Louisiana Riverfront Development Committee Presents
Proposal To City Council
Tim Stewart
Plans for riverfront development in Louisiana are progressing.
At Monday evening’s meeting of the Louisiana City Council, members of the Riverfront
Development Committee presented to the council a proposal for the undeveloped city-
owned property in the riverfront park. Elizabeth Onik of the Riverfront Development
Committee and the Louisiana Economic Development Committee (LEDC) addressed
council members and led the committee’s proposal presentation.
“We tried to design something that is subject to change based on what we can do well,”
Onik said of the plan.
Last October, LEDC and the Riverfront Development Committee were charged with
developing a plan of action for the riverfront development project. The hope then was to
present a plan to the city by May. The committees met that goal presenting the proposal
to the council at Monday’s May council meeting.
Available for viewing at the meeting were renderings of the proposed layout of the area to
be developed (see image on page 3), and a map outlining the city property. The proposed
plan, and images of the proposed entranceway and river deck can be viewed on our
website at
www.thepeoplestribune.com.
Jon Moran of the Riverfront Development Committee addressed the council and those in
attendance regarding specifics of the phased development plan.
The site to be developed is approximately the size of a football field at the south end of
the riverfront park’s parking lot. Bordering the development site to the south is a railroad
property.
Fundamental goals of those developing the proposal included ensuring the
environmental friendliness of the project, easy access for the elderly and disabled, and
flood-tolerance of as many aspects of the riverfront development project as possible.
Included in the proposal are a five-foot-wide riverfront walkway, picnic tables (constructed
of recycled plastic with accommodations for the wheelchair-bound), benches, and a 16’
x16’ octagonal covered pavilion. The pavilion would be constructed primarily of durable,
non-porous materials for greater resistance to flood waters.
Also included in the proposal are areas for various recreational activities. The committee
focused efforts on activities that are not commonly found in other parks and areas around
Louisiana such as a volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and lawn bowling/bocce ball.
Committee members aimed to focus plans on activities with play areas that can be more
easily repaired following flooding.
The proposal calls for ground cover in the form of native grasses and some sodded
areas, with various flowers and plantings. The committee’s goal was to focus on
vegetation that can be easily maintained.
Another aspect of the initial riverfront development would be construction of a “river deck”
to be built on an existing concrete support, thought to be the former site of a water intake.
The deck would possibly be cantilevered over the river allowing park visitors an
exceptional view of the Mississippi (see rendering at www.thepeoplestribune.com).
The specifics of the engineering possibilities and the cost of the “river deck” are to be
determined. Members of the Riverfront Development Committee will delve deeper into
engineering, construction and fixture costs as the project progresses.
Also proposed is a stone entranceway that would mimic the stone wall throughout the rest
of the riverfront park. Visit www.thepeoplestribune.com for a rendering of the proposed
stone entranceway.
Later phases of the development would include the renovation of existing restroom
facilities, further development of the walking path, and the construction of a mooring dock.
The dock would allow those traveling through Louisiana via the Mississippi River to dock
their vessels, re-gain their land legs and experience what the city has to offer.
The estimated completion date for the project is targeted for August-September 2009.
Moran noted the completion of the riverfront development would coincide with the
departure of Wal-Mart from the community. “We’ll be having something positive happening
in town at the same time something will be happening that’s going to hurt a little,” Moran
said.
The council voted to move forward with the pursuit of the riverfront development with the
guidance and assistance of the Riverfront Development Committee.
The City of Louisiana will continue to utilize the asset that will never leave town--the
Mississippi River--as the community continues to grow and evolve for the benefit of
residents and visitors alike.
In other council meeting news, the City of Louisiana continues to remind residents that the
city will be enforcing collection of delinquent real estate and personal property taxes.
Thursday will mark the 30-day deadline for residents to resolve any tax arrearage issues
with the city.
Louisiana Mayor Don Giltner noted the deadline will be extended through the end of
business Friday, May 16. “They still have the remainder of the week,” Giltner said of
residents with past-due tax balances.
Giltner added that Monday morning those taxpayers remaining in arrearage will have their
names communicated to local media for publication. Should a resident’s tax balance
remain unresolved following two publications of his or her name in the newspaper, a lien
will be placed on the property in question for real estate tax balances in excess of $100.
City administration urges residents with unresolved tax balances to remit payment or
address the delinquency issue with the city.
City Administrator Robert Jenne is investigating the possibility of installing flood gates and
valves at the town branch and Noix Creek.
Jenne has made contact with the Kansas City Southern railway company. The company
requested further information from the city, but no complications are expected. The project
would benefit the company by protecting their railroad tracks from flooding.
The City of Louisiana and its residents would be the primary beneficiaries as the project
would alleviate flooding of city streets like that recently experienced along Third
Street/Route 79. Jenne will be pursuing grant funding from the State Emergency
Management Agency (SEMA) to complete the project.
A recent incidence of vandalism at the city pool, including theft of copper piping, is under
investigation. Damages are estimated at $3,000. The city’s insurance deductible for
property is $2,500.
The funds needed to meet the deductible are to be disbursed from the pool repair budget
line item. Louisiana Plumbing and Heating has commenced repairs on the pool and
associated facilities. The pool is anticipated to open as scheduled.
Wamsley Disposal has scheduled a city-wide spring cleanup date for Louisiana residents.
The cleanup is to take place May 31. The spring cleanup is one of two included by
Wamsley free of charge to Louisiana residents with the city’s recent contract renewal with
the company. The city is expected to disseminate to residents further information
regarding the cleanup.
The City Council also:
•granted a parking variance to the Centenary United Methodist Church for the
congregation’s “Ride Your Motorcycle to Church” service to take place June 1. Parking will
be slightly restricted in the area until mid-afternoon. The church will be working with the
Ministerial Alliance to inform area congregations and residents of the parking restrictions.
•introduced a resolution declaring May 2008 as “National Historic Preservation Month” in
the City of Louisiana. Members of the Historic Preservation Commission were presented a
proclamation by the mayor in honor of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “This
Place Matters” theme for preservation month 2008.
•approved the placement by the Buffalo Township United Fund of a banner above the
intersection of Georgia and Third Street/Route 79 June 6-16 for the organization’s
fundraising drive.
•concurred with city administration’s pursuit of further information regarding a joint effort to
establish a Pike County Humane Society.