By Dan Boudreaux Staff Writer of the Houma Courier
Plans are underway to build a new community center and splash pad in Terrebonne's Village East neighborhood.
The project will cost around $875,000, and the money has already been allocated in parish government's 2017 operating budget.
The Parish Council voted tonight to move forward with the project.
Councilman John Navy said the project will give kids in and around east Houma who can't travel to other parts of the city something to do and allow them to stay active and out of trouble.
"We budgeted this thing for the community centers to try to have things for kids in all areas of the parish, especially for kids who can't go to other areas to enjoy those things," Navy said. "Bayou Black has a splash pad, so what we did was try to have something like that for all those kids out in the Village East area and surrounding areas that have nothing to do."
Navy said measures to give children something constructive to do are a major focus for him as a councilman and he hopes they will benefit the entire parish.
"We want to be able to provide some kind of quality-of-life project for our kids, not just the 'field of dreams' off on (La.) 311, but different things down the bayou, in the inner city, all different areas," Navy said.
The parish expects to take bids on construction of the community center next month.
The council has scheduled a public hearing and final vote on the splash pad for 6:30 p.m. March 22 at the Government Tower, Main and Gabasse streets in Houma.