I play in a few leagues throughout the city. Let me say that although I appreciate your sentiment, the coverage of this ongoing, open disdain for public trust has only made things worse. Non-city affiliated leagues have long been the caretakers of these spaces. As these stories came out a few years ago, the city's response was to end all CEA's with private leagues and to send cease and desist letters to leagues operating on NORD fields, until they could negotiate and pay exorbitant fees.
One league had their CEA discarded, then had to pay $5,000 per year for access to a field that is not even fenced completely, full of holes, little or no amenities, and is poorly lit. The league pays that fee, but has seen little or no improvement in the field that the league has maintained out of its own pocket for 15 years. I looked into our league moving to City Park, and the official I spoke to mentioned that nearly every league in the city was receiving similar treatment.
I am in a baseball league that has played St. Roch, Larry Gilbert, and Perry Roehm:
At Perry, the city signed that CEA with St. Aug, and it is appreciated that St. Aug has done some work on the field such as repairing the mound and batter's box. That CEA also resulted in the field becoming less accessible to anyone as it became heavily locked up. Neighborhood kids only have access when other people are renting the field. The lights are an open hazard and games that reach dusk are non-playable. The city has done nothing regardless of the moneys the collect from renters.
Larry Gilbert was a mess. Constant water leak from the bathrooms, the whole place stank of piss. When the WDSU article came out, the field was locked beyond our access. The lights are also a hazard. The field is rarely cut. Again, many in the neighborhood would like to use this space (many people from Latin America that would enjoy soccer or baseball) are reduced to feeling like visitors asking for access from us when we have things going on. Again , zero amenities.
St. Roch is a controversial field for us in that some teams will still play games there. Our team and some others outright refuse. Between the condition of the field being deplorable and the crime in the area, it is simply too dangerous to play there. We have seen cars broken into while we're playing. We have heard gunshots and murders from a block over. The dugouts have been covered in bullets and shell casings. The lights at one point were on non-stop, causing the neighborhood to have to petition the city to fix the issue.
The city, and NORD admins have been in open contempt of private leagues playing on fields, or using the facilities at all. The ending of CEAs, the lack of accountability, the retributive nature of their behavior, and the absolute disdain they have for their fields and neighborhoods is absolutely appalling. This isn't just a typical New Orleans "we're inept and a bit corrupt, but we mean well!" sort of thing. This feels like "we're corrupt and far from inept. Rather, we want to actively hurt the city."
Unfortunately, in our private messaging, when we saw your post, we figured "well there goes our field to play on". I hope we are wrong in our concern there. As deleterious to our continued existence as we fear you and others coverage may be, I am still thankful that someone is airing out this unfortunate and unacceptable behavior by the city. If by shining a light on this we may be able to restore safe, hygienic parks to neighborhoods and inculcate the values that come from sports in the next generations and thus save the soul of our city, then I'd gladly give up my rec leagues.
Your definitely a lie because the cheerleaders are in the building and the basketball team has been practicing indoors at starling gym on cold n rainy days and since it has been reopened I have yet to sed a needle or skater and I’m there daily .
The pictures from hunters is from food thrown away after practice the night before lets be very clear over 40 students come Monday through Thursday where they do homework and practice basketball and cheerleading. And on the cold days or even rainy days they practice inside the starling gym on st claude.
I work by Hunter’s Field. I have never seen 40 kids there Monday through Thursday. (except years ago when football practice took place there) However, I do see neighborhood kids playing on the basketball court. They are limited, though, because only one court has been available for the past six months. I’ve also noticed skateboarders starting to use the space more, but overall, Hunter’s Field is largely a mess. I would argue that the pictures make it look better than it actually is. The kids play area is often covered in needles.
I play in a few leagues throughout the city. Let me say that although I appreciate your sentiment, the coverage of this ongoing, open disdain for public trust has only made things worse. Non-city affiliated leagues have long been the caretakers of these spaces. As these stories came out a few years ago, the city's response was to end all CEA's with private leagues and to send cease and desist letters to leagues operating on NORD fields, until they could negotiate and pay exorbitant fees.
One league had their CEA discarded, then had to pay $5,000 per year for access to a field that is not even fenced completely, full of holes, little or no amenities, and is poorly lit. The league pays that fee, but has seen little or no improvement in the field that the league has maintained out of its own pocket for 15 years. I looked into our league moving to City Park, and the official I spoke to mentioned that nearly every league in the city was receiving similar treatment.
I am in a baseball league that has played St. Roch, Larry Gilbert, and Perry Roehm:
At Perry, the city signed that CEA with St. Aug, and it is appreciated that St. Aug has done some work on the field such as repairing the mound and batter's box. That CEA also resulted in the field becoming less accessible to anyone as it became heavily locked up. Neighborhood kids only have access when other people are renting the field. The lights are an open hazard and games that reach dusk are non-playable. The city has done nothing regardless of the moneys the collect from renters.
Larry Gilbert was a mess. Constant water leak from the bathrooms, the whole place stank of piss. When the WDSU article came out, the field was locked beyond our access. The lights are also a hazard. The field is rarely cut. Again, many in the neighborhood would like to use this space (many people from Latin America that would enjoy soccer or baseball) are reduced to feeling like visitors asking for access from us when we have things going on. Again , zero amenities.
St. Roch is a controversial field for us in that some teams will still play games there. Our team and some others outright refuse. Between the condition of the field being deplorable and the crime in the area, it is simply too dangerous to play there. We have seen cars broken into while we're playing. We have heard gunshots and murders from a block over. The dugouts have been covered in bullets and shell casings. The lights at one point were on non-stop, causing the neighborhood to have to petition the city to fix the issue.
The city, and NORD admins have been in open contempt of private leagues playing on fields, or using the facilities at all. The ending of CEAs, the lack of accountability, the retributive nature of their behavior, and the absolute disdain they have for their fields and neighborhoods is absolutely appalling. This isn't just a typical New Orleans "we're inept and a bit corrupt, but we mean well!" sort of thing. This feels like "we're corrupt and far from inept. Rather, we want to actively hurt the city."
Unfortunately, in our private messaging, when we saw your post, we figured "well there goes our field to play on". I hope we are wrong in our concern there. As deleterious to our continued existence as we fear you and others coverage may be, I am still thankful that someone is airing out this unfortunate and unacceptable behavior by the city. If by shining a light on this we may be able to restore safe, hygienic parks to neighborhoods and inculcate the values that come from sports in the next generations and thus save the soul of our city, then I'd gladly give up my rec leagues.
Your definitely a lie because the cheerleaders are in the building and the basketball team has been practicing indoors at starling gym on cold n rainy days and since it has been reopened I have yet to sed a needle or skater and I’m there daily .
Thank you for this post!
The pictures from hunters is from food thrown away after practice the night before lets be very clear over 40 students come Monday through Thursday where they do homework and practice basketball and cheerleading. And on the cold days or even rainy days they practice inside the starling gym on st claude.
I work by Hunter’s Field. I have never seen 40 kids there Monday through Thursday. (except years ago when football practice took place there) However, I do see neighborhood kids playing on the basketball court. They are limited, though, because only one court has been available for the past six months. I’ve also noticed skateboarders starting to use the space more, but overall, Hunter’s Field is largely a mess. I would argue that the pictures make it look better than it actually is. The kids play area is often covered in needles.