Hammond's Railroad Park opens

“This park is what happens when a city works together, and we’re very proud of it,” said DDD Executive Director Chelsea Tallo Little as the ceremony began.

Railroad Park is a paved area positioned between the DDD office and La Carreta restaurant along Northwest Railroad Avenue. According to the DDD, the park has been in the works since 1998, with the property having been labeled downtown’s “city center” throughout multiple Master Plan updates.

The official address for Railroad Park is 106 Northwest Railroad Ave.

Designed by Roy Dufreche and Associates, the park boasts a barrier-free design, including accessible entrances, sidewalks, and protection from the nearby train tracks and traffic.

Park features include three revived oak trees, the restored Stewart Monument, a performance stage, the mural titled “Hammond Daydream” by Britt Flood, seating, lighting and public restrooms.

Guests carrying umbrellas milled about the park and browsed a selection of local vendors set up along the closed block of Northwest Railroad Avenue.

City, parish and state officials spoke before a Tangipahoa Chamber ribbon cutting followed by a musical performance from Will Vance and the Kinfolk.

Parish President Robby Miller recalled the DDD’s journey to opening the park, starting with a former executive director, the late Terry Lynn Smith Landry.

“I remember her bugging us for years about we needed to have this,” Miller told the crowd. “She worked on it with her board – multiple boards, multiple people, maybe even multiple locations and designs. This is definitely the perseverance of dedication, of being determined that this was going to happen one day. We’re here to celebrate it today, and isn’t it gorgeous?”

Miller congratulated the DDD staff and board then extended the praise to the crowd.

“Probably everybody standing out there needs to be congratulated because you had some part of doing this,” he said.

Before the ceremony, those in attendance walked along the path of bricks emblazoned with donor’s names, looking for their own. Bricks are still available for purchase.

Also coming soon to the park is an over-10-foot-tall clock commemorating the 100-year anniversary of Hammond Rotary Club.

The benches bought by some donors are set to be installed this fall. Other future installments in the park include history exhibit plaques about the railroad and furnishings including chairs and tables.

Those interested in purchasing a bench or a personalized engraved brick at Railroad Park can do so at dddhammond.com/ buyabrick.

Little thanked the elected officials in attendance, who also played a part in the park’s funding.

“Tax dollars can go any type of way, and we’re really glad we got them on our side,” she said.

A banner hanging over the park’s raised stage declared downtown Hammond’s recent win of the national 2022 Great American Main Street Award. City officials received the award in Richmond, Virginia.

“Because of the hard work that Chelsea and her team and everyone affiliated with this organization does heading up the Main Street, out of 1,600 cities, we’re the No. 1 Main Street in the nation,” said Hammond Mayor Pete Panepinto.

Also there to recognize the award and present a resolution to Little was State Rep. Nicky Muscarello Jr.

“Every day for the past three weeks I’ve been competing for dollars to support our area, but fortunately for us we have good community support. We were able to fund this with our own tax dollars,” Muscarello said.