For Immediate Release:  January 12, 2011

For Further Information Contact   John Cardone, 491-1381

 

                                           City Making Plans for Rebuilding of

                          Shiver Me Timbers Millennium Park

 

Preliminary planning has begun for the rebuilding of Shiver Me Timbers Millennium Park, which was partially destroyed by fire in the early morning hours of Sunday, January 9.

 

At Tuesday's City Council Agenda Meeting, two ordinances were introduced by Mayor Roach regarding the rebuilding of Millennium Park. One is an ordinance to "enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana to establish and manage a fund to collect donations to benefit the rebuilding of the Millennium Park Restoration Project."  The other ordinance is to "enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Millennium Park Restoration Committee and any other association or organization that wishes to provide services in connection with the restoration of the park."  Final action by the City Council on these two ordinances  will occur on February 2.

 

Following the Agenda Meeting, Mayor Roach and other City officials held a meeting at City Hall with some volunteers from the original Millennium Park build committee.  The purpose of the meeting was to begin the dialogue and process for the rebuilding of the park.     

 

Mayor Roach made a presentation which addressed: the cleanup of the park; the park's insurance coverage; creation of an oversight committee, which would be structured similar to the original build committee; budget considerations for restoration; establishment of a fund for donations; design considerations; improvements as identified in the Bord du Lac Park & Amphitheater Project; public relations & volunteer registry; and next steps.

 

Next steps in the process include: formalizing the committee, contracting with Leathers & Associates; design development, establishment of a timeline for the completion of the park; and the formation of subcommittees.

 

Citizens interested in receiving e-mails regarding the restoration of Millennium Park can go to the City of Lake Charles web site homepage www.cityoflakecharles.com under

"Hot Topics," and click on the link "Rebuilding Millennium Park" or call the Mayor's Action Line at 491-1346 or e-mail mayorsactionline@cityoflc.us for suggestions about the rebuild.

 

According to Lisa Verrette, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, donations can be mailed to the following address: Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, P. O. Box 3125, Lake Charles, La.  70602; or they can be delivered to: Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, 120 W. Pujo St., Suite 120, Lake Charles, La.  70601.  Checks should be made to: Community Foundation, with "Millennium Park" in the subject line.

 

                                                                   

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