[StBernard] Grand opening party held at Val Riess Park

[Westley Annis]

Grand Opening party held Aug. 23 at Val Riess Park

Family concert, contests and tours kick off a week of Katrina Anniversary
events

St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr. and the St. Bernard Parish
Council hosted a grand opening party and concert Sunday, Aug. 23 at 6:30
p.m. at Val Riess Park in Chalmette that kicked off a week of events
commemorating the parish's recovery and growth at Hurricane Katrina's Fourth
Anniversary.

The first phase of the 33-acre facility in the heart of Chalmette represents
the first $5 million in work for a premier recreational complex that will
see more than $20 million in construction before it is completed.

"This is your park so congratulations to you, the citizens," President
Taffaro said. "You have led this recovery." 

Tony Russell, the Acting Director for FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery
Office, agreed and promised to continue to bring federal assistance to the
parish's recovery efforts.

 "Everything we do is with one thing in mind: to help this community
recover," Director Russell said.

During the ceremony, President Taffaro thanked everyone who worked on the
project, and he thanked the federal and state partners who helped fund the
project. He also recognized family members of Val Riess, who the park is
named in honor of. His only child, Merna Riess Goetz, and Gus Riess, one of
his nephews, attended the ceremony. The park was named after Val Riess, who
served on the police jury, the forerunner of the parish council, for more
than 40 years beginning in January of 1930. 

After brief comments, Taffaro, Russell and other state and local officials
stood in front of a crowd of literally hundreds as they cut the blue ribbon
and let the throngs in to see the new park, tour the new two-story
concession stand/scorer's box and enjoy the band August Rush, games and
space walks.

The work at Val Riess at the northern end of Palmisano Boulevard in
Chalmette - financed by a combination of FEMA and Community Development
Block Grant funds - is being done in four phases that ultimately will
include eight baseball fields, two large concession stands, a 40,000-plus
square foot massive multi-purpose building and a mini-water facility. 

Donny Bourgeois, Director of Parks and Recreation for St. Bernard Parish has
said the facility will be an economic engine to host local recreational and
All-Star games, as well as baseball and softball tournaments, regional
tournaments, World Series and adult cabbage ball and softball leagues. 

Work on Phase 1 that started at the end of 2008 includes four new baseball
fields, a concession stand, covered seating and a shelter house/pavilion for
visitors. 

Thigpen Construction was in charge of the Phase 1 work. Meyer Engineers
designed the project, and CDM is the program manager in charge of oversight
of all FEMA permanent repairs and replacements of buildings and
infrastructure on behalf of the parish. Diana Goin is the parish's resident
inspector from public works for the project.

The trail that encompasses the park's exterior perimeter is still under
construction and will have 9-foot lanes dedicated to both cyclists and
walkers.

Phase 2, which is being advertised for bid, will feature four baseball
fields with two being designed to host high school and college games. This
phase will feature a three-story concession stand that has the potential to
include a climate controlled bistro for eating and viewing the games on the
third floor.

Phase 3 will include the 40,000-plus square foot multi-purpose building that
will host events, such as basketball tournaments, professional boxing and
auto/boat shows. The facility, which will be nearly four times larger than
the current Grand Ballroom at the Frederick Sigur Civic Center, will also be
available to host trade shows, conventions and Mardi Gras balls. 

Phase 4 will include a water park with a FlowRider, a sheet wave attraction
used for surfing.

The band's performance is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division
of the Arts as administered by the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural
Affairs.

For more information about the Recovery and Growth of St. Bernard Parish,
please visit our website at www.sbpg.net.

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