Friends of Brechtel Park - On the Right Path

Saturday morning was the fall meeting of the Friends of Brechtel Park, and it was quite the success.  We managed to have not just one but TWO representatives from the New Orleans City Council in attendance, something that just doesn’t happen very often for a community meeting.

The meeting started out with a short introduction by the president of FOBP, Aylin Maklansky.  After she spoke, I was thrilled when Aylin used my video about helping to restore Brechtel Park.  (see the video below)  This same video has already made it’s way to a Boy Scout troop in New Jersey who is planning a spring trip to New Orleans and has Brechtel on their list for clean up sites!

By the time that City Council President Jackie Clarkson and Councilman Arnie Fielkow spoke, every seat was taken.  The council has committed to help FOBP get the funding that was approved by voters several years ago and to work with the Friends to guide us through the maze of city funding and politics.  Additionally, representatives from Parks and Parkways, West Bank Redevelopment and the Algiers Economic Development Foundation were in attendance and offered their support and assistance as well.

New members were signed up, new board members were drafted recruited, and some great ideas for park functions and improvements were suggested.  In an example of how everyone brings something to the table in this group, a local resident brought a photo of an alligator that was seen in the pond at the park.  Before the meeting was even underway, the Wildlife and Fisheries had been contacted and had promised to send someone out to “relocate” the alligator.  Hmmm…I wonder where relocated alligators go?

It is only through the efforts of members of the community that we can restore the park to the vibrant meeting place that it once was - and can be again.  Become a member of the Friends of Brechtel Park today.

Algiers Community Meeting - Friends of Brechtel Park

City Council President Jackie Clarkson will deliver a presentation regarding the status of funding for Brechtel Park at this week’s meeting of the Friends of Brechtel Park.  Open to the public, I invite you to join us on Saturday morning to let Ms. Clarkson know that we, as a community, support improvements and renovations to the largest public park in Algiers.

 

If you don’t think that your voice makes a difference, please watch this video that shows some of the repairs that are necessary to bring back Brechtel Park.  It is only through the involvement of Algiers residents that the city will be aware that we are united in supporting our local parks….

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

Help Restore Brechtel Park

I’ve written before about Brechtel Park in Algiers, reminding everyone that we have a diamond in the rough - 112 acres on the America’s Wetland Birding Trail that is right in our own backyards and has the potential to rival any other park on the West Bank. 

                 

I try to keep up with what’s going on with the park through newsletters from the Friends of Brechtel Park.  When my newsletter arrived this week, I was shocked to find out that there is no money (as in zero, zilch, nada) being budgeted by the New Orleans City Council for improvements to the park.  In both 2000 and 2004, Brechtel Park was included in bond issuances approved by New Orleans voters.  To date, no capital improvements have been made and now there are no funds being allocated for the next FIVE years.  Click here for more details about the lack of funding.

I remember when I was a teen and in my early 20s, the park would be jam packed on the weekends with people picnicking and grilling, fishing, playing baseball or softball and children running up and down the "hills".  I have pictures of my oldest son, who is now 23, fishing with a cane pole from the banks of the lagoon.  I have memories of kite flying contests and frisbee games and getting up early on a weekend morning to be sure that we could get a "good spot" to spend the day at.

Curiosity got the better of me after reading the newsletter, so I took a drive through Brechtel this afternoon.  It’s a beautiful day…sunny, mild temperatures…perfect for being outside.  I can’t begin to express how sad I was that I saw only a handful of people in the park.  One family was walking, one was packing up from lunch and playtime and the only person using the baseball field was the gentleman practicing his fly fishing technique.  My husband (who used to be a New Orleans police officer) remarked that years ago, there were regular police patrols through the park on the weekends because there were so many people crowding in.  That certainly is no longer the case….

From a distance, it’s still just as beautiful as it ever was, even though many of the old trees were lost during Katrina. 

Up close, the tell-tale signs of neglect are evident in picnic tables that can’t be used, benches overlooking the lagoon that are overgrown with vines, rusty pipes that used to hold BBQ grills, the old sand lot that is covered in weeds, and the single port-o-let that serves as the restroom for the entire back section of the park.

The original master plan for the park included a butterfly garden, a water park, additional restrooms, a bird viewing tower, a jogging and biking trail, a multi-purpose center and more.  After today’s visit, I’d be happy to just see the badly needed repairs done.

What can you do to help?

First, consider joining the Friends of Brechtel Park - volunteer your time or your talent on one of the 13 committees that desperately need a helping hand.  There is currently an opportunity to apply for a $50,000 grant from the KABOOM organization to add playground equipment to the park and assistance is needed with the grant application.

Second, contact James Carter (District C Councilman), Jackie Clarkson (Council-at-large) and Ann McDonald (Parks and Parkways Commission) and advocate for funding for the park.

Third, make a donation! 

I have already volunteered to join the board - won’t you join me?

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

A Rock n Roll Twist on the Step Out to Fight Diabetes

Most of you have heard me mention my husband, Robert, from time to time.  Considering we’ve been married for over 28 years, I’m pretty sure that I’ll keep him for a little while longer.  He’s a wonderful man.  He’s funny, irreverent, a hard worker and a kicking bass player in his band.  He’s adventurous, he loves to travel and lives to play and enjoy music. 

What a lot of people don’t know is that he is also a diabetic.  And he’s not alone. 

Over 20 million Americans, both children and adults, suffer from diabetes and another 54 million are pre-diabetic and fighting against crossing that line.  My grandmother was diabetic, as was my mother.  I’ve witnessed first hand the toll that it takes on people, especially those that are working so hard to control it every day.  Finding a cure requires education and research.  Education and research require funding. 

So, as part of the Step Out to Fight Diabetes walk being held November 8, 2008 in Audubon Park, Robert is asking for help in raising funds to support the American Diabetes Association. 

 

Donate to support Robert’s walk here

Sign up to walk with Robert’s team here

 

Every donation, no matter how small, helps to reach the goal of eradicating this disease.  Won’t you take a moment to help?  I want to see him keep rocking for many years to come…

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

Woodlands Trail and Park Needs Volunteers

The destination for hundreds of species of migrating birds each year, Woodlands Trail encompasses 609 acres of land in Algiers and is part of the America’s Wetland Birding Trail. 

Some fantastic volunteers spent this past weekend helping clear trails, installing signs and putting up wood duck nesting boxes.  But the work is not complete.  The call is out for more volunteers and for donations to assist with continuing the clean up and improvement efforts on National Public Lands Day (September 27th) from 9 am to 1 pm. 

Donations of the following items are needed:

• Auger
• 100 one gallon plastic pots for repotting seedlings
• Potting soil
• Limestone
• Brush mower
• A volunteer that can do small carpentry tasks

Volunteers should wear closed toe shoes and bring their own work gloves.  Lunch for those who pre-register is being donated by the Wal-Mart Foundation.

• Sign up to volunteer
• Directions to Woodlands Trail

Given the importance of the wetlands to the Louisiana coast and to the survival of these migratory birds, I hope that some of you can give just a few hours of your time!

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.