A Park of Their Own: The Return of Rudy Moran Complex
Release Date: August 14, 2007
Release Number: 1604-583
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BILOXI, Miss. -- Even in the mind-numbing heat that defines summers in Mississippi, boys and girls still eagerly take to the field to play America's pastime. A softball field at the Rudy Moran Sports Complex in D'Iberville, named in honor of a former county employee, will be open for business within a week and local high school softball teams can hardly wait.
The softball field was used as an emergency temporary housing site for nearly 40 families after Katrina. Two years later, the trailers are gone and teams are gearing up to play again. In a few weeks, batters will be swinging for a shiny, new outfield fence and the park will have an extreme makeover. Contractors for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will reset and re-aim the field lights, hang new signs and clean and repave the parking lot. Olympic softball pitcher Jennie Finch would undoubtedly be proud.
Contractors have been working for nearly two weeks to restore the grounds to its previous condition in a process called remediation. The daily rain showers have slowed the process somewhat but contractors have more than made up for lost time.
"These guys [contractors] are good. They've been rocking and rolling. The rains held them up but they're moving," said D'Iberville's Parks and Recreation Director, Mike Mullins.
Mullins believes the final result will be worth the wait.
"When they first came in I thought don't put rocks on my field. This is going to be a nightmare.' But the process has gone really well," said Mullins. "FEMA has done a great thing here."
Gravel had been laid to make roads and parking pads for park occupants. Contractors removed the rocks and debris left behind by families heading to new homes. The contractors dug up the top six inches of soil, hauled the dirt away, and as Mullins describes, recrowned the entire field. The pitcher's mound is so named because it is the highest point, or crown, on the field. There's a small hill sculpted around it so when it rains water can run-off, Mullins explained.
The D'Iberville Volunteers Foundation will help out by adding finishing touches such as carpentry work and painting. The foundation has operated from the Rudy Moran Complex since February 2006. Associate director Ed Cake feels it's only fair to pitch in and lend a hand.
"We have been volunteering in the community since the storm. We appreciate the opportunity to help the city of D'Iberville since they help provide our volunteer facilities," said Cake.
The parks and recreation director receives regular help from Jerry Harper, a FEMA contractor monitor. Mullins gives the man and his team high marks. "Jerry has been great. He's probably been more of a stickler on this project than I was," he said with a laugh.
Randall Pelous, president of the D'Iberville girls' softball league comprised of 11 local teams, is more than relieved to see the park restored. "If we get our nice complex back, we can get more participation. Everybody wants to play at a nice field," said Pelous. "Parents and players will be tickled to death. And the little league can get their fields back too." Eleven teams participate in the D'Iberville girls' softball league.
Before the storm, Mullins received constant requests from various groups to use city facilities. "Traveling teams, casino teams, other companies would call and ask if they could use the field for their teams." He's confident that when the park is finished, business will pick up.
Contractors estimate the park will be completely restored and ready for the public within a week. Mullins said the high school softball league will probably start practice in January; they'll definitely have a nice field to play on.
The teams have been playing and sharing time at the D'Iberville Sports Complex, one of three playing fields in the city. But the city has reclaimed another park and games will go again.
"We understand housing people is more important than sports. And all of our leagues have been great about working with each other knowing FEMA trailers were still out here," said Mullins. "People were still able to play. Of course everyone wants their own field but everyone pulled together and worked together excellently. Every field we get back is just going to help us."
The last items going on the field before cleats touch the dirt are fresh new bases because as Mullins said, "you don't want them dirty."
For D'Iberville high school softball players and the local community, a little dirt will be nothing an umpire's brush can't take care of.
Eight of the 12 closed parks that temporarily housed more than 600 families across the Gulf Coast have been remediated and returned to their local communities.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 14-Aug-2007 14:38:38