December 2004

 Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Joins Effort in “Creating a Legacy”

Woodlands Trail and Park received an early “holiday present”  when Dave  Singleton of Freeport-McMoRan presented Katie Brasted  with a contribution toward Woodlands Trail and Park’s  work done “in and for the community”  from the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation.  The contribution
will greatly contribute to the development of recreational, historical and educational greenways in the Metropolitan New Orleans area.  With the consent of Kiwanis President, Lourdes Moran, the presentation was made during the Algiers Morning Edition Kiwanis Club meeting on Thursday, December 4.

October 2004

New Partnerships Launch Woodlands Oral History Project

• Library of Congress – Veterans History Project

• Louisiana State University, T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History

• Our Lady of Holy Cross College

• Woodlands Trail and Park

Our Lady of Holy Cross College professors and students explore WWII Ammunition Magazines. (left to right) James Rabalis, OLHCC Dean of Applied Natural and Social Sciences, Dr. Craig Bauer, OLHCC, Associate Professor of History and Political Science, and students, Eric Tferffle, Diane Perez-Parton and Jessica Hahn-Bries.

In late September, Woodlands Trail and Park met with Our Lady of Holy Cross College to discuss the myriad of mutual benefits in joining hands to move the community project of Woodlands Trail and Park closer to fruition. Targeting the collection of oral histories of  veterans and civilians previously stationed on the Naval Ammunition Depot property as the first priority, plans were made to initiate the Woodlands Oral History Project.  A tour was conducted on October 05, 2004 in an effort to give Eric Tferffle, an OLHCC intern assigned to the Woodlands Project and student volunteers a first-hand look at the geographical area which would serve as the point of reference for interviews.

(left to right) Dr. Craig Bauer, Jessica Hahn-Bries, student volunteer, Victoria Bui, Student volunteer, Jennifer Abraham, Eric Tferffle, Student Intern, Katie Brasted. Participating but not pictured above: John Cowley, Sr. Helen Fontenot, M.S.C., OLHCC, Librarian, Sr. Verde Frederick, M.S.C., James Rabalais, OLHCC, Dean of the Division of Applied, Natural, and Social Sciences.

On October 22, 2004, a Workshop, funded by the Library of Congress – Veterans History Project, was co-sponsored by Louisiana State University,  T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History, Our Lady of Holy Cross College and Woodlands Trail and Park, Inc.  Participants learned techniques for interviewing and recording oral histories as well as the specific requirements for depositing oral histories with the Library of Congress.

“A Saturday Salon on the River”

On Saturday, October 16, 2004, Katherine Celine Osborne, renown Soprano in the DC area, returned to her hometown of New Orleans with her husband, James Jenkins, pianist,  to provide time and talent to the first fund-raising event for Woodlands Trail and Park, Inc.  Thanks to the untiring efforts of Carol Osborne Cowley, the creator and inspiration for this event,  numerous volunteers and corporate assistance, an age-old tradition of Musical Salons was successfully reborn in the New Orleans home of Mr. and Mrs. Laurent L. De La Gueronniere.

September 2004

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Conducts Habitat Survey

During recent months,  staff from Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries hiked through the bottomland hardwood forest in Plaquemines Parish and along the batture to identify native and invasive vegetation.  Information yielded by these surveys will be incorporated into interpretive kiosks along Woodlands Trail and into other educational mediums.  During the first two hiking expeditions, over 100 species have been identified.

 July 2004

Entergy Environmental Stewardship Grant Funds Development of Greenway Project

On July 08, 2004, Woodlands Trail and Park, Inc. became the recipient of Entergy’s Environmental Stewardship Grant.  Phillip Truxillo, Customer Service Manager, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parish, presented the award to Katie Brasted, President, Woodlands Trail and Park.  In addition to the oversight of the development of the “outdoor classroom”, funding from the Environmental Stewardship Grant will be used to further develop educational materials regarding native and invasive species, wildlife, resident and migratory birds and other elements of the cultural and military history unique to this region.

May 2004

ConocoPhillips Contributes to Woodlands Trail

On May 28, 2004, ConocoPhillips joined Woodlands Trail and Park in “Creating a Legacy” with the generous donation of $10,000.  Pictured at left is Betsy Brien, Public Affairs Specialist for ConocoPhillips presenting a contribution toward the effort of preserving pristine bottomland hardwoods for future generations to Katie Brasted, President, Woodlands Trail and Park.   Additionally, ConocoPhillips recently committed to partnering with Woodlands Trail and Park in their application for the funding of an Urban Forestry Project for youth through the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program.

April 2004

Chevron Oronite, Oak Point Plant Joins Woodlands Trail and Park

in “Creating a Legacy”

On Wednesday, April 14, 2004, Chevron Oronite, Oak Point Plant, a ChevronTexaco Company, joined Woodlands Trail and Park, Inc.’s efforts in “Creating a Legacy” for future generations.  At a Press Conference near the entrance of the future Woodlands Trail, Mike Burnside, America’s Regional Manager, presented Woodlands Trail and Park with a generous donation of $5000 to assist in the establishment of the Louisiana Great Gulf Coast Birding Trail.  See articles below for more information.

