Caddo Parks 2022 End of Year Report

GREEDY WILLIAMS OF THE CLEVELAND BROWNS & CAMPERS, Greedy Williams and Rodarius Williams Football Camp

Caddo Parish Parks Map

A Message From The Director

Dear Caddo Parish Citizens,

The Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible for providing quality of life/leisure services to Caddo Parish citizens and visitors. The department maintains 14 sites throughout the Caddo Parish park system that include boat launches, ball fields, RV campground, multi-use trails, playgrounds and a nature center-featuring a staffed visitor center with exhibits and live animals.

Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation Program Pillars:

• Recreation / Health and Wellness

• Athletics

• Nature

• Education

Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation Department is committed to providing quality facilities, recreational programs, and other leisure time activities for the enjoyment, health, and benefit of the residents of Caddo Parish. In carrying out this responsibility, the department provides clean, safe park facilities throughout the Parish and a variety of recreational programs to ensure a positive experience for all our visitors.

Caddo Parish public parks, green space, trails, and walking paths will continue to provide a nature connection with Caddo Parish citizens, as well as opportunities for fun recreational and wellness activities, which reduces stress and improves overall quality of life.

As good stewards to Caddo Parish tax payer dollars, it is imperative that Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation Department resources be used to provide a healthier and vibrant Caddo Parish with exceptional park system, green spaces and leisure services for our Caddo Parish citizens and visitors. Therefore, it continues to be my honor to serve as your Parks and Recreation Director.

Patrick Wesley, Director Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation

13,284 total social media followers

12,600

14 park sites

2 historic monuments

1 nature center with live animal exhibits

150+ active volunteers 10 playgrounds

71,000 citizens reached through overall programming

14 full-time staff

3 part-time staff

5 boat launches

Dollars at Work

9,000+participated in athletic programs/league

11 athletic courts/fields

28 miles of trail for biking,hiking, and equestrian use

1,100 acres of public green space

80 public nature education programs offered at Walter B. Jacobs nature center

220 in area schools

3 fishing piers

1 disc golf course

53 youth crime prevention and safe summer programs facilitated

33,530 citizens reached

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Capital Projects/Park Improvements

Bessie D. Smith Park

1412 East Olive -Shreveport

• Completed new asphalt overlay of walking trail

Earl G. Williamson Park 11425 LA 1-Oil City

• Ballfield improvements

• Installed new irrigation system

• New ballfield scoreboard

• Nine (9) hole disc golf course

• Built new corn hole play area

• Installed new playground system replacement parts

• Painted picnic shelters

• Installed new picnic benches

• Restriped parking lot lines near boat launch

Eddie D. Jones Park

8400 Mike Clark Rd. -Keithville

• Resurfaced new concrete drive area

• Installed new landscaping (flower beds, trees, etc.) and picnic tables in visitor’s center area

• Upgraded new park signage (rules and directional signs)

NEW LANDSCAPING, Eddie D. Jones Park

NEW SIGNAGE, Earl G. Williamson Park

NEW PLAYGROUND SYSTEM, Earl G. Williamson Park

NEW ASPHALT, Bessie D. Smith Park

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Capital Projects/Park Improvements

Greenbrook Park

S. Emerald Loop -Shreveport

• Resurfaced/widened existing asphalt walking trail

• Installed one (1) new playground shade structure

• New playground mulch surfacing

• Installed one (1) new full-size basketball court

• Repaired small kid court surface and new court lines

• Installed four (4) new basketball goals

• Installed new picnic tables

• Installed new park benches

• Installed new park entrance/park rule signs

• Created a new community garden plot via Shreveport Green

Horace M. Downs Park

8571 Couch Dam Rd. -Mooringsport

• Installed new picnic tables

• Outdoor camp grills

• Restriped parking lot lines near boat launch

Keithville Community Park

12201 Mansfield Rd. -Keithville

• Upgraded men’s and women’s restrooms

• Installed new replacement parts to existing playground system

• Repaired drainage and leak issues along walking trail

Milton James “Hookie” Cameron Memorial Park

10500 Wallace Lake Rd. -Shreveport

• Restriped parking lot lines near boat launch

PLAYGROUND & WALKING TRAIL IMROVEMENTS, Keithville Community Park

NEW PICNIC TABLES/GRILLS, Horace M. Downs Park

Capital Projects/Park Improvements

Noah Tyson Park

9300 Mira Myrtis Rd. -Rodessa

• Painted large picnic shelter

• Installed new picnic tables

• Restriped parking lot lines near boat launch

Parks and Recreation Office Renovations 2900 Hearne Ave. -Shreveport

• Completed Phase II of office and related space expansion for recreation coordinator volunteers and interns

