French Settlement Playground Kickoff
French Settlement, LA –
The Leadership Livingston Program, facilitated by the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce, is a community leadership program, much like others throughout the country, designed to provide a working knowledge of all aspects of a successful community. The program takes accepted applicants through a series of class sessions and topics that shows the interdependence between government, business, culture, healthcare, social concerns, education, criminal justice and recreation. A requirement of the program, which demonstrates to class participants the steps it takes to bring a concept to realization, is for class participants to participate in a group community project. Classmates are divided into groups, based on strengths and providing a diverse skills, and are tasked with identifying, planning and implementing a community project.
One of the groups from the current class identified the need for a playground and other recreation in French Settlement. Jeremy Aydell, Sport Clips, is the group project leader and French Settlement resident.
The project has been on radar for the area and was halted after the flood. Public officials and community stakeholders envisioned a playground for area children, a walking path and other outdoor additions on the French Settlement Town Hall grounds. "We could not have found a better match for members of this project with background and expertise. When we decided to move forward with this project, our firm was happy to donate the site plan, layout, surveys and drawings of the proposed project. In fact, everyone on this project has added their resources and background to make this happen." adds Vanissa Murphy, class of 2020 and owner of Quality Engineering and Surveying.
The playground will be built on the grounds near the Creole House Museum in French Settlement. The museum, pavilion, restrooms and location make it a nice fit for the project. Once finalized, the project will include picnic tables, park benches, professionally installed playground equipment meant for ages 2 - 12 and a community gathering place. Project member, Chasity Chauvin, a 16 year teacher at French Settlement schools remarked, "This is a project that residents of French Settlement have wanted for a long time. I have always taught in French Settlement and so many of the students here would love to have a community playground."
Other members of the project are Joel Stern - Our Lady of the Lake, who has donated to the project, Jeanette Clark - City of Denham Springs, Sandy Teal - Livingston Parish Council and Todd Price, Holmes Building Materials whose business is donating the picnic tables and benches for project.
To learn more about the project and see the proposed playground drawings, the public is invited to attend a Kickoff event on Sunday, March 8th from Noon until 3:00 pm at the Creole House, 16015 LA Hwy 16 French Settlement, LA. Families are encouraged to attend where music and festivities will be part of the afternoon. The event will have jambalaya dinners for a donation. A formal ceremony to reveal the playground will begin at 1 pm. All proceeds raised will go towards the purchase and installation of the playground equipment. Sponsorship of the project and donations are accepted and dedicated through the Livingston Chamber Foundation, a 501-C3 non profit.
For further information please contact the Livingston Parish Chamber at 225-665-8155.
About Leadership Livingston: Leadership Livingston is a ten-month program offered through the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce. Participants are current and emerging leaders who graduate from the program with an awareness of community and social topics. With commitment and understanding, graduates of Leadership Livingston will transfer skills provided through the program into actual community application.
