[00:00:01]
PRESIDENT CYNTHIA LEE SHANG WITH OUR PROJECT MIKE MILEY, MORE THAN A PLAYGROUND, A COMMUNITY OASIS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS FOUNDATION'S NEXT 100 YEAR CHALLENGE.MY TEAM INCLUDES THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ECOSYSTEM AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT AND FLOODPLAIN AND HAZARD MITIGATION.
THE TEAM WANTS TO ENHANCE A HEAVILY USED RECREATIONAL FACILITY TO SERVE AS A COMMUNITY OASIS DUE TO THE INCREASING FREQUENCY OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS.
OUR PILOT PROJECT MIKE MOLEY PLAYGROUND IS LOCATED IN A BUSY PART OF MEY ON THE EAST BANK OF THE PARISH.
WHILE THE PLAYGROUNDS, MANY AMENITIES ARE WIDELY USED, MOST ACTIVITIES OCCUR OUTDOORS IN THE EXTREME HEAT, INCREASING THE RISK OF HEAT STROKE, AND OTHER HEAT RELATED ILLNESS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE SITE'S LIMITED PARKING LOT OFTEN EXPERIENCES PONDING OF FLOOD WATERS EVEN DURING THE LIGHTEST OF RAINS.
THE CHALLENGES OF NUISANCE FLOODING AND POWER OUTAGES WILL ONLY INCREASE AS STORMS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND INTENSE.
THE CHALLENGE FUNDS WILL PROVIDE SEED MONEY TO MIKE MILEY PLAYGROUND FOR RESILIENT COOLING AND CHARGING STATIONS FOR RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY AFTER A MAJOR STORM OR IN DAYS OF EXTREME HEAT.
IT'LL ALSO HELP FUND SMARTLY DESIGN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER BALL FIELDS, PARKING LOTS AND LOWLYING AREAS TO BETTER HANDLE STORM WATER.
AND FINALLY, THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR THE PARKING LOT.
CREATING A DEDICATED SPACE TO ESCAPE EXTREME HEAT WILL TRANSFORM MIKE MILEY INTO MORE THAN A PLAYGROUND, BUT A COMMUNITY OASIS FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS.