NEWS RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA

February 28, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT (JPRD) ISSUES RECREATION REIMAGINED FINAL REPORT AND ACTION PLAN
Steering Committees suggest a path forward to reimagine recreation and increase participation at six playgrounds

JEFFERSON, LA – The Jefferson Parish Parks & Recreation Department (JPRD) has issued its final report and action plan for reimagining recreation to better serve the residents of Jefferson Parish at six JPRD playgrounds, including Lemon, Avondale, Bright, Delta, Bridge City and Rosethorne. JPRD’s vision is to use the outcomes derived from studying these six playgrounds as a framework for creating policy, refurbishing and expanding facilities, and creating appropriate programming across Jefferson Parish.

“Over two years ago, we embarked on a journey to reimagine recreation in Jefferson Parish. I’d like to applaud the next-level work of our JPRD team, along with the community members involved in the Steering Committees, for their commitment to this process,” said Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng. “I am confident that the suggested path forward will enhance existing playgrounds to better serve JPRD participants and allow us to offer even more high-quality programs and opportunities for the youth of Jefferson Parish and our entire community.”

JPRD introduced Recreation Reimagined with a goal of increasing youth sports participation and enhancing community utilization of the JPRD facilities. Following a series of public forums in 2022, JPRD assembled Steering Committees at all six playgrounds to solicit feedback from the community and come up with innovative concepts for each playground. Through eleven months and over 200 hours of meetings, events and public outreach, the playground Steering Committees lived the challenges of sustaining community engagement at playgrounds where demographics have significantly shifted.

“The themes resulting from the Recreation Reimagined process have proven the need for a paradigm shift in the perception of the breadth of services offered by JPRD,” said JPRD Director Harold Buhler. “For decades, the word ‘playground,’ has been synonymous with youth sports. However, data indicates that today’s JPRD is seeing seniors, families, youth, and people with special needs craving more than just traditional sports. It is imperative that we re-shape and communicate the scope of our playgrounds beyond being venues centered around youth sports, transforming them into holistic Recreation Centers that serve not only local neighborhoods, but also the entire Parish. Doing so will expand the facilities’ potential to encompass a wider array of recreational, educational and social engagement opportunities for all age groups and interests.”

Visit www.JeffParish.net/RecreationReimagined to view the final Recreation Reimagined report and action plan. The mission of JPRD is to provide accessible, equitable, inclusive and high-quality recreational public service to all Jefferson Parish residents. For more information about JPRD parks, facilities and programs, visit www.JPRD.com.

For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net. Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on social media (@JeffParishGov) or by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777.

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Jefferson Parish Public Information Office 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 1002 Jefferson, LA 70123

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Gretchen Hirt Gendron, PIO