LAPLACE — Improvements to Thomas F. Daley Memorial Park, formerly known as Highway 51 Park, and Cambridge Park are the last renovations left in a $2.3 million parishwide enhancement project.

Originally slated for completion last month, Capital Projects Administrator Daron Cooper said St. John the Baptist Parish officials anticipate completion of the project by the end of February.

“Right now, I would say nine out of the 11 parks are completed,” Cooper said. “Weather permitting, we should be done by the end of the month. Parks are a vital component to a community. They promote healthy lifestyles for families. It’s a place for children to have activities. I’m looking forward to (the parks) being completed so the residents of St. John can enjoy what we have put together for them and utilize the parks to their advantage.”

Four fitness stations are slated for Thomas F. Daley Memorial Park, as well as a new spray park, dog park, new softile play surface for the existing play set and upgrades to the soccer fields.

Cambridge Park is set to receive several additions, including a new gazebo, new bathroom building, fitness station and softile play surface for the existing play set.

Parish officials broke ground in July on the Recreation Improvements Project; however, local officials said progress has been slowed because of vandalism at numerous sites.

Kerry Watkins, director for parks and recreation in St. John, said Parish leaders are receiving “great feedback” from the community.

“The renovations are going well, but the only thing I have concerns about is the vandalism,” he said, adding a rocking horse was stolen Monday from Greenwood Park. “We ask the public to please take care of the things we are providing for them, because it’s all for the community.”

Watkins said the vandalism has been costly because it forces Parish workers to refix items that are brand new, adding Bell Point Park “was the worst one” for workers to handle.

Two gazebos are included in plans for Belle Pointe Park, as is a fitness station, new play surface for the two existing play sets and a new play set with softile play surface.

Parish leaders announced in October Thomas F. Daley Memorial Park, Belle Pointe Park, Regala Park and Cambridge Park had all been vandalized.

Destruction ranged from vulgar phrases and pictures drawn on new play sets and in freshly poured cement and on-site construction equipment damage. Staffers also found one project defecated on during the cement process.

“We are trying to stay on top of it and minimize it,” Watkins said. “We would appreciate if it wasn’t being done at all. It’s the taxpayers’ dollars that (vandals) are destroying. We are working around the clock to build better facilities and better parks and we would appreciate it if people didn’t vandalism them.”

Security cameras are being installed at all of the parks to deter vandalism.

The incidents of vandalism have been reported to the Sheriff’s Office, but authorities said no arrests have been made and no suspect information is available.

Parish President Natalie Robottom said when park equipment and facilities are vandalized, the cost and time spent on the repairs decreases the funds available for additional improvements.

“Please help protect our investments by reporting any suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Office,” she said.

Park upgrades include:

• A new gazebo, football/soccer field and spray park, as well as two new play sets with softile play surface, for Reserve’s Regala Park.

• Ezekial Jackson Park received a new play set with softile play surface, as well as two fitness stations.

• One gazebo with a picnic table, as well as softile play surface for two existing play sets, were added to Stephanie Wilking Park, and Wallace Bridge Park received a new play set with softile play surface.

• A new ADA accessible play set with softile surface, new swing set with safety surface, new safety surface for the three existing play sets and a new fitness station were added to Greenwood Park.

• Emily C. Watkins Park was upgraded with a fitness station and a new play set with softile surface, while the Peavine Boat Launch received an asphalt parking lot.

• The West Bank Complex received two gazebos and a new play set with softile surface, while Harold Scott Roussel Park received a new play set with softile surface and two new benches.

In December 2014, the St. John Parish Finance Committee approved a $229,118 agreement between parish administration and Meyer Engineers Ltd. for the design, construction, administration and inspection services of the more than $2 million in improvements to parish parks, playgrounds and recreation facilities recommended in the 2013 Parks Master Plan.

Over 40 projects, all funded through the 2014 bond issue, are included in the plan. The Parks Master Plan, which includes the complete list of upgrades slated for the future, can be viewed at sjbparish.com by clicking on “Government” and then “Parks and Recreation.”

Voters approved the first millage in parish history in 2012 to support parishwide recreation, and subsequently that millage has generated close to $1 million annually for operations, maintenance and staffing.

Passage of a bond issue in 2013 meant $3 million was dedicated to parks and recreation — $2.3 million went toward improvements identified in the Parks Master Plan from 2013.