RAYNE — The City of Rayne is getting some upgrades.
Southside Park, Martin Luther King Park, Gossen Memorial Park, and Mauboles Park are receiving new playground equipment.
"It's a total of six new units: $150,000 investment into the children's programs. And, we're doing the impact mulch, and the border, and we're putting new side around it, so they have grass to play on," said Mayor Charles "Chuck" Robichaux.
The local housing authority Lee Crossing helped the city fund the project.
"[Lee Crossing] donated us $100,000 that we could use for community funds. The council took that $100,000, and we also put $50,000 of funded money for this," said Mayor Robichaux.
The city's inmate labor program is helping with installation of the new amenities, which, according to the Robichaux, saved the city about $50,000.
Visitors at Mauboles Park were pleasantly surprised when they saw the changes.
"We seen that they had a new slide, and we're so happy to go on the new slide and everything else," said park visitor Claude Francis.
The mayor says the changes are what his city deserves.
"We're able to afford it. It was budgeted, and we're pleased to do it for the citizens because that's what they pay taxes for," said Robichaux.
The work should be completed by mid August. The mayor hopes to hosts a family fun day in September to celebrate the project's completion.