• Restriped parking lot lines

PBS Pinchback Park

7903 Jefferson Paige Rd. -Shreveport

• Installed new walking track

• New ADA paving to playgrounds

• Walking trails and picnic tables

• One(1) new playground shade

• One (1) new playground system(surfacing and borders)

• Four (4) new picnic tables

• (6) New benches

• 50,000 Lbs. of playground mulch

• Landscaping

• New fencing

• New basketball goals

• Painted existing basketball court lines

• Build one (1) new kid basketball court

• Painted all existing picnic shelters

• Installed an entrance monument

ENTRANCE MONUMENT, Pinchback Park

RENOVATIONS, Parks and Recreation Main Office

Capital Projects/Park Improvements

Richard Fleming Park

7919 West Lakeshore Dr. -Shreveport

• Asphalt overlay of entire park road

• Installed new picnic tables

• Painted large picnic shelter

• Installed new sewage pump system for men and women restrooms

• Pier repairs- replaced 72’ of new treated wood decking material and replaced cross member for support

Robert Nance Park

14770 Odom Rd. -Rodessa

• Installed new picnic tables and park benches

• Installed a new playground slide

• Restriped parking lot lines near boat launch

Robert G. Lawton, Jr. Playground

Rolling Ridge Subdivision -Greenwood

• Removed non-compliant playground equipment

• Installed new playground system, border, surfacing, new swing set and play mounds

Town of Ida

• Installed new outdoor “air walker” fitness station equipment in park

Town of Gilliam

• Installed playground system replacement parts

Town of Oil City

• Installed new playground system, picnic benches and outdoor camp grills. Painted existing park gazebo

Town of Rodessa

• Installed new wood-chip playground surfacing

PAINTED PICNIC SHELTER, Richard Fleming Park

NEW ASPHALT OVERLAY, Richard Fleming Park

Capital Projects/Park Improvements

Town of Vivian (Little League ballfield parking lot)

• Installed new fencing for youth baseball field

Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park (New Construction)

8012 Blanchard Furrh Rd.-Shreveport

• Awarded Taylor Studios professional service contract to provide exhibit design and construction/installation

• Architect (TBA Studio) completed preliminary surveying, soil testing, topographic services and started preliminary design phase.

Additional Park Improvements

• Restroom Upgrades: Installed new soap/paper towel dispensers

• New Park Signage: Installed new park entrance signs and park/playground rule signs

• Trash Receptacles: Installed new trash receptacles at all parks

Parks Administration

• Completed ADA Transition Plan

• Completed Community Relations Plan

• Granted permission from the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) to start national parks and recreation accreditation process.

• Worked closely with Caddo Parish Executive Administration to get ordinance 6229 passed via Caddo Parish Commission, appropriating $2 million dollars ($500.000 per year, for four years) for construction of the YMCA Baseball Complex. Caddo Parish will have official joint naming rights with the YMCA of Northwest

NEW PLAYGROUND RULES SIGNAGE, Bessie D. Smith Park

Capital Projects/Park Improvements

Louisiana. Once construction of baseball complex is complete, Caddo Parish Parks Department will be able to utilize the baseball facility for youth baseball league games, practices, clinics and special events

• Received $50,000.00 in grant funding for Grab and Go Feeding Program via Caddo Parish Commission to feed summer youth program participants healthy snacks and lunch-during the summer months of June – September. Over six thousand (6,000) meals were served to Caddo Parish youth

• Received $3,000 grant award from National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) to facilitate Active Living Every Day-Senior Wellness Program

GRAB AND GO FEEDING PROGRAM, T-Ball

STAFF MASTER PLAN MEETING

LIVING EVERY DAY, Galilee Baptist Church

PUBLIC MASTER PLAN MEETING, Vivian

Capital Projects/Park Improvements

• Awarded two (2) National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards

» Youth Crime Prevention Program

» Wild Child Nature Summer Camp Program

• Submitted preliminary grant application to Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and National Park Service (NPS) for park improvements/upgrades at Earl G. Williamson Park. Requested Amount: 1 million dollars

• Received official proclamation from Caddo Parish Commission, recognizing month of July as Park and Recreation Month in the Parish of Caddo

