City of Lake Charles, Louisiana

On September 16, 2009 the City of Lake Charles and Recreation District No.1 of Ward 3 announced the opening of the Ward 3 Recreation Gymnasium and Adventure Cove Park at a grand opening ceremony conducted at the Gymnasium, 3210 Power Centre Parkway, and at Adventure Cove, located next to the Gymnasium.   Adventure Cove Park consists of a playground and spray park.  The playground was built by over 1500 community volunteers and through the professional services of local contractors who provided: architectural and design services, the road leading to the park, site preparation services,  sand and rock for the temporary road and playground site, concrete for the drainage wells, fencing around the playground and Liberty Swing, installation of poured rubber surfacing, surveying, engineering services for paving and drainage, installation of the concrete subsurface, and installation of the water spray park and Liberty Swing.    Local contractors included: David Brossett, architect; Jeff Kudla, architect; Walt Jessen, engineer; Curtis Vincent, engineer; Horace Baggett; Port Aggregate; Sam Istre Construction; Concrete Eaters; Rivers Fence; Surface America; Pelican Land Surveying Services; Lancon Engineers; R. Cloud Construction, and John D. Myers.    The playground is accessible for all children.  With its poured rubber surfacing and special ramping, the playground was constructed to provide the opportunity for children of all physical abilities to play alongside one another. The playground includes the Liberty Swing wheelchair swing, one of only 11 in the country and the only one in the state, specifically designed to give those confined to wheelchairs the chance to experience the sensation of swinging.   Adventure Cove was built as a result of the overwhelming success of the community built park, Shiver Me Timbers Millennium Park.  The name "Adventure Cove" was selected at the conclusion of a "name the park" contest.   A community steering committee led the community build planning process.   For safety reasons, it was mutually agreed by Ward 3 and the City of Lake Charles to delay the opening of Adventure Cove until the construction immediately adjacent to the playground was completed as well as the completion of the extension of Power Centre Parkway.   Construction costs for Adventure Cove were are as follows: drainage work, engineering and design fees -- $100,000; poured rubberized surface -- $100,000; supplies and materials -- $350,000  Cost for the Water Spray Park and Liberty Swing installation was approximately $350,000.    A special Adventure Cove Park opening event with the public was held on Saturday, September 26.  Activities at the event included face painting, popcorn, snow cones and music.