Lil Wayne's New Orleans Skate Park Hitting Numerous Snags
Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 02.17.2013
A number of problems keep the facility from opening on time...
The Associated Press (via Billboard) reports that Lil Wayne's skate park project for New Orleans is off to a rough start.
Lil Wayne had started a skate park project in New Orleans for the city's rebuilding Lower 9th Ward. The building that houses the park didn't pass a city electrical inspection and had to be re-wired. Only a handful of children were able to skate at a time because of a shortage of staffing. The park hasn't been open many days at all.
The facility's manager, Ward "Mack" McLendon," stated, "We really put the cart before the horse on this project, and right now we're at a crossroads. Everybody wants to make this work." McLendon also commented that Lil Wayne had stopped over at the facility and skated with some kids during Super Bowl weekend, "He's on board, and he really wants this for the community," McLendon said.
Wayne opened the park's launch last September along with his corporate partners Mountain Dew and Glu Agency, a New York-based advertising firm. The park was supposed to be open to the public seven days a week starting October 1, 2012. The opening however was delayed since the facility didn't have enough staffing or insurance coverage.
Miatta David, spokeswoman for Glu Agency, claimed that sponsors are working to help establish a permanent staffing solution: "Everyone involved in this project is committed to ensuring the park is available to our community members year round. As such, we will soon be shifting from a volunteer to a full-time based staff."
The Lower 9th Ward was all but wiped out by floodwater from Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005. The Lower 9th Ward has been slower to recover since the disaster. Many residents haven't returned. Blocks where homes previously stood are empty or overgrown with weeds.
