Ferriday recreation department created

By Vershal Hogan (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Tuesday, October 14, 2008

FERRIDAY — The Ferriday Town Council voted Tuesday night to adopt an ordinance creating the Ferriday Department of Parks and Recreation.

“We have talked about recreation for years, and it is time to put up or shut up,” Mayor Glen McGlothin said.

According to the ordinance creating the department, which was proposed by Alderman Elijah Banks, its mission is to “rejuvenate the human spirit by providing safe recreation areas and facilities” that “improve the quality of life in the community.”

“We are not trying to recreate the recreation district,” Mayor Glen McGlothin said. “We are just trying to take care of our own business in town.”

Before the ordinance was passed, there was a public hearing in which community members were allowed to express their opinion.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to show not only the town but the parish, the region and the entire state that we care about the town,” Concordia Parish Economic and Industrial Development Director Heather Malone said.

Local resident Derrick Carson asked if there was any plan to fund the department through dual taxation, but Banks’ said his idea was to fund it through capital outlay, something he has already discussed with a local legislative member.

The creation of the department will also open the town up to apply for certain private grants, McGlothin said.

And the plan is not to operate independently of the existing recreation district.

“We would like for us to get together and do some comprehensive recreation with the recreation district,” McGlothin said.

“We have six ball parks around town. I don’t see why we can’t build one park and everyone can play ball at the same one.”

The next step is for the aldermen to bring recommendations for members of a recreation department committee, who will in turn map out a recreation plan for the city.

That way, the city will have a plan in place when they do apply for some kind of recreation grant, McGlothin said.

But more than money, it is going to take members of the community to volunteer their time to make the department succeed, he said, a sentiment with which the Rev. Justin Conner agreed.

“We can’t as citizens ask anything of this town and not contribute,” Conner said. “I can’t ask you to give my children recreation if I am not going to contribute anything.”

The council also discussed problems with loud music, late night loitering and gunshots within the city limits.

Much of the problem would be curbed if citizens would cooperate more with the police, Alderman Jerome Harris said.

“When you see a crime or someone discharging a weapon, we can’t help you if you don’t help us,” Harris said. “Don’t be afraid to notify a police officer. Your name will be kept silent.”

McGlothin said he has already talked with police about the town’s late-night loitering problem, and that the town was going to start enforcing an ordinance already on the books that mandates bars be closed by 2 a.m.

“At 1:30 a.m. they will be closed, and you have 30 minutes to get to your house,” McGlothin said.

As for citizens walking the streets at night, McGlothin said the town was not going to infringe on their rights, but he qualified that statement.

“You do have the right to walk, but if you are in certain areas, a policeman also has the right to stop you and ask you what you are doing,” he said.