Track Comes To Donald Gardner

BOBBY ARDOIN

St. Landry Now.com Editor

The inaugural track meet at Donald Gardner Stadium has been officially scheduled for March 13, according to city officials.

Parks and Recreation Director Chris Rideau said on Friday that a 24 team boys and girls meet that includes both local, state and out-of-state teams will dedicate the track, whose construction was completed in early January.

Rideau also told members of the Opelousas Downtown Development District that the track has booked five meets this year.

Included among the events at the track are meets hosted by J.S. Clark Leadership Academy, the annual St. Landry Parish Track Meet and a post-regular-season meet hosted by Northwest High, said Rideau.

Rideau indicated that none of the track events have secured a major sponsor.

“Once they see what we are doing, I don’t think (a sponsor) will be a problem next year,” Rideau said.

Pickleball Court

Rideau said the $169,000 construction project on four pickleball courts on the backside fringe of South City Park should be completed in April.

Plans for the courts which will include lighting, said Richard.

The city, which is in charge of the project, is using donated United Health Care funding to complete the pickleball courts, Richard added.

UHC originally dedicated funding to the city for playground equipment, members of the Board of Aldermen were told last year.