Desmare Playground Gets Love

May 20, 2018 by Charlie London

Many neighbors and volunteers from far and wide came out with their children to plant trees in Desmare Playground at 3456 Esplanade Avenue on Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 10 a.m. until noon.

From Susannah Burley:

“Thank you so much for your time and energy this morning in planting 11 beautiful trees that will drink a whole lot of stormwater, provide shade for the playground, and clean our air, soil and water. Thanks also to Wiley & Tommy Lewis for funding the trees, Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association for their leadership and partnership, Dana Brown and Associates for their design, John Benton of Bayou Tree Service for advising, Benton Tree Service for donating the mulch, and YOU for planting the trees!”

Photos from S.O.U.L. and more info in the link:

https://soulnola.org/desmare-park-planting/


photos above by Charlie London

November 20, 2019 article about Desmare Playground progress in the Mid-City Messenger

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Zemurray Foundation Helps Children

February 22, 2015 by Charlie London

Tommy Lewis
Tommy Lewis

 

Faubourg St. John neighbor Tommy Lewis explained the benefits of the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association’s quest to make Desmare Playground a great place to play. He was so convincing that they agreed to donate ten thousand dollars to the cause! Many thanks to the Zemurray Foundation for their generous donation and to Tommy Lewis for going the extra mile.

 

The Zemurray Foundation

The man who made the banana an exotic emblem of affluence for mass consumption was himself a poor immigrant. Samuel Zemurray came to America as a teenager, amassed a fortune to rival the Rockefellers and built great cultural institutions.

Zemurray was a Jewish immigrant who grew up on a wheat farm in western Russia and was sent to the U.S. alone in his early teens. “Unlike a lot of his compatriots, he was a giant man,” Cohen tells NPR’s Scott Simon. “At the time he was like 6 feet 3 inches and he was a big, tough guy.”

Samuel Zemurray came to America from Bessarabia, in Western Russia, in 1892 at age 14 or 15, with nothing but his brain and ambition. He eventually took over United Fruit and made a fortune estimated at $30 million back in the days when that was a genuinely vast fortune. He lived in a New Orleans house with a third-floor ballroom complete with a pipe organ and a crystal chandelier; the building now serves as the residence of the president of Tulane University.

Zemurray saw his first banana in Selma, Ala. He paid a visit to Mobile, where the big fruit ships came in, and saw piles of bananas thrown aside at the Boston Fruit Company. When he asked what happened to the bananas in those piles, he was shocked to learn they were garbage.

“The rule was, if a banana had one freckle it was called ‘a turning’ and if it had two freckles it was called ‘a ripe,’ and they said you could never get it to the market in time. It would rot,” Cohen explains. Zemurray bought the rotting bananas for next to nothing. “If you want to talk about something that’ll make you a good salesman, it’s a banana that you have six hours to sell before it rots.”

Zemurray took those “turning” and “ripe” bananas and rented space on an Illinois Central Railroad train. The train moved so slowly that the bananas began rotting along the way. But he worked out a deal with the railroad conductors and the telegraph guys: They would wire the grocery store owners, who would come and meet the train.

“He sold the bananas right out of the boxcars,” Cohen says. “The New York Times said he used boxcars like a guy on the Lower East Side uses a pushcart.”

By the late 1890s, Zemurray was 18 years old — and had made $100,000.

zemurray2Zemurray became incredibly wealthy and was philanthropic with his money. He made generous donations to Tulane University and helped Jewish refugees after the war.

Zemurray convinced the Dominican Republic dictator Rafael Trujillo to allow in some 5,000 Jewish refugees escaping Nazi Europe. He paid for dozens of ships to help Jews in D.P. camps after the war break the British blockade, which barred Jews from entering Palestine. And when the initial vote to create the Jewish state failed at the United Nations in 1948 — but was close enough to allow for a re-vote within 72 hours — Zemurray went to work.

From his mansion in New Orleans (later donated to Tulane, and now the university president’s house), he called several Latin American leaders and got enough of them to switch their votes. “Knowing about the work of Zemurray,” Cohen writes in his book, “certain yes votes that might otherwise seem mysterious — Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador, Panama — suddenly makes perfect sense. Behind them, behind the creation of the Jewish state, was the Gringo pushing his cart piled high with stinking bananas.”

