T’bonne CoA readies park for boomer generation

Veterans rally for property tax
October 29, 2010
Clothilde Theriot
November 2, 2010
Veterans rally for property tax
October 29, 2010
Clothilde Theriot
November 2, 2010

It’s long been Diana Edmonson’s dream to have a lush walking track and garden for Terrebonne’s older generation to enjoy.

As executive director of the Terrebonne Parish Council on Aging, Edmonson realized a portion of that goal last year when a walking track was installed behind the West Park Boulevard site in Houma. And now, with the help of a $10,000 grant from Elations, a company responsible for a liquid supplement formulated for joint health.


According to spokesperson Amy Danis of Dig Communications, Elations awards the prize to encourage baby boomers and seniors to stay healthy and active. “It’s a perfect fit – Elations and the walking park,” she said. “The supplements are designed to further joint health. We understand that wear and tear happens on our joins as Americans age.”


“And as a Council on Aging, our mission is to promote good nutrition and good health,” Edmonson added.

And tapping into baby boomers’ desire to do more than write checks for causes, Edmonson is seeking the public’s help to take the park to the next level.


“To win the grant, we had over 2,000 votes from Facebook,” the Council on Aging director said. “Now, we’re hoping those people are willing to help us on Saturday.”


At the 6518 Main St. Council on Aging site Saturday, Edmonson and Elations’ representatives will unveil the park. In addition to entertainment, free breakfast and lunch and informational tables, the newly completed pavilion will be on display.

Edmonson said plans also include building 49 2-by-4 planters for seniors living in elderly housing nearby. “We want them to be able to do their planting there and, as they walk in the morning, enjoy the budding plants,” the director said.

Ultimately, she envisions a vegetable garden on the ground that would provide fresh fruits and veggies to seniors.

And for those who need a brief break, the Council on Aging is selling cement benches. Edmonson said 19 have been purchased so far. At $400 each, the benches will provide a place for seniors to sit and read or relax. For an additional $100, a granite inlay can be added with the buyer’s message – up to 60 letters long.

“We’re also asking for sponsors for our fence,” Edmonson said. “We have 8-foot sections of fence that we need sponsors for, too.”

While the project is being fast-tracked to meet Saturday’s schedule, Edmonson said the long-term goal is to provide a safe, lighted area to Terrebonne Parish seniors.

“We’ve worked at this very slowly up to now, but because of the grant, we’ve started moving ahead,” she said. “We hope to make a good thing really great with this grant and the public’s help.”

Workers Damien Bourg (left) and Michael Bourg spent their Monday afternoon working on construction of the Terrebonne Council on Aging’s new park for seniors. The park features a walking trail as well as a pond. CASEY GISCLAIR