In a move that has local sports teams and recreational league enthusiasts buzzing, Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer alongside city council members and administrators, took to the fields on Monday for the ceremonial shovel plunge. Yes, they've officially broken ground on what's set to be the new multi-use fields at Ducksworth Park. According to the City of Slidell's own communication channels, the site will see a revamping of an existing field, alongside the introduction of an entirely new one for the public's sporting and recreational pleasure.
Understanding the nuts and bolts of it, the reconstruction encompasses a sizable 325’x370’ multi-use area, while a freshman field sizing up at 150’x200’ is newly introduced into the mix. All South Consulting Engineers have donned their design hats for this operation, with Warner Construction, Inc. stepping onto the playing field as the contractor of choice. The financial playbook indicates an expenditure tallying up to $676,466—money that will flow from the synergy of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism's Land and Water Conservation Fund, pooling their resources in a 50/50 grant scheme, as mentioned by the City of Slidell.
Community members are already marking their calendars; if the stars align and Mother Nature plays ball, approximately 130 days from now should witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony, as per the City of Slidell. Excitement is palpable as residents anticipate a January 2025 unveiling of the fresh green spaces. Nonetheless, predictions in these parts have a way of bowing to the whims of the weather and other sneaky variables that tend to throw a wrench into the best-laid plans.
