[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish dedicates new Violet Park #2 playground: President Taffaro funded improvements with major donations from Power 102.9 radio station and the St. Bernard Always Home Dance

Westley Annis Westley at da-parish.com
Sun Sep 19 12:41:50 EDT 2010


St. Bernard Parish dedicates new Violet Park #2 playground President Taffaro
funded improvements with major donations from Power 102.9 radio station and
the St. Bernard Always Home Dance



A brand-new 40-foot by 40-foot wooden youth playground at Violet Park #2 was
dedicated at a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday. St. Bernard Parish
President Craig P. Taffaro made the commitment to enhance the playground
area after FEMA funding for the playground area was somewhat limited.



"Violet Park #2 was slated to be absorbed into the centralized park program
after the storm, but we decided that there was too much historical
involvement to let the park be decomissioned," explained Taffaro, who
spearheaded keeping the park as part of the recreation system. The
improvements to the Violet Park facility have included a new electronic
scoreboard, off street parking, a new concession area, covered seating, and
a retopped basketball area.

In addition to the FEMA funding for the project, St. Bernard Parish has
partnered with Power 102.9-FM Program Director Lebron "LBJ" Joseph and the
Always Home Dance Committee to fund the project. Power 102.9 FM held a
fundraiser and together, Joseph and Taffaro identified the Violet Park
playground project as the target for the fundraiser. Additionally, the
annual Always Home Dance committee dedicated the balance of the funds for
the playground project to make it a reality. The playground project
totalled over $22,000.00, including parish assistance.

Citizens and Power 102.9 radio personalities turned out to dedicate the
sprawling playground that includes four club houses, a spiral slide, a
regular tube slide, an adult swing, two picnic tables, two regular swings,
two rock climbing walls, a trapeze, chip wheels, a troll bridge, a tube
bridge, a ship wheel and two pairs of binoculars.

"We are so grateful to Power 102.9-FM and Citadel Broadcasting for reaching
out and helping St. Bernard Parish," Taffaro said. "The Violet community was
clearly looking for our commitment to adding a children's area to the park.
This playground will be here for children to enjoy as an important
recreational facility for families to enjoy time together for years to
come".

Locals chose from about a half dozen designs, and a small cadre of community
volunteers help prepare the base for the playground that was professionally
erected this week. In addition to O'Neil and Taffaro, the following
community members and children volunteered their time for site preparation:
Yancy Aisola Gregory "Buffy" James, Oliver Banks, Jermaine Jiles, Gilbert
King, Kenneth Manard, Valery Manard, Jeff Sanchez, Roosevelt Walker III as
well as the children helpers, Tkeyr Manard and James Ingargolia.

Pastor Henry Ballard of Christian Fellowship blessed the playground at the
dedication, and deejays Big Abe, D.J. Chicken and Herc at Werc talked with
Taffaro on air during a live call-in to Power 102.9-FM to let their
listeners across the metropolitan area know about the celebration at Violet
Park #2 and that the radio station had a major role in making a reality.

For the June 102.9 FM fundraiser, Power teamed with the House of Blues New
Orleans and the office of President Taffaro to produce the Power to the
Parish Concert. This event showcased national hip hop superstars J Cole
(Columbia/ Roc Nation), the California Swag District (Capitol Records),
Juvenile (E1 Entertainment), and rising local star Kourtney Heart. In
addition, the Power 102.9 DJ's served as host and mixers for the event, and
a St. Bernard hip hop band, Cross Parish Connection, was the opening act.
Two of the radio cluster's broadcast towers rest in St. Bernard Parish and
the radio officials thought it was natural to use their resources to help
young people. The Always Home Dance is held each year to assist in
recreational projects and decided to team up with the 102.9 FM lead this
year.



Taffaro also wanted to thank the family of Becky and the late Gatien
Livaudais and Borgnemouth Realty who make the land available for the
Recreation Department's use.


For more information about the Growth and Recovery of St. Bernard Parish,
visit www.sbpg.net. For further information about Power 102.9, log onto
power1029.com.

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