[StBernard] Fireworks show Saturday, November 13 at 6 p.m. at the Val Riess II Grand Opening Tournament

[Westley Annis]

Fireworks show Saturday, November 13 at 6 p.m. at the Val Riess II Grand
Opening Tournament

Second phase includes four more fields and three-story concession facility 

 

The Val Riess II Grand Opening Tournament will be this weekend and will
feature a fireworks show Saturday, November 13 at 6 p.m. as part of the
festivities. The second phase of the Val Riess Recreational Complex includes
four more fields and three-story concession facility with climate controlled
bistro on third floor for eating and viewing the games.

 

The tournament will include 13- to 15-year-old baseball teams from Holy
Cross, Shaw, Brother Martin, Jesuit and Belle Chasse. It also will include
11-year-old and under teams from St. Bernard, Mandeville, Belle Chasse, St.
Amant and Norco. The two-day tournament will begin Saturday at 9 a.m. 

 

St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr. said the public is
welcome to come to the tournament, see the facility and enjoy the fireworks
show.

The first phase of the 33-acre facility in the heart of Chalmette opened
last August and included the first four baseball fields and a two-story
concession stand building. The facility will see more than $20 million in
construction before it is completed. In addition to four baseball fields in
each of the first two phases, both have concession stands with a second
story scoring facilities overlooking all the fields and covered seating and
shelter pavilions with fans for visitors. 

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. In addition to the eight
baseball fields and two large concession stands, it also will include a
40,000-plus square foot massive multi-purpose building. 

Val Riess II, which opens this weekend, features four baseball fields with
two designed to host high school and college games. President Taffaro has
said the facility should be an economic engine that will host local
recreational and All-Star games, and baseball and softball tournaments,
regional tournaments, World Series and adult cabbage ball and softball
leagues. This phase was built by T-Mac Construction.

The next phase 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. 

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

###