What’s In The Phase 2 South Park Project?
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Opelousas Downtown Development is guaranteeing up to $1 million to help finance a multi-purpose municipal community center that will be located in a portion of South City Park.
City officials and ODD members met during a special meeting held earlier this week to discuss preliminary plans, approve a portion of funding and review the current scope of the projected $2.98 million Phase 2 park project that at this point is not scheduled to include any city revenues.
Constructing the 17,000 square-foot Opelousas Community Center adjacent to the current site of the swimming pool represents the second phase of a previously approved South City Park master plan.
David Beverly, who represented db|Architecture of Acadiana, LLC, presented bid specifications for ODD consideration.
The ODD agreed in 2023 to provide at least $4.9 million in funding for a Phase 1 Donald Gardner Stadium refurbishing plan that includes renovating the home and visitors sides of the complex in addition to turfing the football field and building an eight-lane track.
Phase 1 construction has not begun.
ODD revenues are obtained from an additional sales tax levied at businesses operating in designated areas of Opelousas.
Further planning and discussion for the Phase 2 project is set for an ODD regular meeting July 19.
What About Funding?
In 2023 the state lawmakers, aided by an effort by Representative Dustin Miller, approved $1 million in community development block grant funding for the center expenses.
Another $500,000 was added to the grant for Opelousas Library renovations.
Miller wrote in a text message sent to St. Landry Now.com that he was also successful this year in obtaining an additional $1.million in order to provide space for four volleyball courts and potential room for pickleball courts.
“We expect this facility to be built without using any funds from the city budget. We also expect this facility to be used by local schools both private and public and attract travel volleyball teams, local AAU basketball teams, biddy basketball and local pickleball players.
“This facility will be a great addition to our area in order to help develop our youth,” Miller wrote in the text provided to the website.
Debating The Location
One of the pivotal unresolved issues is the positioning of the facility.
Beverly told ODD members that his current design plans indicate the building will be facing the north side of the park parking lot. His plans, Beverly added, now include eliminating the kiddie pool area in order to facilitate the construction.
Several ODD members questioned whether the center could face the South Park boulevard in order to provide more visibility.
Beverly said including visibly frontage on the boulevard for the center would add demolition costs for the pool facility.
Facility Usage
The center will be built in order to accommodate banquets, athletic tournaments, civic events and cultural activities. It will also service as office space for parks and recreation department personnel, Beverly said.
Several basketball and volleyball games will be able to occur simultaneously inside the center. The current blueprints show that there will be two full courts for basketball in addition to six half courts for the sports. There will also be space for four volleyball courts, according to Beverly
