Legislation would allow commercial use of Laketown land
Kenner officials are making a play for the hugely popular Coconut Beach, the West End volleyball complex that has remained in permanent pump station limbo since Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.
Kenner officials are trying to lure the Coconut Beach volleyball complex, shown here in 2009, if it must move from New Orleans' West End section to make way for a drainage pump station on the 17th Street Canal.The first step in luring Coconut Beach owners Bruce White and Mike Drury to Kenner is to change a state law that now allows only non-commercial ventures on Laketown land. Rep. Tony Ligi, R-Metairie, has sponsored House Bill 58 to allow commercial ventures on the property. The House has approved the measure, and the Senate could consider it as soon as next week, said Ligi, who added: "I don't forsee any glitches."
The second step, getting White and Drury to move to Laketown, is filled with uncertainty.
Coconut Beach has a following of about 4,000 volleyball enthusiasts who play in leagues almost year-around and would prefer that the sand courts remain exactly where they are, White said.
But that might not be possible. The complex sits on land that the Army Corps of Engineers is eyeing for a permanent drainage pump station for the 17th Street Canal. A contract was awarded last month but a protest has been filed, so White doesn't know if the project will require the volleyball complex to move.
White said he and Drury have been on notice for several years that the corps might need the volleyball complex land. So far this year, they have received three different "final" dates to move out: Feb. 10, then June 15 and now Sept. 1.
"You always try to do what your players are asking for," White said. "The main thing they want is to stay at that location."
White said he and Drury have looked in the past year for other sites, including the possibility of moving into West End Park, which is literally across the street. "But it really looks like an uphill battle to do that."
Kenner officials, including Recreation Director Ken Marroccoli, say the volleyball complex could become the main attraction in Laketown, offering players gorgeous views of Lake Pontchartrain.
"We're talking about actually being on the lake," Marroccoli said. "You can't get a better view of the water unless you are actually playing on a beach."
And Laketown could become another West End complex, with restaurants, too. For now, however, said Kenner Chief Administrative Officer Mike Quigley, "Our most immediate goal is Coconut Beach."
White admits the Kenner invitation is tempting. The location is near the Treasure Chest casino and the Hilton Garden Inn motel and four miles from Louis Armstrong International Airport -- a big plus, White said, for national tournaments.
"The only place that we've had an offer to relocate to is Kenner," he said. "They offered us a beautiful location. It's great to have some place that really wants you."
Mayor Mike Yenni thinks relocating the volleyball complex to Laketown could be a huge economic boost for Kenner, with as many as 1,000 volleyball players a day driving up Williams Boulevard for games, Quigley said.
Kenner's Laketown would be the new home to Coconut Beach.White said Thursday he is not ready to give up on West End, admitting he does not relish the work it would take to build a new complex from scratch. But Coconut Beach will survive, somewhere.
"I still hold a slim chance that they can figure out a way to build the pumping station and leave it in the same location. (But) I think every day that goes by, it becomes closer to reality in Kenner."
"I do believe this," he added, "that if we do go to Kenner, I think in two years it will be as successful, if not better."
Bob Ross can be reached at rross@timespicayune.com or 504.883.7053.