Bethune Park renovation ribbon cutting set after $500,000 Shell Norco donation

Parish President Jewell said Bethune Park will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday at 9:30 a.m. to mark the first complete renovation of the park.

Jewell listed the upgrades included in the project: a covered basketball court, a new playground, batting cages, new baseball fields and signage honoring Bethune High School. She said the renovation was made possible by a collaboration between parish government and industry, and specifically named a $500,000 donation from Shell Norco.

The president encouraged council members and the public to attend the ceremony. The transcript records this as an announcement and community invitation; there is no formal motion or appropriation recorded in the excerpt.

Background: Jewell described this as the park’s first full renovation and attributed part of the funding to a private donation from Shell Norco. The transcript does not provide a full funding breakdown or the remaining sources of the renovation budget.