A FIELD IN THEIR DREAMS

Times-Picayune ^ | July 01, 2007 | Pierce W. Huff

[BBell]

Even though the Saints have donated more than $550,000 to help refurbish Pan American, the Stadium likely won't be ready until next season

Pan American Stadium is a testament to how grandiose plans sometimes are derailed in New Orleans' post-Katrina rebuilding process.

In September of 2006, the Saints donated $550,000 to refurbish the stadium, which was badly damaged by the storm.

The money was to be used primarily to install FieldTurf, an artificial surface similar to what the Saints use at their practice facility, and make the stadium one of the jewels in the City Park athletic facility system.

When the money was donated, City Park officials said Pan American would be ready for the 2007 high school football season. FEMA and the city will also fund parts of the project.

But less than two months before the start of the season, the stadium remains largely untouched and will not be used this fall.

There is no electricity at the stadium. The grass field is in poor shape, covered in patches of dirt. The locker rooms and bathrooms don't work, and the scoreboard remains mangled.

City Park officials blame schedule conflicts, bureaucracy and red tape for the lack of progress.

Orleans Parish Athletic Director Ron Gearing said he's not surprised the stadium isn't ready. What makes it more upsetting to him is that public school stadiums in Jefferson Parish undergoing renovations that began in December will be ready.

"Deep down in my heart I knew (Pan American) would not be ready for the start of this season," Gearing said. "I drive by the stadiums at East Jefferson and West Jefferson, and their work got started months ago. They haven't even gotten started at Pan American, and it's July. The first official practice for the school football season is Aug. 6.

[BBell]

Heres a tale of two Parishes right next to each other and hit hard by the same hurricane. One(Orleans) recieved donations from the Saints and FEMA, a bond drive from the City, and still can't do squat. The other used money from the Parish's School system and is about done. Orleans Parish has no booster club. Why? Probably because they all moved away before the storm and after. Before you all start trashing Louisiana remember that for the most part the state is recovering. It's just Orleans Parish which won't stay out of the headlines.

[BBell]

“Bob Becker, the president and CEO of City Park, said the delays are par for the course with almost everything in New Orleans post-Katrina.”

[Recon Dad]

This would have been par for the course pre Katrina, nothing has changed.

[BBell]

The more things change the more they remain the same. I’ve heard that somewhere.