• Caddo Parish voters approved Proposition #6 –Bond Initiative (Saturday, November 8, 2022) allowing the Parish of Caddo to issue bonds not exceeding $20,000,000, for the purpose of the expansion and renovation of the Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park and other capital improvements

GRAB AND GO FEEDING PROGRAM, Wild Child Nature Summer Camp

WILD CHILD NATURE SUMMER CAMP, Caddo Parish

WALTER B. JACOBS MEMORIAL NATURE PARK PROPOSED NEW FACILITY , Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Recreation / Health & Wellness

• Hosted successful inaugural Night in the Country Concert Series for 5,000 visitors

• Hosted successful inaugural Tiny Tots Symphony Concert Series, featuring the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, for 2,500 attendees

• Partnered with Galilee Baptist Church to host chair aerobic classes for 100 senior citizens

• Hosted Senior’s Day in the Park at Richard Fleming Park for 95 senior citizens

• Partnered with Galilee Baptist Church to host Active Living Every Day 12-week sessions for 25 senior participants with $3,000 funding provided through a grant from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)

• Partnered with United HeathCare to host Senior Citizen’s Health and Wellness Fairs in various rural areas throughout Caddo Parish attracting 300 senior visitors

SENIOR’S DAY, Richard Fleming Park

SENIOR’S DAY, Richard Fleming Park

NIGHT IN THE COUNTRY CONCERT SERIES, Town of Ida

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Recreation / Health & Wellness

• Created Taking It to the Streets, a new mobile health and fitness program designed to promote physical wellness and community unity in inner-city neighborhoods and rural communities where there is limited access to recreational opportunities or “play deserts” reaching 400 participants

• Facilitated Fitness and Line Dance Classes for members of the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Shreveport reaching 220 youth participants

LINE DANCE CLASS, Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Shreveport

TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS, Health & Fitness Program

TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS, Health & Fitness Program

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Athletics

• Hosted 90 participants at Caddo Parish Skills and Drills Youth Baseball Clinic, with Special Guest Darren Oliver (Texas Rangers) and Dreon Dennis (Frisco RoughRiders) at Captain Shreve High School

• Served as title sponsor of the 2022 Girls Middle School Softball Championship at Northwood High School with 200 participants

• Served as title sponsor of the 2022 Football Championship at Lee Hedges Stadium participants 375 participants

• Served as title sponsor of the 2022 Girls and Boys Middle School Basketball Championships at Southwood High School- 860 participants and spectators

• Served as title sponsor of the 2022 Girls and Boys Middle School Track and Field Championship at Lee Hedges Stadium-345 participants and 1,000 spectators

• Partnered with Centenary College athletics department coaching staff to facilitate volleyball and gymnastic clinics for youth

• Partnered with Centenary College volleyball coaching staff to facilitated 2 soccer clinics

• Facilitated Caddo Head Start T-Ball Clinic at Balistine Hopkins Head Start Center with 215 preschoolers

• Held an end-of-season T-Ball Social at Southwood High School for 350 participants

• Partnered with CABOSA and Centenary Soccer to provide clinics at Legion Hills Community Center (Vivian), Mt. Bethel Headstart, Balistine Hopkins Headstart, and Caddo Parish Parks - 200 participants.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, Northwood High School

MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, Lee Hedges Stadium

SKILLS & DRILLS BASEBALL CLINIC, Captain Shreve High School

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Athletics

• Partnered with Caddo Schools to host Caddo Middle School Spring Developmental Basketball League - 2,000 participants and spectators

• Hosted 90 participants at the Devin Meyer’s Jr. NBA Challenge at Louisiana State Fairgrounds. Two participants were selected to participate in the Nationals

• Partnered with Major League Baseball’s RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) and Captain Shreve High School Baseball team for the Pitch Hit & Run/Jr. Home Run Derby - 110 participants

• Hosted the Brandon Wilson Football Camp at Shreveport Independence Stadium. Brandon Wilson (Cincinnati Bengals) 200+ participants

• Hosted Greedy & Rodarius Williams Football Camp at Shreveport Independence Stadium. Greedy Williams (Cleveland Brown) , Rodarius Williams (New York Giants) 400 + participants

GREEDY & RODARIUS WILLIAMS FOOTBALL CAMP, Independence Stadium

DEVIN MEYER’S JR. NBA CHALLENGE, Louisiana State Fairgrounds

BRANDON WILSON FOOTBALL CAMP, Independence Stadium

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Athletics

• Hosted Caddo Parish Parks T-Ball League (10 teams)- 1612 participants; Recruited 30 coaches and 25 volunteers

