City Park's massive $115 million master plan is opening wallets.
Since adopting a plan in March to rehabilitate the park by 2018, the park has raised $8.3 million, including $1.3 million from private donors and $7 million from federal, state and city contributions.
"When you think that pretty much that money's been raised in a year, in less than a year, really, you have to be pretty pleased," said City Park CEO Bob Becker. "Like anything, some of that money we've been working on a long time. And some of the money has come to fruition this year. And before the end of the year, we expect to raise some more money as well.
"We have gotten off to a very promising start in our plan."
With barely enough money to properly operate the park, City Park officials last year made it clear public and private dollars were needed to cover most master plan expenses.
In a major victory for the master plan, the Legislature this year passed House Bill 393 to give the park 30 percent of state tax revenues from 700 planned slot machines at the Fair Grounds Race Course.
Becker said the park can receive no more than $1.3 million in slot machine revenues a year, which the park would use for operations and capital improvements.
The largest source of funding so far is $4.7 million from a citywide bond issue New Orleans voters passed last year.
Improvements are already being funded and the master plan is coming off the drawing board.
"We're doing it so that the citizens of this community have a better park. They're not going to have to wait to 2013 to see results," said John Hopper, City Park director of development.
Becker said the park this year spent about $400,000 on replacing sidewalks, resurfacing the golf course parking lot on Filmore Avenue, buying new pitching machines, replacing the air-conditioning system in the press box at Tad Gormley Stadium and building a new parking lot at the stadium.
In spring 2006, the grass at Pan American Stadium will be replaced with artificial turf, he said.
The master plan is divided into three roughly five-year phases. The first phase consists of $51 million in projects that "we think make the biggest impact and would make the biggest change" such as improving exercise and recreation options with renovations to fields and play areas, Becker said.
City Park, which dates to 1854, needs the improvements. The park generates its $10.8 million annual operating budget on its own and needs another $6 million a year, officials said. If an unexpected natural disaster strikes such as Tropical Storm Cindy, the park's strapped budget snaps.
Last week, for example, the park's grass was overgrown in some areas. Becker said there aren't enough workers to clean up after Tropical Storm Cindy's damage, which passed through New Orleans July 5, and tend to regular maintenance.
The Legislature allowing the park a portion of slot machine revenues will boost annual operating funds to $16.1 million. The park also plans to make more money on its own: $11.6 million from $10.6 million.
A big question mark looming is how much recurring revenue will the city provide. The park receives no public funds, unlike other parks across the country.
Park officials have suggested Orleans Parish voters pass a property tax to raise $6 million every year. The park would use $2.5 million every year for operations and the balance for capital improvements. But the park is open to any form of dedicated revenue, Becker said.
Mayor C. Ray Nagin, running for re-election next year, has said he will not support any property tax increases.
Sally Forman, spokeswoman for the mayor, said Nagin supports City Park "but he's not going to lead property tax millage on this. He did tell them that as they look at other options, he'll do what he can to support their efforts.
"The park and the mayor need to sit down again and look at the plans that the staff and the board have devised to fund this and see where the mayor can best use his resources to make that a reality, to put those funding mechanisms in place," Forman said.•
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