Simmesport Rising: Town's residents involved in programs

{Editor’s Note: This is the last of a series looking at several programs and initiatives aimed at improving various aspects of Simmesport’s quality of life.}

Park improvements, street improvements, a new community center, a new water tower and a civic pride campaign to address blighted areas in town have kept Simmesport officials busy.

Mayor Leslie Draper III has launched a series of ambitious efforts in the past year and seen the completion of others.

All of these actions are aimed at making Simmesport a better place to live and work.

In addition to bright prospects for the port, Draper is hoping that programs to be provided at the Simmesport Community Center in the former Dunbar School property will help to jump start the creation of jobs in the area, as well as make Simmesport residents more “job ready” for prospective employers.

ONE EXAMPLE

The agreement between the town and the Avoyelles School Board is just one example of Simmesport’s ability to work with other government entities.

The completion of a 400,000-gallon elevated water tank at the port more than doubled Simmesport’s water capacity, making it more attractive to businesses by improving the reliability of the water system and improved fire protection.

The Port Commission secured funding for the construction. The Town of Simmesport will provide the operating and maintenance expertise needed for the port and the town to use the water tower.

Draper also serves on the Police Jury’s Road District 2 Commission.

The town supported the Police Jury’s efforts to pass the road district tax. Since the tax was approved by voters, Simmesport has been able to complete several
street projects with Road District 2 funds.

The 30-mill tax can be used for municipal streets as well as parish roads in the road district.

The RISE organization -- which stands for Reinvesting In Simmesport’s Expansion -- is seeking official non-profit status so it can have access to more resources in its efforts to spark economic development in the community.

“As a non-profit, RISE will be able to seeking funding from sources that the town may not be able to obtain,” Draper said. “It is creating an empowering, community-wide opportunity for the town.”

His “Operation I’m Responsible” program, aimed at addressing a serious problem of blighted properties in the town, cleaned up 16 properties in its first year.

“The program connects volunteers with the knowledge and equipment who are willing to do the work with property owners of those sites in need of attention,” the mayor said. “Our major role is to set it up and let the volunteers and property owners handle the project.”

Draper said the program “has helped keep the town out of the legalities” of condemning abandoned structures and cleaning and liening overgrown lots.

FIRE TRAINING

The town obtained permission from some owners to use their dilapidated structures to train volunteer firefighters, Draper noted.

RISE has also been involved in spearheading efforts to improve the Leo Ehrhardt Central Park -- recently renamed to honor the man who served as Simmesport mayor for 10 four-year terms between 1940 and his retirement in 1992.

The town has received donations from the Greater Atchafalaya Area Chamber of Commerce and Simmesport VFW post and is seeking additional grants and funding for the project.

The initial phase will be to purchase new basic playground equipment. Future plans look at installing a “splashpad,” a covered pavilion and a wi-fi access station.

Work at the Dunbar High/ Simmesport Elementary site is still underway to convert the former school and former prison into a community center that will house the “Simmesport Hall of Fame.”

TOURISM EFFORTS

Draper said the town plans to “get the Atchafalaya River Festival beck up and running” at some point in the near future.

There is also efforts to start a new arts & music festival, to be named after Simmesport native Joe Simon -- a popular entertainer in the 1960’s-1980’s who is now a full-time minister in Chicago.

The town supported the creation of the Bayou Des Glaises Cultural District, which would support historic preservation and the arts in east Avoyelles.

Draper said he has been meeting with Avoyelles Library Director Theresa Thevenote concerning the revitalization of the Fish & Farm Museum in the Simmesport Library branch. The museum exhibits were removed due to flooding a few years ago.

With so many irons in the fire, one might expect the town to get “burned” by at least one of them.

Draper doesn’t think so. He is confident that not only are the town officials’ and residents’ hearts in the right place, they are taking all the necessary planning and researching to ensure their minds are, too.