Hurricane Katrina Updates
Assessment of lost revenue, repair costs and operating revenue needed by New Orleans City Park from damages incurred by Hurricane Katrina
- Lost Revenue - $10.6 million. City Park's budget is $10.8 million per year. The state of Louisiana provides $200,000. The remaining $10.6 million is raised by the park via admissions, golf, catering, amusements, sports venues and fundraising. At present the park is unable to operate thus our lost revenue is $10.6 million.
- Needed Operating Revenue through June 30th, 2006 - $10.6 million. Clearly, some expenses will go down or cease to exist in the short term. Those expenses will be more than offset, however, by new expenses related to restoring the park so that it can once again produce revenue. We will be rebuilding from scratch so all supplies, parts, catering food, computers and gift shop inventory, etc., will have to be purchased. We estimate that if we do not receive operating revenue support by the end of November, the park will become insolvent and no management of the park will exist.
- Cost to repair damage to City Park caused by Katrina: $42,875,000. (Note: This estimate comes from visiting the park on several occasions and consulting with managers and specialists in the different areas of the park which were damaged. No detailed structural analysis of the buildings was possible, nor detailed examination of electrical systems, etc. This estimate includes a 15% contingency.)
Miscellaneous Buildings-
Administration building - the building was under four feet of water for two weeks and is assumed to be a total loss - 10,000 sq. ft. @ $200 = $2,000,000
Casino building - damaged by the storm and food and gift shop facility was extensively looted - $500,000
Catering building - Under water for two weeks, assume building and extensive kitchen equipment is a total loss - 8,000sq.ft. @ $250 = $2,000,000
Maintenance building - partially collapsed, presumed a total loss - 10,000sq. ft. @ $150 = $1,500,000
Irby building - used at Halloween, underwater for several days, should be demolished - $250,000
Botanical Garden- Damage to Pavilion of the Two Sisters ($350,000), Garden Study Center ($45,000), Lath House and Garden Library ($55,000), Conservatory, including plant collection ($200,000), Garden Administrative Offices (under several feet of water) $250,000,
Equipment ($70,000), Production greenhouses and inventory ($255,000), damage to the 14 acre collection which was completely underwater for nearly two weeks and must be completely replaced ($1,000,000)
Sports Fields/ Stadiums- Gormley Stadium was underwater nearly two weeks, the field, concessions, lockerrooms, bathrooms extensively damaged (general estimate $2,000,000), Pan American Stadium (scoreboard and miscellaneous water damage $250,000), eight sports fields and Quadraplex building suffered water and wind damage including fences, light poles, goal posts, field erosion, etc.($250,000).
Trees & Grounds- The signature feature of the park. Rough estimate of over 1,000 trees blown over or with major structural damage, tree debris extensive, many ancient oak trees require selective pruning to maintain their balance and prevent loss in the future. Rough estimate by the Park's main contract arborist is ($4,000,000).
Golf- One of the park's main revenue sources suffered extensive damage to virtually every aspect of the facility. The main clubhouse was under five feet of water for two weeks, suffered roof damage is considered lost. The driving range had all of its fences blown down, equipment underwater, irrigation and drainage damage and considerable damage to the building. All of the golf equipment underwater and appears lost. Maintenance building appears to have suffered no structural damage but all supplies, inventory, fuel systems destroyed. All three courses are covered with a several inch thick mat of muck, all of the grass is presumed to die, will require re-spriging fairways, re-sodding greens and tees, repairs to irrigation, pumps, etc. A conservative estimate with a small contingency for unknown damage, is $15.0 million dollars.
Park Equipment- Virtually all of the park's equipment was underwater at the maintenance complex. We presume it has been irreparably damaged. Damage includes but is not limited to twenty pick-up trucks, three back hoes, a bobcat, four bucket trucks, four police cars, eight grounds master mowers, four tractors, four bush hogs and numerous other miscellaneous equipment, sprayers, edgers, etc. Estimated loss $1,600,000).
Amusement Park/Storyland/ Boating- Floor buckled in carousel (although historic horses appeared to suffer no damage), entire area underwater for at least a week. Motors for all amusement rides need replacement, damage to ferris wheel, birthday party house, bumper cars, ticket booths, concession buildings, bathrooms. We believe all three train engines were underwater and suffered extensive damage, one coach completely destroyed. Walkway repairs, loss of plantings, etc. (Estimated cost $1,400,000). Several figures in Storyland will need to be replaced, a number repaired, and plumbing repairs, damage to C.T. Parker building and bathrooms, water damage to puppet castle and walkways. (Estimated damage $500,000). Loss of three canoes, ten paddle boats, damage to fishing building, estimated damage $30,000.
Tennis- Twenty rubico courts need complete refurbishment at $10,000 per court. Fence repairs, pro shop inventory lost. Building appears to have suffered no structural damage. Wind screens, bleacher damage, etc. (estimated damage $277,000).
Roads, Plumbing and Electrical- Estimated damage - $3,000,000.
Technology- Damage to the park's technology system including servers, bridges, and computers is estimated to total $500,000.
New Orleans will rebuild. New Orleans City Park will rebuild also, but not without your help. Just as it is impossible to envision New York without Central Park, so to is it impossible to rebuild New Orleans without reconstituting an integral part of its soul - City Park. Your assistance in doing just that is greatly appreciated.
Note: Following this document please find a more comprehensive document outlining the park's history, attractions, current situation and plans for rebuilding.