February 2004

Belle Chasse Primary Students Enter “River of Words” Poetry Contest 

During February, Woodlands Trail and Park provided educational materials on wetlands and their functions to a fourth grade and eighth grade class in Orleans Parish and a fourth grade class in Plaquemines Parish for World Wetlands Day.

Woodlands Trail and Park partnered with Ms. Kathy Johnson’s fourth grade class at Belle Chasse Primary to enter the River of Words poetry contest sponsored by the Library of Congress. Incorporating LEAP test terminology, Woodlands Trail and Park provided the students with a presentation on Woodlands Trail and Park, focusing on the environmental and cultural history of the surrounding watershed area. The students incorporated this information into poetry:

A Legacy Unfolds by classroom teacher, Mrs. Kathy Johnson

Student Entries to River of Words Poetry Contest:

Woodlands Trail and Park by Dominic Avallone

Woodlands Trail and Park by Karah Bergeron

Woodlands Trail by Benjamin Beshel

A Walk in the Woods by Ruth Bruhn

The Beauty of Everything by Caitlyn Butler

Woodlands Trail and Park Found by Spencer Comeaux

Exploring the Wild by Jenna DePriest

The Plants and Beauty by Rebecca Dubois

On the Woodlands Trail by Mason Glidewell

Woodlands Trail by Nathan Hebert

Green Space by  Hillary Majewski

The Woodlands Treasure by Sean Matthews

Leaves by Kasey Pineda

Watershed by Elijah Whitten

Mississippi River Trail by Joshua Woolsey

March 2004

Plaquemines Parish:  Council Passes Ordinances

Council Chairwoman, Lynda Banta, introduced an Ordinance to allow the World War II Ammunition Magazines to be nominated as a National Historic Site.    On March 25, 2004, the Ordinance received the supporting votes of Councilmembers Mike A. Mudge, Amos J. Cormier, Jr., John J. Friedman, Lynda G. Banta and Joseph Clark.

An Ordinance to re-route/realign the Woodlands Trail and Park Route was introduced by Council Chairwoman Lynda Banta.  On March 25, 2004, the Ordinance passed after receiving the supporting votes of Councilmembers John L. Bartholemy, Jr., Jerry Hodnett, Mike A. Mudge, Amos J. Cormier, Jr., John J. Friedman, Lynda G. Banta and Joseph Clark.

Orleans Parish:

Woodlands Trail and Park was included in Master Transportation Plan submitted to City Planning Commissioners, March 09, 2004.

February 2004

Glen Weber Designs Woodlands Trail Entrance

Local artist, Glen Weber, completes a watercolor of one of Woodlands Trail and Park’s conceptual designs of a potential trail entrance.  The painting includes a potential interpretive center located on the foundation of the remnants of a  swimming pool constructed during World War II on the Naval Ammunition Depot property.  Glen is currently generously donating his time and artistic expertise to provide Woodlands Trail and Park with a conceptual entrance design that incorporates “naming opportunities” for contributors along its’ meandering fence line.

January 2004

The Legacy Begins

The legacy begins with Plaquemines Parish President Benny Rousselle signing an agreement with Providence Engineering to conduct trail design and permitting required for Woodlands Trail’s construction efforts to physically begin.

November 2003

Woodlands Trail and Park’s display on Veteran’s Day at the National D-Day Museum was successful in reaching out to service men and women familiar with the Naval Ammunition Depot property in Belle Chasse.  Men and women from the Navy and Marines stopped to share their stories. 

This Eighth Naval District photo provided by Sherry Troupe, Florida, was identified by D-Day Museum visitors as the Fire Station previously located on the Plaquemines Parish property during World War II.

Thanks to all who volunteered and assisted in making Woodlands Trail and Park’s display at the D-Day Museum a success. 

October 2003

Woodlands Trail and Park has been asked to participate in the “Southern Forests:  Survival and Sustainability” workshop on October 25, 2003.  Woodlands Trail and Park will present during the conference session entitled, “Conservation, Protection, and Restoration of Native Forests in Louisiana”.  The workshop is being sponsored by the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic and the Tulane Green Club.

August 2003

On  August 12, 2003, Bill Keller, Mississippi River Trail Regional Representative and Pat Nunnally, Executive Director and National Representative for the  Mississippi River Trail  took a tour of the proposed Woodlands Trail route with representatives from Woodlands Trail and Park, Inc.,  the U.S. Coast Guard and  Plaquemines Parish Government.  Subsequently, the MRT endorsed the cover letter for Woodlands Trail and Park’s Charter Membership Drive.

Thank you to all who volunteered their time on Thursday, August 7, 2003  to help stuff envelopes for the first major distribution of our Newsletter and Charter Membership Drive.   Plaquemines Watchman.

July 2003

After a conference call with nine other states, Woodlands Trail and Park was asked to represent Louisiana July 19, 2003 at the Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference (SETC) in Gainesville, Florida.  The SETC has now redrawn their logo to include Louisiana as the 10th state participating in the organization. Attendance at the conference was made possible by The Friends of San Felasco in Florida who provided funding from a Florida Federal Highways Grant.

May 2003

Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary staff tour Plaquemines Parish property  to review plans for a Scope of Work submitted by Woodlands Trail and Park, Inc. for implementation of a birding trail on Plaquemines Parish property.