Upgrades are being finalized for West End Park in New Iberia. The park will feature a new playground, splash pad, and a mini library.
People who use the park are encouraged to grab a book and enjoy the park.
Rickey Daniels has been bringing his children and now grandchildren to the area for years and says he is eager to see the improvements.
“Its a very positive emotion. I enjoy seeing it going up. I was here watching them build it. and I can’t wait until the splash pad is finished,” Daniels said. “There’s so many things going on the streets these days and to have a safe haven for your kids is a blessing.”
Councilwoman Sherry Guidry had the idea to add thelittle free library to the community last year after visiting a beach.
“It was very large and I thought, ‘Wow, this would be a great idea for the youth in the city of New Iberia,'” Guidry said.
Guidry said she was told that putting the library in West End Park was a bad idea. Those comments didn’t stop her.
“When you tell me I can’t do something, I’ll find reasons why it can be done,” Guidry said. Guidry says that the warnings were concerning vandalism.
“We have to start somewhere to take back our neighborhoods. I have we have to have faith in this community, I have faith in the people here,” Guidry said.
To participate in the library, you simply take a book, read it, and return it. Guidry hopes the community will also add recipes and other goods to share.
The official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on June 5, 2019. The new playground is expected to be open by Monday. The splash pad will be opened by the middle of June.
