Day 2 of Anniversary Week   

Biloxi and Gulfport

 

On a hot Mississippi day, over 400 volunteers in Biloxi and another 450 in Gulfport came out to help KaBOOM!, The Home Depot and Playworld Systems bring play back to the Gulf Coast.  On day two of Anniversary Week, the John Henry Beck Park in Biloxi and the Owen T. Palmer Park in Gulfport each received brand new playgrounds where the kids from both communities can play safely.

 

Although rich with a community of hard working, dedicated citizens, East Biloxi before Katrina was very resource poor.  Home to John Henry Beck Park, the town was hit with wind and storm surge.  Even now, one year after the storm, there are only a small number of homes being rebuilt in East Biloxi.  The area right around the park happens to be one of the areas where people are moving back to their homes.  The park previously had fallen into disrepair and was used often for illegal activity.  Hurricane Katrina destroyed the historical building on site, the landscaping, and the playground equipment that previously existed at Beck Park.

 

Today, the park was given a new beginning led by KaBOOM! project manager Jane Duket.  Volunteers came from all over the Gulf including Keifler Air Force Base, Biloxi High School, NCCC, Youth Build, The Home Depot local stores, and the City of Biloxi.  Not only was a fun and safe new playground erected, but the volunteers laid sod on the football field; painted a giant United States map, a map of the world, and 6 new trash cans; and built 4 planter benches, 2 team benches, 4 shade structures.   The high school students also painted 6 truly incredible murals.  The park also boasts a brand new Dino Dig.

 

To celebrate the renewal of the park, a board cutting ceremony was held at 2:45 p.m.  Mrs. Victoria Beck, whose husband the park was named after, was on hand to observe the transformation.  Other special guests were Mayor A.J. Holloway, Sherry Bell with the Biloxi Park and Recreation Department, Councilman Bill Stallworth, President of Playworld Systems Matt Miller, Director of Community Affairs for The Home Depot Kevin Martinez, De Baker - Community Affairs Manager with The Home Depot, Clay Councill - Southern Division Community Affairs Manager with The Home Depot, Erika Putinsky - Director of Hands on Gulf Coast, and Co-founder and CEO of KaBOOM! Darell Hammond.

 

At the same time, at Owen T. Palmer Park, another team of volunteers built a new playground for the children and families of Gulfport.  In just under 6 hours, the volunteers built the playground AND built and stained 8 Mendocino benches, 6 trash can holders, and 2 shade structures.  They also planted 600 shrubs, 25 crepe myrtle, and 256 cubic feet of pine nuggets, azaleas, gardenias, and climbing vines.  Many of the special guests from the Beck Park build also visited Palmer Park.  Additionally, the Mayor of Gulfport Brent Warr and First Lady Laura Warr, Joanne Palmer –the park is dedicated to her husband, Ella Holmes-Hines - longest serving city councilmember, and Ward 2 Councilwoman Libby Roland participated in the day.

 

Project Manager Stephanie Nelson comments, “One of the first things I heard when I arrived in Gulfport for the [beginning of this project] was that the city really needed some good news.  This is it!  The community found a point around which they could come together and help to rebuild the community in a tangible way.”  Although this Gulfport neighborhood was devastated by last year’s storms –50% destroyed; all the rest was unlivable after the storm - Charlie and Michael Hewes, project planning committee members and extraordinary volunteers and neighborhood residents, said this park will bring back more residents.  Volunteers who used to live in the neighborhood came for the build today, had fun, and are nostalgic after seeing former neighbors and friends. To mark the completion of the day, a board cutting ceremony was held just before 3 p.m.

 

At Pass Christian High School, Project Manager Ivan Baumwell led a renovation project with a team of 50 volunteers.  Pumped up by fun music and the desire the rebuild from the 11 foot storm surge that damaged the school grounds, the group completed a long list of enhancement projects.  They built 6 shade structures, 4 Mendocino benches, 4 picnic tables, and 2 trash can containers; they also added landscaping of trees, flowers, and shrubs.  Pass Christian Mayor McDermott, the Superintendent of Pass Christian School District –Dr. Sue Matheson, School Board President Montgomery all joined in the activities of the day.  The high school year book staff was on site to capture the meaningful event.

 

Please visit the site to read about the next 5 Gulf Coast projects happening on the 30th and 31st of August marking the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the effort to restore play to these communities.