht Harbor Fishing Pier and Public Restrooms - $1.4 million
• NOFD Communications Building Renovations (FEMA repairs) - $553,083
• Gernon Brown Recreation Center (new play structure) - $374,936

“This is a great day to be in the Black Pearl,” said Scales. “I want to thank the Mayor, State Representative Freeman and Mr. Abramson for getting the money necessary to do the work in this park. I am so glad that this is finally happening, and we are planning to have structured activities here for the tons of kids in this community who want a place to play. This is a crime-fighter, and I thank everyone for getting this done.”

Original source can be found here.