United Fruit owned one of the largest private navies in the world. It owned 50 percent of the private land in Honduras and 70 percent of all private land and every mile of railroad in Guatemala.

When Zemurray took over United Fruit and turned it around, he told Fortune magazine, “I realized that the greatest mistake the United Fruit management had made was to assume it could run its activities in many tropical countries from an office on the 10th floor of a Boston office building.”

banana-chiquitaThe original Chiquita brand logo was commissioned in 1943 by United Fruit when Zemurray was president. It was drawn by cartoonist Dik Browne, creator of Hagar the Horrible. The logo was based on salsa entertainer Carmen Miranda.

After World War II, commercials rolled out featuring the Chiquita banana jingle, which begins “I’m Chiquita Banana and I’ve come to say…” The song touted the benefits of bananas and advised consumers how to eat and store them.

Before he died in 1961, at 84 and with a net worth estimated at $30 million, he left many gifts to the city. He not only built one of the first hospitals for black women in the city, but he also gave millions to Tulane. His house is now the president’s, and several buildings bare his name.

Sources:

http://www.thejewishweek.com/arts/books/strange_fruit

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/02/154153252/americas-gone-bananas-heres-how-it-happened

http://www.nola.com/175years/index.ssf/2011/10/1910_new_orleans_goes_bananas.html

http://reason.com/archives/2012/05/28/bain-and-the-united-fruit-company

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Bayou Babies & Bayou Kids

January 1, 2015 by Charlie London

by Karin Barbee
BayouBabiesBayouKids-facebookBayou Babies & Bayou Kids are gathering at Desmare playground January 31st and February 1st at 10 a.m. for the specific purpose of getting to know their neighbors. Because of the nature of education and school choice in this city, many children do not attend school with other kids in the neighborhood. This is an intentional effort to help families know other families in the areas surrounding Bayou Saint John. Please share the word that this group is forming in the neighborhood. To link up to our social network search “Bayou Babies group” on FaceBook.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou babies, bayou kids, desmare, karin barbee, playground

It’s a Bawgin Dawlin

October 2, 2014 by Charlie London

Howdy neighbor,

The dues for your neighborhood association are ridiculously low and the amount hasn’t changed in decades. And, if you fill out the attached form and send it in now, your dues will be paid up until January, 2016!

bargainIf you join now, you can get an extra 3 months of membership for the low low price of 10 bucks for an individual and 15 bucks for a family. Send the attached form, along with your check to P.O. Box 19101 New Orleans, LA 70179

And, while you are at it, why not buy a Voodoo on the Bayou ticket? It’s the most bang for your buck when you consider the open bar, food from great local restaurants and awesome entertainment. Can’t go? Then buy a ticket anyway and know that your 50 dollars will go toward restoring the swings at Desmare Playground at 3456 Esplanade. Terranova’s, Swirl and Pal’s all have tickets or you could be adventurous and save yourself a bunch of time by clicking on the BUY NOW button at https://fsjna.org

Regardless of whether you just fill out the attached form and send in your dues or buy a Voodoo on the Bayou ticket, know that your money is going toward keeping your neighborhood the best place to live in New Orleans.




Enter dues amount $10 for individual or $15 family.

2015-FSJNA-membership-form

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Stallings Playground Gets Boosters

April 7, 2014 by Charlie London

 

Stallings Gentilly Playground Booster Club

2700 Lapeyrouse Street |PO Box 820396 |  New Orleans, LA 70182  | 504.434.2197

PRESIDENT Kendra Crawford  |  VICE PRESIDENT Corey Dowden

TREASURER Dyan French | SECRETARY Glenda Cannon

 

Stallings Gentilly Playground Booster Club was organized this year in order to meet the funding and financial challenges of operating and maintaining cultural, sports and other programs for the youth of the community.

 

stallings-small1The Stallings Gentilly Playground Booster Club has a board of resourceful officers and members along with a group of excited club members and volunteers who are ready, willing and eager to restore its image to that of its intended purpose; a place for safe, engaging cultural and recreational activities for children and families.

