Rebuilding Millennium Park

Rebuilding the Millennium Park

 

The Shiver Me Timbers Millennium Park in Lake Charles, Louisiana opened in September of 2000.  “The building of the children’s park originally began as a project called “The Millennium Project “as a way for the community to celebrate the new millennium. Community development company, Lathers, helped develop the park by engaging the public’s input and guided what the community would like to see in the park. Lathers and other local businesses had donated money and supplies to help build the children’s park that was completed in a 10-day period”,said Laurie Mench, Executive Director of Downtown Development of Lake Charles, LA.  During its process, there was over 5500 volunteers from the community that worked 12 hours a day to build the 20,000 square foot park that featured a tower tree house, train, plane and other features that was made of splinter-free wood. For over 10 years, the Lake Charles Millennium Park was a great place for people of the community as well as tourist to celebrate birthday parties, special events, and enjoy any outdoor activity.

In January of 2011, an overnight fire destroyed much of the Shiver Me Timbers Millennium Park. Lake Charles Firefighters received the call shortly after 5 a.m. arriving to discover at least half of the south end of the park burned to the ground. Investigators on the scene took samples with assistance from the state fire marshal's office and officials believe the cause of the fire was arson. Damages from the fire were estimated at $190,000. After investigating the incident, it was found that local teenager, Seth Arceneaux, was playing with a lighter that started the blaze to burn down the Lake Charles attraction. Seth Arceneaux, was arrested and charged with simple arson and was held on a bond of $60,000. Many Lake Charles residents shared happy memories of taking their children to the park and were outraged by the loss of such a wonderful Lake Charles attraction. More than 24 hours after an arson fire destroyed much of the Millennium Park, the Mayor of Lake Charles and city officials began developing a plan to move forward and rebuild.

During a 2 week period, recruitment began in gathering people to help rebuild the Millennium Park. A crisis plan for the park was previously developed so creating a blueprint for the new park was already available, which sped up it building process. The “Help Rebuild Millennium Park Project” began on October 26^th  through  October 30^th  and November 2^nd  through the 6^th bringing the Lake Charles community together to make the new children’s park bigger and better than before. More than $400,000 was raised and over 5,000 volunteers came to begin restoring and rebuilding the Millennium Park.  The Lake Charles Department Parks and Recreations area assistant supervisor, Helen Lewis said, “Our role in helping contribute to the park’s rebuilding was with child care. While many committees and work units were volunteering at the park site, we were able to care for the children of those individuals by providing them with lunch, arts and crafts, and games from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.”

On March 23, 2013, the quest for a new and improved Millennium Park, now also called Bord Du Lac Park, was accomplished with its ribbon cut grand opening. The new park is not only gated but it's also under 24-hour safety surveillance unlike the previous one. The park playground equipment includes: A pirate’s ship, tree house, rock climbing wall, maze bridge, tunnel, monkey bars and swings.  It also features a rubberized surface that runs throughout the playground to maximize safety and the playground is for children of all play abilities. There is also a separate play area designed for toddlers, fossil dig pit, splash park, picnic area and shaded seating for parents dispersed throughout the park. From the swings, slides and giant rope climbs, the kids wasted no time exploring their new park. (http://www.thefortpolkguardian.com/view/full_story/22599757/article-Children-experience-loads-of-fun-at-Lake-Charles-Millennium-Park-)

 

 

The new Millennium park hours of operation for the summer season are April through October, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and for the winter season its November to March, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

" This wheelchair will not hold me back" The Fitzgerlad Batiste Story

“This wheelchair will not hold me back”

 

 

“In February 2009, I felt as if life as I know it was over for me”. “In the beginning of 2009, I felt as if I had it all. I was the Southern University Human Juke band drum major, a member of KK PSI, the national band fraternity, an outstanding student, and a father of a baby girl. Whether you were a student, alumni, or fan of the university, everyone knew who Fitzgerald Batiste was.”  

