![]() ![]() ![]() The $6.7 million project was state funded and Burckel said phase two, from the new bridge to Ryan Street, will begin in the spring. “Working with the Visual Arts Department to create a logo for Bayou Greenbelt helped us brand an important quality of life project for our region while providing some practical workplace application to students.” “As a local business owner, I know how important it is to support McNeese by giving opportunities for real-world experience,” said Mike Nodier, co-owner of Polaris Engineering and proponent of the Bayou Greenbelt Project. Tom Galmarini, McNeese assistant professor of graphic design, coordinated the class project with the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana and the National Park Service. McNeese art majors Stacie Driskell, Zekia Williams, Derek Carrier and Jasmine Mackson designed the logo. We anticipate many benefits to the community: improving the quality of life with more outdoor recreation opportunities attracting visitors for adventure tourism enhancing wildlife habitat and increasing capacity for stormwater management.”ĭuring the ceremony, the new Bayou Greenbelt logo was introduced. As the project becomes a reality, the existing waterfront parks will be connected in a 23-mile blueway network for paddling and, where possible, access to trails for walking and biking. “We are pleased that McNeese was chosen as one of the catalytic projects in the Just Imagine SWLA 50-Year Resilience Master Plan and it is an honor for the Contraband Bayou Project to be the centerpiece of the Bayou Greenbelt Project,” Burckel said.Īccording to Helen Tyson Siewers, landscape architect with the National Park Service – Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Division, “Bayou Greenbelt is a prime example of a local plan that enhances public access to special places along waterways near Lake Charles. What began as a project to control erosion control, improve walkways and lighting for safety purposes and to replace an aging crosswalk has evolved to become the centerpiece of the Bayou Greenbelt Project. “Students living in the apartments no longer have to walk down Common Street to go to class, the cafeteria and the library,” Martin said. “The Contraband Bayou Project is one of many initiatives underway this year designed to improve campus access, facilities, security and aesthetics,” Kevin Martin, McNeese director for facilities and plant operations, said.Ī new pedestrian bridge connects the student apartments to the main campus. It is an honor to name this bridge the Rhoden Bridge,” Burckel said.Ī bench in the center of the bridge recognizing the significant efforts to secure legislative funding for the Contraband Bayou Project was dedicated to honor former Sen. “The Contraband Bayou Project is a testament to Richard’s vision and his passion for transforming McNeese into a modern, student-centric, aesthetically beautiful campus. ![]() As facility director, Rhoden supervised more than $575 million in campus facility and infrastructure improvements including 17 new campus buildings, numerous major renovations and facility expansions. The new bridge is named in honor of Richard Rhoden, who served as director of facilities and plant operations from 1999 to 2022. The new bridge over Contraband Bayou replaces an aging crosswalk and connects Burton and Collette residence halls and Student Central to the main campus. “Being student-centric includes all aspects of the student-experience including academics, extracurricular activities, campus life, student success resources, student health and campus aesthetics.” “We are focused on being a student-centric university,” Burckel said. “What was for many years a very unsightly section of campus has been transformed into a beautiful park-like setting,” said McNeese President Dr. Rhoden Bridge connecting the campus buildings and residence halls to the main campus. 1, McNeese State University students, faculty and staff along with community leaders celebrated the official completion of the first phase of the Contraband Bayou Improvement Project and opening of the Richard R. ![]()
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