 

Funding through foundation grants, business and corporate sponsorships, and individual donations are being obtained to support cultural, recreational and sports programs. Not only is the Stallings Gentilly Playground Booster Club passionate about a Stallings Gentilly Playground ‘renaissance’, the Stallings Gentilly Playground Booster Club is also very committed and dedicated to this mission.

           

Events are planned throughout the summer for the Stallings Gentilly Playground community. Everyone is invited to our first major event, which is our Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 12, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. until 2 p.m. and “Movie in the Park” on Friday, May 16, 2014 at 7:15 p.m.

 

Kendra Crawford

President

Stallings Gentilly Playground Booster Club

StallingsGentillyFamilyFun1Stallings Gentilly Playground Booster Club

President

Kendra Crawford

 

Vice-President

Corey Dowden

 

Treasurer

Dyan French

 

Secretary

Glenda Cannon

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: faubourg st john, gentilly, ground, New Orleans, play, playground, stallings

Want to Get Things Done?

August 19, 2013 by Charlie London

We Can Do ItCan you think of a project in Faubourg St. John that you would like to make happen?

The great neighbors of Faubourg St. John are known for getting things done.

But, we can’t do it alone. Community sweat equity is important but money is the deciding factor on many projects.

Desmare Playground is an area in Faubourg St. John that could use some improvement.

How can we make that happen?

You have a voice in how your tax money is spent. Mayor Mitch Landrieu has announced a series of community meetings in each council district to discuss 2014 budget priorities. For more information about participatory budgeting along with where and when you can attend, please visit the link below:
https://fsjna.org/2013/08/participatory-budgeting/

Interested?

Other neighborhoods will be presenting their needs/ideas at the city’s budget meetings. Unless we show up en masse to demand proper funding for Desmare Playground then our needs/ideas will get lost in the shuffle.

The meeting for District A is being held in Lakeview which has a very strong neighborhood organization. Unless you make it a point to attend and support the needs/ideas of Faubourg St. John your tax dollars will go to other worthy projects elsewhere.

District A
Tuesday | August 20, 2013 | 5:30 pm
Edward Hynes Charter School
990 Harrison Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70124

 

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

 

https://fsjna.org/2013/08/participatory-budgeting/

Tuesday
August 20, 2013
6 p.m.
From 5:30-6 p.m. the City will host a Resource Center with representatives
from several departments and agencies. During that time you will
have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with various departments.

Where
Edward Hynes Charter School
990 Harrison Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70124

 

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Be at Stallings Playground on May 29th at 6 pm

May 15, 2013 by Charlie London

Stallings-input-2013may29

Your Input Requested on the Future of Stallings Playground
Wednesday, May 29th at 6 pm
1600 Gentilly

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Kids Design Playground January 26

January 23, 2013 by Charlie London

photos by Brenda London


Desmare-2013-kidsDesmare-2013-kids1

Calling all Faubourg St. John Kids!

Please come help us plan upgrades to the Desmare Playground and participate in the first Kids Planning Charrette this Saturday from 9:30 to 11 am. Dress warm and bring your parents!

We will be visioning the space with your drawings, have fun,
drink hot chocolate and enjoy the park! (There will even be a big preliminary plan for Mom and Dad to draw on)

Date: Saturday, January 26th Location: Desmare Park

Time: 10:00 —11:30 am 3456 Esplanade Avenue

“Desmare Family Park” is a project of the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association (FSJNA) a 501(C)(3) organization.

FSJNA will be working to plan and design the space this year and begin fundraising late 2013 thru grants and events.

Need more information? Want to help? Go to www.fsjna.org or email: [email protected] or call Linda 504.609-9670

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou, bayou st john, best, children, desmare, eclectic, faubourg st john, kids, neighborhood, New Orleans, park, play, playground

DESMARE | Saturday | September 22nd

September 20, 2012 by Charlie London

photo by Charlie London

Faubourg St. John neighbors and the Cabrini Dads Club worked together on September 22, 2012 to make Desmare Playground a better place for everyone!

DESMARE PLAYGROUND | 3456 Esplanade Avenue


A significant amount of debris
was removed from Desmare Playground.