It was a Tuesday night and Batiste worked as a security guard for the Mbar Club. As the night went on, an argument started between two guys, which quickly turned into a physical altercation involving glass bottles. Batiste noticed the two guys causing a scene in the club and he went over to break it up. Batiste got in between them in attempt to break it up, but one of the guys was persistent to finish what he had started. The guy then turned his anger to Batiste and started pushing him. Batiste and the guy exchange a few heated words and Batiste put him out the club. As Batiste was turning around to go back into the club, the guy yelled out “you’re a dead man walking!”

It’s now 2:00 A.M., everything had calmed down, the club is closing up and Batiste is off work. To regain energy after a long night, he drove to IHOP to get something eat. As he pulled up, one of his co workers he met up with got into the car with him and noticed the same guy who was put out at the club was at IHOP coming towards the back of Batiste’s car. His co-worker warned Batiste of the guy coming his way and asks him where his gun was. Batiste looked back and saw the guy trying to put a towel over his face to hide himself and reaching for his pants. Fitz picked his gun up, said a prayer and got out of the car.

Shots were fired. Batiste was dodging bullets and he felt he had a chance to stand up. As soon as he did, he felt a shock go down his back and next thing he knew he was on the ground chest down. He recalled chaos all around him, people screaming and crying and it being very cold.  He turned his head and seen one of his co workers and he calmly said “Just call 911. Get me to an ambulance. Please get me off the ground, its cold out here.”  The ambulance arrived and Batiste described his way to the hospital as one of the worst rides of his life. He recalled being in on a stretcher in the back of the ESM truck and the tires pounding against the road.. Batiste felt like that’s when he thought he was dying and when it was most painful.

At the hospital, Batiste learned that that the bullet went through his left shoulder, ran across his back in a v-shape and came out the right shoulder. This shattered his vertebrate and damaged his bone fragments, which paralyzed him.  As he laid in the hospital bed, he thought to himself, “I might be wheelchair for a long time. This isn’t going to be like, they are going to fix me and everything is going to be alright the next day.” He noticed everybody was feeling sorry for him and was trying to read his expression, but he was just taking that in calmly. Batiste said “being drum major, being a leader, motivating people, and hearing stories of other people who go through troubles and fold up to not move on, encouraged me to push on. I feel if I had folded up and didn’t move on, i would be a hypocrite. I was always the one telling others to keep their head up and keep pushing and now that I’m paralyzed, I can really be an example of what I had preached.”

Batiste had a very strong support based, from family, friends and the Baton Rouge community. In the fall of 2009, Batiste went back to school and spent 3 weeks in New Orleans where he did rehab. While in rehab, Batiste was introduced and grew interested in the Therapeutic Recreation field. The spring of 2013, everything was starting to be in Batiste’s favor. Thanks to rehab and the motivation he was receiving, Batiste had transitioned into being permanently paralyzed to temporary. “I cried at the thought of being able to walk and run again, but most of all doing all of the physical activities with my daughter that I can’t right now said Batiste” Batiste started doing well in school and prior to becoming a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, a blessing came through. Batiste received a $22,000 check to help pay for whatever he needed or wanted. 

 

On May 17, 2013, Batiste graduated from Southern University with a Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Today, Batiste is planning to get back into school at Southern University to earn his Master’s degree in behavioral studies and is working at the Boys and Girls Club. Batiste finished off his interview with me with one final quote he repeats to himself every day, “This wheelchair will not hold me back”.

 

Crisis Communication

This is my FIRST time starting a blog of any sort and I'm probably not going to know what I am doing. So for those who read, bare with me, I'll improve overtime. I titled this Crisis Communication not because of the class I'm currently in, but it is indeed a crisis of communication for me. I'm coming from an all hands on broadcasting background (Bachelor's of Arts in Mass Communication/ Broadcasting concentration) and have to adapt to this all reading and writing style of learning method.(Journalism)
      It's like a real world crisis to me. With broadcasting, I'm feeling and living comfortable then all of a sudden a crisis hit (read this and write that!) and I just get overwhelmed, a bit nervous, and a adrenaline rush all at the same time from the challenge upon me. I'm just going to have to fight through to get exactly what I'm striving for,a Master's Degree that is.
 Anyways,  before I continue rambling on about this, yes I am a first time blogger and I'm also a realist when I do write. All stories will be true and some how hopefully relate to anyone who reads my blogs. Thanks for reading!