By MELISSA PEACOCK

LAPLACE – It is “out with the old and in with the new” for construction and community development in St. John the Baptist Parish.

While parish officials are unable to predict the finish date on some parish construction projects, they expect the new year will herald in construction on a few new public facilities.

Construction projects planned in 2001 and 2002 are on track for the new year, Parish President Nickie Monica said.

With a number of constructions projects under its belt, and even more in planning, parish officials are expected to start construction on several facilities by spring or early summer.

In 1977, the St. John the Baptist Senior Center opened its doors. Now, seniors getting meals and a little talk-time at the center have outgrown the one room allotted for dining and activities.

The Parish Council approved a measure to build a new St. John Senior Center and, during the summer, approved the use of land near Regala Park in Reserve for the Center. While the project is still in the planning stage, Monica said construction should begin in the spring, putting local senior citizens’ dreams for a larger, more accommodating facility closer to reality.

Funding for the $900,000 project will come from the $18 million bond issue passed in January.

Seniors hope they will be able to move into the new facility by 2004.

The $18 million bond issue also allocated funds for a parish civic center – a project that is expected to come to the forefront this year. The estimated cost of the facility is $5 million.

While the project is still in the designing phase, Monica said he talked with the architectural firm this week and the project is “right on schedule.”

“It is going to be a 40,000 square foot facility, a multipurpose building for St. John,” Monica said.

The civic center will likely have recreational facilities, such as basketball courts and volleyball courts, in addition to space for meetings and performances.

“I want it to be a place for civic functions, a place where we can have carnival balls and high school graduations,” Monica said.

The civic center will be built on parish owned acreage on U.S. Highway 51. It will be located adjacent to the new parish library.

Local businesses hope that events hosted at the center will bring more visitors and more money into the parish.

Meanwhile, projects like the West Bank Recreational Complex are still on hold pending the purchase of West Bank property for the complex.

Members of the Parish Council have been debating whether or not to purchase the old Second Ward School property for the recreational complex or in conjunction with the complex.

In November, however, Monica asked the council to table an ordinance that would allow the parish president to purchase the property until more information on spatial needs could be obtained.

Soon after, the parish decided against the purchase.

When asked about the progress of the land hunt, Monica said, “We are still looking at sites on the West Bank.”