LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / April 14, 2000

DESTREHAN – The stretch of River Road between St. Charles BorromeoCatholic Church and Interstate 310 is poised for a beautification face- lift, thanks to the efforts of a small, but determined band of local citizens.

The Beautification Task Force, recognized officially by the St. CharlesParish Council at their Feb. 21 meeting, hopes this effort will be the sparkfor similar projects across St. Charles Parish.A group of citizens approached Councilwoman Darnell “Dee” Abadie last fall about launching such an effort. In November, the group began theirseries of meetings to decided upon the first site.

“Everybody came with their hearts,” commented parish council secretary Joan Becnel.

Once decided upon, the ideas flew fast and furious and, with $100,000 from the parish coffers expected at Monday’s parish council meeting, the work is expected to be well under way this summer.

“I have been getting lots of calls on this,” Abadie said.

The plans for this stretch include cleaning up the uprights of the Hale Boggs Bridge to make them pristine white, attractive signs to designate historical landmarks and, working with the St. Charles School Board,beautification of the front of Harry Hurst Middle School.

“This is to embellish what is already there,” Destrehan architect and native John Campo added. Campo has already delivered on an artist’srendering of the finished project, which includes restoration of the old brick fence of the old Destrehan High School site and a mural of the old school on the present cafeteria wall of Hurst Middle.

“I have a really strong interest, having grown up in Destrehan,” Campo observed.

Memories of the old high school, which was open from 1923 to 1975 before burning down, are still fresh in the minds of thousands of graduates.

A “buy-a-brick” program is possible, with people “buying” bricks inscribed with memorial messages. “We’re not trying to bring it back, butto keep the memory alive,” Campo said.

More ideas include a scenic overlook of the Mississippi River and the planting of more trees, vines and flowers in the area.

Abadie added that the task force will work with people in every community to preserve and enhance specific small locations across the parish.

However, this first project should see completion in a matter of months.

“There’s all these concepts out there, but we can’t fragment ourselves,” Abadie recognized.

Once that project gets off the ground, more are being discussed. Likely,the next project will be a revitalization of Luling along River Road and Paul Maillard to the railroad tracks, using Kenner’s Rivertown development as a model. She hopes small businesses such as antique shopsand bakeries move into that area to spark attractive commercial growth.

“Interest is coming in from all over,” Abadie said, and local citizens in Norco, Des Allemands, Paradis and Hahnville are also looking for a similar beautification effort.

Ginger Carpenter of First Industrial Realty, which oversees James Business Park in St. Rose, hopes for a beautification and revitalization ofAirline Highway between the business park and Interstate 310.

“We’re urging beautification and upscale landscaping,” Carpenter said, which will tie in with Airline Highway being renamed “Airline Drive,” to shed its old image.

“We hope they all get excited about it,” Abadie added, “but the next few months will see results.”Other task force members include Wayne Gaupp, Glenda Clement, Jennifer Gassen, Donna Nassar, Larry Sesser, Corey Faucheux, Rene Schmidt and Marilyn Richoux.

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