• Hosted Chanse Silvie-OneMindSet Flag Football Tournament at Independence Stadium (back to school supply benefit for area inner city schools)- 200 participants

• Hosted Centenary College Football Camp at Independence Stadium- 109 participants

• Hosted Centenary College Basketball Camp at Centenary Gold Dome- 325 participants

• Served as an official sponsor of the Middle School 7 on 7 Football League- 500 participants

CENTENARY BASKETBALL CAMP, Gold Dome

CENTENARY FOOTBALL CAMP, Independence Stadium

CHANSE SILVIE-ONEMINDSET FLAG FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT, Independence Stadium

HEADSTART T-BALL, Caddo Parish T-Ball League

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Nature

• Hosted successful 17th Annual Owl Night for 1,500 visitors at Walter B Jacobs Memorial Nature Park

• Hosted the largest Fairy Houses & Gnome Homes event to date with 650 participants

• Facilitated Family Adventure Day at Richard Fleming Park providing gear and instruction to 120 participants in archery, canoeing, and fishing

• Participated in Shreve Memorial Library’s Summer Reading Program offering education programs at 8 branches throughout the parish

• Expanded the full-day Wild Child Summer Camp to host 108 campers over 6 weeks, increased from 2021’s 4 weeks with 48 campers

• Received National Association of Counties Achievement Award for Wild Child Summer Camp program

• Hosted largest Art in the Park event to date with 50 local artists participating and 450 visitors

FAIRY HOUSES & GNOME HOMES, Annual Event

17TH ANNUAL OWL NIGHT, Annual Event

ART IN THE PARK, Annual Event

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Nature

• Increased inclusive nature education opportunities, partnering with several organizations that serve those with special needs including, Holy Angels, The Arc of Caddo-Bossier’s Frost Industries and Camp Victory, Caddo Parish School Board, and several assisted living and long-term care facilities to reach 826 program participants

• Hosted “Introduction to Acrylic Painting workshop” once a month with 12 people per workshop. Also organized outreach Acrylic Painting Workshop to other nature centers with total 115 participants

• Facilitated “Junior Naturalists of Walter B Jacobs Memorial Nature Park” once every other month. We increased the participant number limit from 6 per workshop, up to 25 per workshop and included the willing parents to participate along with their kids, in total 43 participants

• Volunteer Naturalists served 663.5 hours, at a value of $19,872

FROST INDUSTRIES, Arc of Caddo

INTRODUCTION TO ACRYLIC PAINTING, Workshop

Major Accomplishments in 2O22 Education

• Received National Association of Counties Achievement Award for 2021 Safe Summer Youth Crime Prevention

• Facilitated 31 Safe Summer Programs on behalf of the Caddo Parish Commission

SAFE SUMMER, Youth Crime Prevention

SAFE SUMMER, Youth Crime Prevention

SAFE SUMMER, Youth Crime Prevention

SAFE SUMMER, Youth Crime Prevention

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Conservation, Shreveport Green & ShreveCorps

ShreveCorps, an AmeriCorps National Service Program administered by Shreveport Green, completed 1,213 hours of community service during our spring term, 4,229 hours this summer, and an additional 1,886.5 this fall, bringing our grand total to 7,328.5 hours of direct service to the Caddo Parish community (not including the 1,041 hours spent in training).

• Repaired and revitalized Caddo Parish parks and trails (summer only): 550 hours of service

• Constructed and maintained the MLK Community Garden: 204 hours of service

• Facilitated six Household Hazardous Waste Collections: 147 hours of service

• Constructed Urban Farm in downtown Shreveport: 316 hours of service

• Built and maintained community gardens and distributed the harvest to local low-income families, and educated children from these families about healthy eating and growing their own food: 4,225 hours of service

Other major accomplishments this year by Shreveport Green and ShreveCorps:

• Completely revitalized the MLK Community Garden with a bunch of new updates, utilizing as much of the existing area for the betterment of the garden and the community

• Extended the existing driveway to accommodate more parking for visitors and volunteers

• Added a larger pavilion to offer covered seating for demonstrations, gatherings, and other events at the garden

• Completed the fencing around the garden to give the area more distinction and a “sense of place”

SHREVEPORT GREEN CREW, MLK Garden

STUDENTS WORKING FLOWER BEDS, Urban Farm

SHREVECORPS VOLUNTEERS, Urban Farm

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Conservation, Shreveport Green & ShreveCorps

