Landscape Architect Articles

LCN August 2006 Off the Clock08-02-06 | News

The Big Easy Gets A Boost From the DCC

Volunteers from the Decorative Concrete Council, a specialty council of the American Society of Concrete Contractors, begin the prep work at Tchoupitoulas Triangle Park in New Orleans. Concrete contractors and associate members of the DCC created a 30-foot diameter circle and 1,660 square feet of sidewalk at the park.

Tchoupitoulas Triangle Park in New Orleans is located near the convention center, which housed thousands of evacuees when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005 with devastating results.

To help raise the spirits of the residents of New Orleans and create a memorial to those who lost their lives in the storm, the Decorative Concrete Council (DCC), a specialty council of the American Society of Concrete Contractors, volunteered time, equipment and materials to create a 30-foot diameter concrete circle and 1,660 square feet of sidewalk.

Over the course of two and a half days, concrete contractors and associate members of the DCC placed, colored, stenciled and textured the concrete circle and sidewalks. A logo and inscription were placed in the center of the circle using a sandblast stencil.

The project was coordinated by Frank Piccolo, Artcrete Inc., Natchitoches, La.; Keith Bleichner, chief landscape architect for the city of New Orleans; Don Hutchinson, director of the mayor?EUR??,,????'???s Office of Economic Development; and Steve Mathies, vice president of CH2Mhill, New Orleans. Lafarge North America donated 33 yards of concrete.

After all of the hard work was completed, a dedication ceremony was held in the park on March 18. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin commended the work done by the DCC in a letter that read:

Mike Schneider, president of the ASCC, gives a speech on March 18 for the dedication ceremony of Tchoupitoulas Triangle Park as volunteers involved with the project gather around to listen.

?EUR??,,????'??Prior to the Expo, your members came to New Orleans at their own expense and installed decorative paving and landscaping at the Tchoupitoulas Triangle located at Tchoupitoulas and Race Streets.

?EUR??,,????'??You transformed this greenspace into a beautiful park. We have been through rough times and the road to full recovery will be a long one.

?EUR??,,????'??Seeing this transformation take place has been a boost to our spirits. The citizens of New Orleans are most appreciative of this lasting gift that you left them.?EUR??,,????'??

All materials and labor were donated by DCC members. Companies supporting the event included Artcrete, Brickform Products, Butterfield Color, Csolutions, Davis Color, Engelman Construction, Fritz-Pak Corp., Greystone Masonry, Hanley Wood, Lafarge North America, Lloyd Concrete Services, Percy Concrete Design, Performance Lubricants, and Specialty Concrete Products.

The DCC membership comprises contractors, suppliers and manufacturers of decorative concrete products. The council?EUR??,,????'???s mission is to lead the decorative concrete industry.

Source: American Society of Concrete Contractors