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Faubourg St. John Gets Jazzed

June 10, 2012 by Charlie London



on page B-4 of the June 9, 2012 Times Picayune

JAZZ:

The FAUBOURG ST. JOHN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION organized volunteers to clean up historic Desmare Park as part of a rotating effort that started in March to clean parks and provide neighbors with a chance to socialize. The group has cleaned up Fortier Park and Capdeville Park, too.

Click here to read the Times Picayune’s coverage of the Desmare Playground cleanup.

Visit the link below to see Faubourg St. John’s post about the Desmare Playground clean up.
https://fsjna.org/2012/05/saturday-desmare-be-there/

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Capdeville Revitalization

May 12, 2012 by Charlie London

Thanks to 8 neighbors that spent an hour and a half last Thursday to divide and plant 48 gallon sized Monkey Grass, yellow lantana and purple duranta (to bring in butterflies), and ardesia crenata (Christmas berry, a shade lover).

photo below by David Armond

photos below by Brenda London
We mulched, amended soil, divided Paper Whites to replant this fall, and trimmed 5 Natchez Crape Mytles that we planted maybe a dozen years ago. $500 went quickly from 5 trips to 3 Home Depots!

Unfortunately 10 bags of soil and 6 bags of mulch disappeared into a white pickup. I had too many loads of stuff to manage in a Subaru and left it out at the park the nite before, gone at 630 am. I vented my disgust by howing weeds vigorously! Neighbors report frequent plant thefts near Broad. We replaced what we really needed, and will wait to augment soil in another phase.

So thanks to people from all over our neighborhood who worked, found their garden Zen, and had a good time:


Steve Mardon (our Desmare liason)
Brenda London (Grand Rte St John)
Deena Bedigan (Delgado-she did a perfect job separating monkey grass)
Danny Akers (worked and treated us to fresh squeezed lemonade) also involved with Café Amelie on Royal, (Crete St)
Helen Ball (rode her bike from St John’s Court)
David Armond- N Lopez
Katy Smith (new young neighbor from Jackson) Bell St

The soaking rain this weekend insures that this project is off to a great start. We have promises from Andy Romero, David Lapene and Danny Akers to keep the new plantings watered thru the summer. We can always use extras…

Future needs include a streetlight (way to dark here),repair some crumbling interior sidewalk, sprinkler system, a creative welcome to FSJ sign, sculpture. These are LONG term dreams. Very open to input and help make the connections. I do better with my hands in the dirt!!

I will be asking Parks and Parkways to remove a phoenix palm growing at the base of an oak.

Love this neighborhood!
Bobby

Bobby Wozniak
1322 North Lopez Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
Cell: 504.452.0386

Filed Under: More Great Posts! Tagged With: bayou, bayou st john, bobby, Brenda London, capdeville, Danny Akers, David Armond, Deena Bedigan, faubourg, faubourg st john, green, Helen Ball, Katy Smith, New Orleans, park, plant, planting, playground, steve mardon, trees, wozniak

Desmare Playground

August 31, 2011 by Charlie London


Desmare Playground as it looks today.


***

Eileen and Randy Duke recently donated their copy of the 1989 Faubourg St. John Home Tour booklet. The article below is from that booklet.



Desmare Playground in 2007 before the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association planted trees.

On April 11, 2007 the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association along with HikeForKatreena.com planted 12 trees around Desmare Playground.

1850 lithograph by Xavier Magny

Tivoli Garden, a commercial ‘pleasure garden’ along the Carondelet Canal pictured in the 1850s, was ‘thickly planted with choice trees and shrubbery beneath which were benches and tables, and amid which were latticed bowers and arbors,’ according to the New Orleans Picayune of Oct. 30, 1849. ‘There were buildings for barrooms, ice cream cakes, coffee, etc. … Musicians poured forth German waltzes, to which couples danced for a half dime each ten minutes. … Good order, a spirit of mutual accommodation, and intense vivacity prevailed. Sunday afternoons and evenings drew the largest crowds, of old, young, and middle-aged … French, German, Irish, Spanish and Italian in race or extraction.’

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, desmare, esplanade, faubourg st john, New Orleans, playground, tivoli garden

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