to further study the need for a YMCA

By KERI CHAMPION

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE- YMCA of Greater New Orleans recently awarded a grant of $10,000 to St. John Parish Council to conduct a study of the attitude towards, and the needs of, a YMCA recreation facility in the parish.

The study is the third of its kind in the River Region, completing the targeted tri-parish areas of St. Charles, St. John and St. James Parishes. The St. Charles YMCA study was the first one done in the River Region to determine if the community supported a YMCA recreation complex. The St. Charles study was completed in 2005.

&#8220In recent months, St. James Parish has also implemented a study to gauge the needs and attitudes of that parish. The findings and results should be completed and announced within the next 90 days,” said Lou Johnson, regional director for YMCA of Greater New Orleans.

Johnson says the survey to be conducted in St. John Parish could include between 300 and 400 phone interviews and surveys that he hopes will accurately measure the attitude of bringing the YMCA to the parish and what they wish the facility to provide.

There is no word as of yet as to when the study will be conducted and from which area the study will be based. Johnson said he expects an announcement from Parish President Nickie Monica soon as to where the study will be conducted.

&#8220We do know that the survey will be conducted in a neighborhood of a few blocks with a high density of population,” he said.

An advisory panel made up of members from all parishes was formed in 2006 to determine how the program would be implemented. The three parishes concluded in January that they would form one YMCA advisory board to help bring the programs to the River Region. The YMCA of Greater New Orleans has been working with the newly formed River Region YMCA to guide them as they look to build the facilities.

Each Parish will have their own recreation facility and board, but will be under an umbrella regional board.

Each parish will be provided services based partly on survey individual parish results, along with standard YMCA programs.