What's Up, Waveland? - September 2015

9/1/2015

This month, Waveland Alderman Jeremy Burke reports on the new playground, the police station construction and Wavealnd being named a Tree City USA!

Time to Play

During week of August 17th, the non-profit organization Where Angels Play, along with more than 200 volunteers, completed a playground dedicated to the Bane family at Elwood Park in Waveland. The refurbished playground is equipped with new train-themed equipment with a message of autism awareness boldly displayed on the equipment. Edgar Lee Bane II, 16, and Carl Anthony Bane, 13, died with their parents, Christina and Edgar, in hurricane Katrina. Both young Edgar and Carl were autistic, and autism awareness is important to the family.

A special big thank you goes out to Bill Lavin of Where Angels Play and local resident Tammy Raymond for spearheading the project, and all the volunteers who made it possible.

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Police Station construction FINALLY comes…

The Waveland Board of Aldermen and the Mayor officially approved a contract with Biloxi company J.O. Collins Contractor, to complete the construction of the new Waveland police department building. Construction has been on hold for several years due to litigation with the former contractor, C. Perry Builders.

J.O. Collins Contractor, who is working on the Waveland Johnny Longo/Donald Dorn Public Safety Facility is already mobilized and working on the building. The building is scheduled to be complete during the summer of 2016. The Waveland police department is the last major Hurricane Katrina recovery project that remains uncompleted.

Tree City USA

Waveland has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management. We are very proud that this is the second year that Waveland has received this national recognition.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the US Forest Service. Waveland achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: a tree board or department, a community tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

“The City of Waveland is proud to be recognized as a Tree City USA community for the 2nd consecutive year,” said Ward 4 Alderman Charles Piazza. “Waveland’s urban forest is one of our most precious and treasured resources. Trees on the right-of-ways and the fruit trees planted in the community edible orchard behind the Gex Park for children to pick adds a special element to our community and contributes to Waveland’s goal of being the most livable city.”

Cleaner air, improved storm water management, energy savings, and increased property values and commercial activity are among the benefits enjoyed by Tree USA communities.