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TODAY MARKS YET ANOTHER MILESTONE IN THE EFFORT TO TURN THIS FACILITY WITH ITS CHECKERED PASS INTO SOMETHING POSITIVE AND BENEFICIAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE WEST BANK OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
IT'S OUR GOAL TO BRING LIGHT, GOOD LIGHT BACK INTO THIS PROPERTY AND MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
IT'S A LARGE TRACK OF GROUND THAT THE PARISH WAS RELEASED FROM THE ARCH DIOCESE THAT USED TO SERVE AS A HOME FOR, UH, ORPHAN BOYS FOR PROBABLY 80 YEARS.
SENATOR PAC HAD A VISION TO TURN THIS INTO A CENTER FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS FOR THE PEOPLE AT WEST BANK, JEFFERSON PARISH, AND WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH HIM.
WE HAVE GUARDED AND STABILIZED THE MAIN BUILDINGS HERE THAT HOPEFULLY WE'LL PUT BACK INTO USE ONE DAY.
AND SO THIS IS JUST TWO PIECES OF THE PUZZLE, WHICH WE HOPE IS GONNA TURN THIS ENTIRE CAMPUS INTO A CENTER FOR THE ENTIRE WEST BANK, FOR PEOPLE TO DO EVERYTHING WITH SWIMMING, A FESTIVAL PARK.
THERE'LL BE BUILDINGS OCCUPIED HERE WITH OFFICES IN IT, MAYBE A HEAD START CENTER.
ALL OF THOSE USES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I HAVE MY RESIDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WEST BANK TO TELL ME HOW MUCH THEY COME HERE TO ENJOY THE SCENERY AND WALK AROUND THIS CAMPUS.
IT'S GOT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN WALK UP TO ALMOST TWO MILES IF YOU WANT.
PEOPLE CAN JUST GO OUT, UNPROGRAMMED, GO TO A PARK, WALK THE TRACK, HIT THE FITNESS STATION, BRING THEIR KIDS OUT TO THE TOT LOT.
THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO JEFFERSON PARISH AND THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOCATION OF THIS PROPERTY, THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY, THE BEAUTY OF THE PROPERTY WITH THE BUILDINGS AND THE TREES, IT, IT'S A NATURAL THAT WE REINVEST AND TURN THIS PROPERTY BACK INTO SOMETHING GOOD, SOMETHING GOOD FOR COMMERCE.
AND I THINK IF WE DO THAT, WE WILL DO IT.
UH, THAT'S GONNA IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE ON THE WEST BANK FOR EVERYBODY.
THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WEST BANK CAN BE PROUD OF AND BE A VERY GREAT IMPROVEMENT TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE.