[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish breaks ground on Val Riess Bike Path

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish breaks ground on Val Riess Bike Path 

 

St. Bernard Parish Government broke ground on the Val Riess Bike Path at
1101 Magistrate Street, Chalmette.  The bike path will be a five feet wide,
one-mile loop around the park.  The new trail will be concrete making it
suitable for joggers, walkers, skaters, and baby strollers with the existing
trail being designated strictly for bicyclists.  Trail lighting will be
added so that both trails will be available during the evenings through all
seasons.  

 

The parish obtained two federal grants, administered through the State of
Louisiana, to construct this project.  The first is a $127,000 Recreational
Trails Program grant through the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation
and Tourism. The second is a Louisiana Land and Water Conservation Grant for
$150,000 that will fund the trail lighting.  Parish President David Peralta
thanked State Coordinators Michael Domingue and Suzette Simms who have
provided their expertise and invaluable support for the project.  He also
thanked Judge Robert Klees and the members of the Murphy Oil Cy Pres
Committee who have provided the parish with a grant of $374,000 to complete
the project.  

 

Val Riess Park serves over 50,000 children a year through leagues,
tournaments and organized recreational activities. The bike path will be a
lighted trail that can be used after dark and is expected to be fully
completed in January, 2015.   

 

It is vitally important for the Parish to build facilities like this in
order to provide amenities for our current residents and attract new
residents to St. Bernard.  The parish's goal with this project is to improve
our overall community health, said President Peralta.