• Installed a 20 ft. shipping container to house materials and tools on-site. The container was later painted with a beautiful MLK mural by local artist KaDavien Baylor to draw awareness to the space

• Erected raised beds throughout the garden for a more productive gardening experience

• Added a 3,000 gallon water tank for water harvesting

• Implemented pollinator beds to attract native and beneficial insects to the garden

• Built a fire pit near the gathering space to offer warmth during cooler days and colder months

• Established a welcome sign and information kiosk to provide community information and involvement

• Added the garden to Google Maps to increase overall awareness of the space

• Harvested and distributed roughly 250 pounds of produce from the garden despite the ongoing renovations

• Collected and sorted several tons of hazardous materials and electronic waste from Caddo Parish community members, diverting it from local landfills and either recycling it for reuse or disposing of in an environmentally safe manner

• Helped create our Urban Farm in downtown Shreveport that will serve as a source of healthy food and education around health, wellness, and sustainability, including:

» Built five 75 ft. long raised garden beds

» Assisted in planting the Urban Farm’s first hydroponic garden

MLK MURAL, KaDavien Baylor

RIBBON CUTTING, Urban Farm

Major Accomplishments in 2O22 Staff

Patrick Wesley, Director

• Appointed to Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission Board (2022 – 2024)

• Appointed to National Association of Counties (NACo) Health Policy Steering Committee (2023 - 2024)

Rusty Scarborough, Park Manager

• Served on Board of Directors Master Naturalist of Louisiana, Northwest Chapter

• Served as Louisiana State Representative for Region 6 of National Association for Interpretation

Hulya Onel, Park Naturalist

• Served on Board of Directors for both Master Naturalist of Louisiana Association and Master Naturalist of Louisiana, Northwest Chapter

Stacy Gray, Education Coordinator

• Received Master Frontline Interpreter Award from the National Association for Interpretation

• Served on the Shreveport-Bossier Attractions Association Board of Directors

Mary Murphy, Athletic Coordinator

• Earned Certified Youth Sports Administrator from the National Alliance of Youth Sports Academy

Major Accomplishments in 2O22

Staff

Cattina Williams, Recreation Coordinator

• Received Active Living Every Day Facilitator Training, Third Edition Certification from Human Kinetics

Gabrielle Davis, Office Coordinator

• Received Active Living Every Day Facilitator Training, Third Edition Certification from Human Kinetics

Jesse Smart, Park Laborer

• Earned Heavy Equipment Safety & Maintenance Certification through Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program

Marvell Gines, Park Laborer

• Earned Heavy Equipment Safety & Maintenance Certification through Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program

Daniel Mills, Park Laborer

• Earned Heavy Equipment Safety & Maintenance Certification through Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program

John Michael Kelley, Park Technician

• Earned Heavy Equipment Safety & Maintenance Certification through Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program

DEPARTMENT GOALS FOR 2O23

• Complete self-study process for Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies national accreditation and prepare for 2024 site visit

• Ensure department is focusing on park amenity upgrades/improvements at our most visited parks (Earl G. Williamson, Eddie D. Jones, Greenbrook, Keithville Community Park, PBS Pinchback, Richard Fleming and Robert L. Nance)

• Ensure department is providing on-going accessibility improvements in our park system, as identified in the current American Disability Act (ADA) Transition Plan

• Continue to solicit consultant services to analyze and identify naming rights valuation for new Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park Center

• Continue to promote, coordinate, facilitate, or provide recreation, athletics, wellness, and nature programs that serve Caddo Parish needs; support community livability, and encourage greater recreation participation in areas not served by other related providers

• Continue to establish external partnerships with area health agencies to alleviate the growing health disparities of obesity in Caddo Parish

• Complete Capital Project upgrades/ improvements (park system-wide):

» Boom or Bust Byway Scenic Viewing

» Earl G. Williamson Park

» Greenbrook Park

» Hanna’s Park

» Keithville Community Park

» Noah Tyson Park

» Parks and Recreation Office Improvements

» PBS Pinchback Park

» Richard Fleming Park

» Robert G. Lawton Jr. (playground)

» Robert L. Nance Park

» Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park

• Increase external grant funding (local, state and federal).and sponsorship opportunities

• Provide opportunities for inclusion, ensuring all Caddo Parish citizens have access to the benefits of local parks and recreation

• Improve overall safety, service, and opportunities for all park patrons and visitors

STACY GRAY, NAI Master Frontline Intrepreter Award