Shreveporters have Natchitoches in their line of sight
By Juanice Gray, jgray@natchitochestimes.com
Natchitoches will be on the minds of motorists all over Shreveport-Bossier for the next six to seven months. The Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission (NHDDC) purchased an agreement with an electronic sign company, DigiVision, to have eight-second promotions running 360 times per day on six double-sided billboards around the Shreveport-Bossier area.
The signs will promote up to two events at a time and can be changed on a regular basis to accommodate all upcoming events including the reindeer on the riverbank, the Christmas festival, Christmas tours, sports museum events, farmer’s markets and more through the spring. Locations include Shreve City on Barksdale, Mansfield Road, Youree Drive, North Market Street, Denton Road in North Bossier at Kingston Road and Airline Drive.
Sandra Dickens with the Historic District Business Association said new activities for the Christmas season include a mailbox for Santa letters. Also, the Service League is partnering with them for a Christmas kids activity. Participating children will receive a keepsake. Christmas brochures will be available Nov. 1 and will include all times, dates, events and information.
Dickens said entertainment for the holiday season will include 92Twenty, Nov. 17; Chicken on the Bone, Nov. 24; Wayne Toups, Dec. 1; Maggie Rose, Dec. 8; Jayrd Lane, Dec. 15; and Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs, Dec. 22.
Jim Rhodes with the Cane River Waterway Commission announced they are looking at having a feasibility study done on dredging the north end of Cane River. It is in the early stages of planning and could take six-eight months for permitting. Rhodes said one big event is scheduled for January.
The Outdoor Channel will film an episode of “Fishing University” and will include local high schools and NSU anglers.
City Chief of Staff Edd Lee said the Second Street project is almost complete. Striping is the next endeavor. Lee said they would use a high grade paint for permanence. The City Park restrooms are complete and in operation.
Lee said bollards will be installed at City Park to control through traffic. Lee announced the trails at Wellwoods, beginning at the site of the old fire tower, are ready for hikers. Old buildings were torn down last week and a parking lot, using repurposed materials, is under construction. Signage was received and will be installed.
The paddleboat on Cane River addition to downtown attractions is moving forward. Rhodes said parking and other issues were ironed out and the boat should arrive mid-November. The boat can accommodate 60-90 passengers per tour.
As part of the marketing initiative, which included the new Natchitoches logos, the inclusive website will be launched before Christmas. The preliminary website is operational and being fine tuned before the official launch.
Funding for NHDDC projects in the form of state monies was received and is being disbursed. The NHDDC contributes to most of the festivals and events in the downtown area. Some include the Christmas Festival, Car Show, Christmas Gala, Pub Crawl, Bloomin’ on the Bricks, Zydeco Festival and Jazz and Meat Pie festivals. In addition, NHDDC contributes to the City horticulturist, riverbank tree maintenance, Roque House and Beau Jardin garden and City Park maintenance, NSU sporting events, the Mardi Gras parade, dragon boat races, the July 4th celebration, multiple marketing and advertising projects, the art guild and more.
Stewart Carnline was introduced as the newest member of the NHDDC board. He takes the seat vacated by Tim Murchison.