Head of New Orleans Recreation Development Commission speaks on conditions of recreation facilities

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — It’s the time of year when the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission is gearing up for summer programming.

“We have close to 27 to 28 camps that are opening. With our camps opening, we’re opening youth camps ages 4 to 12, and teen camps ages 13 to 15 years old but we’re really excited about our evening summer programs that we’re offering for teens, ages 13 to 17 years old which is our summer sports challenge,” said NORDC CEO Larry Barabino, Jr.

No doubt the spaces will fill up and many of the programs offer a stipend for the kids attending but lately getting more attention is the condition of many of the NORD facilities.

“All of them were renovated after Hurricane Katrina, but Hurricane Katrina was 20 years ago. So, when those facilities were renovated or built new, they were given money from FEMA to build those facilities. But then there was never money put aside for facilities maintenance and upkeep,” said Barabino.

Barabino says NORDC’s budget is designed for general upkeep and things like toiletries for restrooms but many of the facilities require much more money than what is budgetted.

“We have 13 seasonal swimming pools and at least 10 of the 13 seasonal swimming pools need to be fully renovated,” said Barabino.

The same can be said for costly fixes like park lights and fencing. High-use facilities used throughout the year are prioritized first for maintaining fixes but the budget for the 160 facilities citywide does not match the demand.

“Our maintenance supervisor, when he looks at his $1.7 million operating budget for facilities, $500,000 of that goes to cutting grass,” said Barabino.

In 2010, voters agreed to covert NORD to a public/private partnership that could raise outside funds for facilities as well, but Barabino says the exceptions have not been realized.

“It’s not at the tune of the millions that was anticipated when this was given to the people as a vote that the foundation would raise millions each year to support NORD and its programming and facilities maintenance and that just doesn’t happen,” said Barabino.

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