Seven civic groups across New Orleans have come together to call for improvements to the public parks and youth programs run by the city's recreation department, an ongoing issue that's again top of mind as summer approaches and kids are soon out of school.
A joint statement released Tuesday by The NOLA Coalition says the state of the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission’s neighborhood parks and sports fields is "alarming" and unsafe for kids, adding to the criticism the agency has received in recent years.
Joining the Coalition, which includes nonprofits and businesses, in issuing the public letter are the New Orleans NAACP, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, Metropolitan Crime Commission, East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, and the Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region.
The groups didn't name specific NORD-operated sites, but they cited "overgrown fields, exposed electrical wire, crime scene tape and trash-ridden facilities" as examples of “unacceptable” conditions.
“Every child should have access to safe and enriching recreational opportunities,” the statement reads. “NORD is one of the greatest assets we have for strengthening our community, and should be a primary concern for all civic leaders, parents, and citizens.”
NORD's response
In response, the NORD Commission issued a statement Wednesday highlighting the improvement projects already underway, such as new lighting, upgraded bathrooms and turf field replacements across multiple sites. It also pointed to the thousands of youth it serves across its athletic programs, summer camps and recreational programs.
Officials urged those concerned to communicate or partner with them directly.
"While recent discussions have raised concerns, these conversations would be even more productive with direct engagement. We welcome collaboration with any group that is genuinely committed to supporting and investing in our mission," NORD Commission Chair Theo Sanders said in a statement.
Criticism from community members has included issues such as missing trash cans at Hardin Park in the Seventh Ward, holes in the Norman playing fields in Algiers, and inconsistent hours at several pools in the hot summer months.
Suggestions to fix things
The public letter also includes suggestions on how to make improvements, including exploring public-private partnerships and "restoring the relationship between Major League Baseball," which has a partnership with NORD.
"Following Hurricane Katrina, business and civic groups invested significant time and resources in the recovery of NORD, as it was seen as fundamental to the recovery of the city," the letter says. "These organizations, and more, are once again ready to support and invest in the right model to benefit our youth and families."
It also specifically mentioned that the Boys and Girls Club of Metro New Orleans and The 18th Ward, a grassroots youth recreation league, "stand ready to assist."
Both organizations are partnered with the recreation department and use its facilities for some of their programs, NORD Commission spokesperson Emily Oliver said. NORD pays The 18th Ward $160,000 annually for soccer programming and facility use.
Other criticism
Public officials have also weighed in on the state of city recreation facilities.
Hardin Park, once a vibrant site for youth sports and afterschool programs, has sat inactive for years, but the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office has pushed for new programming to address gun violence and drug activity impacting residents' quality of life.
In December, former Orleans Parish Prosecutor Laura Rodrigue-Cannizzaro wrote a fiery blog post aligning the facilities’ conditions with the city’s juvenile crime problem.
“It just sends a strong message to our youth that we don't care. This is how we represent our city and our community,” Rodrigue said in a December interview.
Rodrigue also alluded that the NORD Commission, which operated on a $20 million budget last year, shouldn’t receive taxpayer dollars if it continues to neglect its facilities.
The NOLA Coalition statement did credit the city for steep declines in violent crime, but to sustain that reduction, it must invest in young people, it said.
The public outcry comes as the New Orleans Office of Inspector General conducts an audit of NORD spending along with compliance reviews of several other city agencies. OIG spokesperson Laura McKnight said the audit was called to ensure efficient and effective use of City funds and resources.
Other audits in progress include the city's emergency response times and the Department of Safety and Permits — both of which have been under fire in recent years for dysfunctional operations.
