Gretna City Park $7 Million Overhaul

 Gretna City Park was awarded a $7 million overhaul to take 80 acres of undeveloped green space and turn it into a place for stormwater to go. The park now collects an additional 6.5 million gallons of stormwater. This is the perfect example of how we can use nature to help with water management. Mayor Belinda Constant describes it as “nature-based solutions for water management and ecosystem restoration.”

The $7 million was granted to the project by federal funding from Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments (LA SAFE). There are 10 other projects that are also receiving funding that are located throughout Louisiana. The improvements include 1 1/2 miles of pedestrian trails, a 1,500-square-foot open-air pavilion, a kayak launch, fishing piers, a bog garden, a wildflower meadow, and hundreds of new trees.

“What you’re looking at today is a secret high-performance landscape. This is one of the highest-performing stormwater landscapes in the city, if not the region, if not the state,” says Andy Sternard of the architecture firm Waggonner & Ball.

According to Gretna officials, Gretna Park is located in the area that is described as the city's resilience district. This district is among the highest concentration of properties with multiple National Flood Insurance Program claims in the state.  The park will also receive a $10 million grant to improve the drainage network along the 25th Street Canal from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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Pathscrossed Will Be Held in Westwego

 Pathscrossed is a street party along Sala Avenue that will host three art exhibit openings in Westwego. Sala Avenue will be closed and there will be live music, a red-carpet reception for all and a possible appearance of fire dancers.

The organizer is artist Josh Wigerter, who is using the event as a  tribute to all the artists who’ve contributed to his successful career.  Wingerter is known for his art that was along Frenchman Street that is graffiti style and began during the pandemic lockdown. He wanted to create a display that was kind of like an outdoor art gallery.

He became well known for his portrait of Louis Armstrong with a mask, and Wonder Woman dressed as a vaccine-armed nurse. Wingerter grew up in Westwego and is starting an art colony so to speak in the community. The 37-year-old previously was in management at Home Depot and earned his degree in business at UNO so he knows the business side of things.

He struck a deal with Westwego to rent an abandoned two-story building that used to be a bank. He turned it into a gallery and studio that now is part of the old main area. Wingerter loves the area and **likes the intimate vibe of Sala Avenue and would like to see it grow into an art destination like Royal Street, without the crowds and complications of visiting the French Quarter.**

A big part of this event is to help artists with how to make a living through their art. Among other artists that will be featured at the street party will be Dago, Paco Lane, Monique Lorden and Aubrey McGuire. All of these artists want to embrace the cute little town and add some quirky flavor to Westwego.

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Jefferson Parish’s West Bank Expressway Will Get a Facelift

 The West Bank Expressway is a corridor for panhandlers who ask vehicles for money but this will go away once a $1.35 million project will enhance the roadway. Projects included include new landscaping and signage at all the intersections from Terry Parkway to Ames Boulevard and new trees that will line the landscaping from Westwood Drive to Nine Mile Point Road. The improvements will also include removing the walkways along the road so that the panhandlers will not have a place to panhandle motorists.

“We’re trying to sell a quality of life and a better place to live here in Jefferson Parish and especially on the West Bank. It doesn’t take much for you to look around at this eight miles and say that you’ve ever been proud with what’s here, because I don’t think any of us have,” comments Parish Council member Ricky Templet.

This elevated part of West Bank Express has been the perfect hub for the homeless. The improvements will help alleviate this problem. Sen. Patrick Connick has filed a bill that will transfer this portion of the land from the state to the parish so that the parish can place ordinances against camping.

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New Library in Jefferson Parish

 A new library will be built and named after community leaders Joseph and Constance Caroll. The $2.2 million dollar project will be located in Avondale and will be around 4,500 square feet. “For many years, this community has asked about a library. Our young children who often need guidance…..this is going to be a resource for them and their families,” says Parish Council member Byron Lee.

The library will house meeting spaces, study rooms and a dozen public computer stations and will be located at 588 Avondale Garden Road on the west bank. “Whatever financial gaps or whatever digital that may exist, it won’t exist for very long once this beautiful building is built,” commented Lee.

Joseph and Constance Carroll have been community leaders in Avondale for a long time. They have had a hand in education so this is fitting for them. Their names will be put on the learning institution which is dedicated to education. The library will also have music education in some form or fashion in honor of Mrs. Caroll’s dedication as a music teacher.

The library is needed to fill a gap in the community. It will serve as a safe haven for citizens as well. “Libraries are no longer simply about housing collections. We are about making connections,” boasts Jessica Styons, the new library’s director.

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Land Beneath the Elevated West Bank Will No Longer Be an Eyesore

 Everyone who goes on the elevated West Bank Expressway knows it is an eyesore but nothing has been done about it in the past because the state of Louisiana owns it. This might change as Jefferson’s legislative delegation plans to introduce a bill that would give control of the property to the parish. Currently, the land is covered with litter and is an undeveloped eyesore. The area beneath US 90, Terry Parkway and Garden Road is also used for homeless encampments.

“It always looks terrible. We need to be able to control our own fate,” says council member Ricky Templet.

The parish would like to see the land be put to good use as new parks, drainage infrastructure or buildings for retailers. “That’s a great place for economic development, and also, it can give the people of west Jefferson a better quality of life,” says state Rep. Timothy Kerner.

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A New Bakery In Gretna

 There is a new Vietnamese bakery in Greta, called Dough Nguyener’s Bakery, named after the family owners, which opened its doors March 17th. The unique business is not only a retail bakery but also a production bakery.

The restaurant serves both American and Vietnamese dishes and has a unique twist on fried chicken. This dish includes a whole fried chicken that is called the Ngyener Nguyener chicken dinner. Their take on the New Orleans style French bread is a little different and made more the Vietnamese way. The differences are in the crust and shape, the crust is a bit softer, the bread more dense and the shape more like a Parisian baguette.

A good portion of the menu for the retail restaurant is more of Vietnamese tradition. These include an iron skillet of beef stew with curry flavor, slices of steak and fried eggs and pate called bo ne. Pastries include pate chou meat pis and steamed buns. For dessert, there is che khuc bach which is a colorful dessert made of tropic fruit salad, jellied fruit garnish and almonds.

“We’re digging into our roots more here. We’re introducing new things from our tradition, says Achote.

The famous fried chicken can also come as Nguyener wings glazed with a soy-based fish sauce chili glaze and a traditional multi piece fried chicken plate with sides. The whole bird dish is coated first with tapioca which makes it a bit more chewy. The sides consist of both east and west flavors including macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, kimchee salad, and garlic noodles to name a few.

Come enjoy some unique and fun bakery items and food items at Dough Nguyener’s Bakery in Gretna. Known for yummy carnival cakes since Carnival season in 2022.

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A New Rapid Bus Line From Algiers to New Orleans East Gains Support

 The $250 million Regional Transit Authority plan has been approved after the second attempt. The plan will use dedicated lanes and rail-style stations that stretch 15 miles from New Orleans East to Algiers.

This will be the first rapid bus line that will receive federal funding even though some Algiers residents are opposed. They are worried about the traffic that it will create over the Crescent City Connection.

The new line will run from Read Boulevard in New Orleans East through the Central Business District and then it will go over the bridge. It will have separated lands and traffic signal priority. This will help with the buses running in 10-minute intervals.

The Regional Transit Authority hopes to obtain federal funding for half of the project’s total cost. If approved after the April submission, the bus line could open as early as 2027. This is a great project for the future of New Orleans as it is one of seven out of the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan regions without some type of rapid transit service.

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