JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — On their Wednesday morning walk along the lakefront in Jefferson Parish, Glen Hogh and his pups Zeta and Lila couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s kind of exciting to see something of this scale, to see this effort,” said Hogh.
That effort is a multi-year, multi-million-dollar project to better connect the nearly mile-long shoreline between Bucktown Harbor and Bonnabel Park.
“It’s impressive,” said Hogh.”
Parish leaders hope it brings more people over the levee to reconnect with recreation.
“This is an extended backyard but so often the levee cuts us off from it and we forget it’s here,” said Division “A” Councilwoman at-large Jennifer Van Vrancken.
Van Vrancken calls it a passion project that started taking shape when she was the council member for the district. Wednesday, a new $1.4 million educational pavilion became the latest addition to the project.
“It’s that whimsical, kind of wow, not just in the day, but at night when it’s lit up and changing colors,” said Van Vrancken.
The boardwalk, which is also part of the project, is already open. A canoe and kayak launch is under construction. So is a $15 million living shoreline which also helps protect the levee. A children’s play area is next.
“Little by little we’re all going to enjoy bringing it to life,” said Van Vrancken.
Grants, storm recovery money, and tax dollars are paying for all of it.
“Each one has a different price tag and takes a little bit of time to get funds together, so as we have funding, we’ll keep bringing things to life,” said Van Vrancken.
Van Vrancken hopes the project will also attract younger families to Jefferson Parish to help offset an aging population.
“When I was a kid, this was completely wooded, all of it,” said Hogh.
Hogh, who lives just blocks away, is happy with the investment. Like parish leaders, he hopes more people take a walk over the levee.
“It’s nice to be in a community that values this type of outdoor space,” said Hogh.
The different pieces of the project were decided on through community surveys and meetings. With a master plan now in place, parish leaders say the momentum will continue.
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