Hammond DDD Officially Breaks Ground on Railroad Park
The Hammond Downtown Development District, in partnership with the Tangipahoa Chamber, officially broke ground on Railroad Park on Monday, August 9th.
Railroad Park, which will be located at #2 W. Thomas Street, has been a long-standing project of the DDD since 1998. Community members gathered to commemorate the start of the project and see the space once more before construction begins.
Railroad Park has been labeled as Downtown Hammond’s “city center” throughout multiple Master Plan updates. It will maximize the potential of the space while still highlighting its history. With input from the community and expertise from local design and architectural professionals, the reimagining and reinvigorating of this area is finally coming to fruition.
The park, designed by Dufreche & Associates, will boast a barrier-free design that features: shade, seating, traffic-calming measures, protection from the nearby train tracks and vehicular traffic, opportunities for art, a performance stage, and more. The DDD office will also be renovated as a part of this project, which will add public restrooms that can be accessed from the park. Pistorius & Associates will lead the renovations of the office building.
To maximize community impact and offset construction costs, the Hammond DDD is also announcing a brick-selling campaign for Railroad Park. Community members now have the opportunity to purchase personalized bricks, which will later be installed in the park. Bricks cost $100 each. There are also opportunities to sponsor benches for $3,000, artwork, and other installments. (Those interested in sponsoring opportunities should contact Chelsea Tallo Little at 985-277-5681.) To buy a brick, please visit dddhammond.com/buyabrick.
To view renderings Railroad Park, please visit dddhammond.com.
Photo Information
(From left to right)
Photo A: Michael Holly, Holly and Smith Architects; Jon Kelly, Kelly Contruction; Kati Morse LeBreton, DDD Assistant Director; Michelle Kendall, DDD Community Programming Manager; Bryan Wong, DDD Board of Directors; Sam DiVittorio, Hammond City Council; Steve Leon, Hammond City Council; Cassie Ragan, DDD Board of Directors; Frank DiVittorio, DDD Board of Directors; John Exnicios, DDD Board of Directors; Roy Dufreche, Dufreche & Associates; Pete Panepinto, Mayor; Chelsea Tallo Little, DDD Executive Director; John Daniel Guerin, DDD Board of Directors; Elsbet Smith Hollywood, DDD Board of Directors; Evan Singer, DDD Board of Directors; Carlee Gonzales, Hammond City Council; Pierre Theriot, Holly & Smith Architects; Jeffrey Smith, Holly & Smith Architects; Bobby Byrd, Kelly Construction.
Photo B: Michelle Kendall, DDD Community Programming Manager; Chelsea Tallo Little, DDD Executive Director; Cassie Ragan, DDD Board Member; Bryan Wong, DDD Board Member; John Exnicios, DDD Board Member; Frank DiVittorio, DDD Board Member; John Daniel Guerin, DDD Board Member; Elsbet Smith Hollywood, DDD Board Member; Kati Morse LeBreton, DDD Assistant Director; Evan Singer, DDD Board Member.
Photos by Philip Colwart & Tangi Chamber