KLS WEEK 7
1372 words by ksandie
50 years old, one mile wide and three miles long compromising a total of 1,300 acres, New Orleans city is one of the ten largest urban parks in the United States. It’s located in the heart of the city and is the largest recreation area metropolitan area. Pre-Katrina, City Park had over 240 employees and 23 employees have been laid off. Many employees who no longer have a job also lost their homes and all their belongings. On August 29,2005 Hurricane Katrina devastation blew to New Orleans City Park and did extensive damage. 90 percent of the park was under water and reached eight feet some places through the park. But the water receded subsequently and left plenty damage. The saltwater that entered the park killed or damaged most of all the grass including that on three courses and most of the vegetation (The Botanical Garden) with which it came in contact with. The Parks Administration building was under four feet of water many archives lost, computers ruined and records soaked. Over 1,000 trees toppled and extensively damaged. Virtually every vehicle and every piece of equipment that was owned were destroyed but the sections Maintenance Building collapsed as well. To rebuild the park it will cost a minimum of 43 million.
City Park budget was 10.8 million per year but the park receives 200,000 from the state for operations. The park doesn’t receive anything from the city operation (The City and The State have and will presumably will continue to support the park with capital funds. City Parks raises the rest of the money for its fees, services, and fundraising. The sunlight is heavily dependant on because it obtains the fees for golf, tennis, the amusement park, weddings, and admission and raised about 30,000 each day to stay going. The park contains many attractions, Pan American Stadium, New Orleans Museum of Art, Storyland, Ted Gormley Stadium and Historic Structures. These are just a few of exciting attractions that the park has to offer. Today’s City Park is distinguished many large recreational activities as well as by its natural beauty. This parks has so many places in the hearts of New Orleanians and it’s a must for the visitors to picnic, play sports, sight see the gardens, take boat rides and its famous Celebration In the Oaks attract over a million visitors each year. This is the spirit of New Orleans and tourist keeps the park up to running.
Six months after the storm, FEMA had processed six worksheets and the park had received 6,500. But although the park needs FEMA help it cannot wait and do nothing while suffering through this painful slow response. FEMA will pay 90 percent of the eligible cost and will repair the facilities to its pre-Katrina status. Worksheets were done to determine how the amount of funds the park will receive for the particularly the building areas. The park has done so much in the last six to fourteen months. Workers have been working diligently to reopen facilities within the park, particularly facilities that help generate has help operate revenue. The tennis coats are now open during the week and weekends The Golf Driving, Storyland and the Botanical Garden all opened on Saturday March 4, 2006. Over, 1,000 volunteers have invested in tens of thousand of hours out of their time to help and restore the Park. Trash, removed limbs, painted fences, stung lights, potted plants, dug holes, entered data were all done in process to getting the park where it should be. The park is still soliciting support from the city, state and federal government, foundations, other associations, and businesses because the assistance is appreciated. The State did not have the funds to pay off insured damage and because it was said by the word of mouth.
(www.neworleanscitypark.com)
(http://neworleanscitypark.com/ Katrina.html)
Over the past months city parks has done so much to get the park up and running. Even though many of the aforementioned expect for the Sculpture Garden sustained major damage. The Museum of Art is now open foe business. So New Orleanians and Tourist can see the many sculptures that were design by famous artists. With Assistance, the park has had many upgraded features to its gardens and buildings. The AZBY Fund, staff and volunteers renovated the Bota Garden and hosted tour of the Celebration in the Oaks. The city of New Orleans is confident that City Park will be bigger and better pre-Katrina. Even though the money is coming in at a slow pace so much is being done with the little assistance that they have. Many of the park vehicles were destroyed. An estimate 95% of the machinery and bucket trucks will has to be replaced. We are depending on others to give donations and help out a good cause because furniture and appliances that helps the parks stored material will be need indeed as well. If any question is needed to be answer, contact them on phone or by email because we are striving for perfection.
So as we continue to rebuild Parks and facilities we are also trying to recover and rebuild as well. We have to continue to remember through faith in GOD anything is possible. Katrina did do extensive damage all over but it did not stop the spirit of New Orleans from falling and bringing residents back. City Park is one of the most entrepreneurial parks in the Parkdom and one of the largest urban parks in the country. Both funds and assistances will continue to help the city and recreational activities get back on its feet. We know that Katrina effected the world as a whole and when money started pouring out It was a blessing to know that so many gave and they really didn’t have to do anything but they did and we all should be grateful for what has happened over the lat 14 months. I know from experiencing Katrina it was hard but I got through because I prayed every night to GOD and having hope in the city. I know it will be a city where tourist will come and want to stay, where business will make their turf and New Orleanians will come to the place they once called home.
GOD house is revered to as a tabernacle. A tabernacle is a tent like structure adapted to roving life of the desert. In Exodus 40: 34 and 35 states it was the dwelling place of God’s glory and a place of meeting. In the old testament there were three tabernacles: a provisional one which was established after the sin of the golden calf, the Sinaitic tabernacle which the lord directed Moses to erect, and the Davidic tabernacle which David built in Jerusalem to house the ark. A special fact connected with the tabernacle, the idea of a “meeting place” is the central place. The tabernacle I think was a place to repent your sins and let GOD know what going on in your life so he can add and make changes to the life in which is lived among many. It was moved from its wilderness and in Canaan until the Temple was built, or rather until the glory was lost when the Philistines captured the ark. I also think “GOD HOUSE” was a place of Worship and Holy. It was a tabernacle where peace and understanding could take place because GOD can understand and give us peace in times where we are going through so much.
The Promised Land was a land of plenty and GOD provided all the needs. It refers to Heaven and new land. In the Bible, Genesis, Deuteronomy and Joshua, The land of Israel was promised as an everlasting covenant. It was problematic because no situations and it symbolize peace. This is where the Israel didn’t want for nothing because GOD provided everything. Promised land was a place rich with milk and honey where nothing but the best was given and GOD made sure everyone was blessed with the necessary needs that was needed. This why I think the promise land wasn’t so filled with the problems that we face on Earth.