Jefferson Chamber 2005 Membership Directory
The support Jefferson Parish has for the arts is strong and only getting stronger. As evidence, one has to look no further than the Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) which will have its own $20 million performing arts center completed in 2007. Each season, JPAS puts on dramatic plays and musicals, symphonic concerts, dance productions, and a variety of other cultural events.
Jefferson Parish supports JPAS and other cultural institutions not only to foster a high quality of life for its citizens; the parish understands how the arts pump millions each year into local economies and provide other benefits.
"We put on over 100 performances annually and are deeply committed to arts education," said JPAS Executive Artistic Director Dennis Assaf. "We're proving that a viable arts program in schools helps students earn better grades overall and improves test scores."
When locals are more in the mood for a sporting event, Jefferson Parish has a lot to offer in that department, too. The professional baseball team of the New Orleans region, the Zephyrs (meaning "west wind") draw devoted fans from Jefferson and surrounding parishes for Friday night games. Collegiate, amateur, and high school level sports are all well-represented throughout the parish's many sports complexes. And right next door to Zephyr Stadium is the New Orleans Saints' training facility. Although the Saints play their games in New Orleans' Superdome and across the country, the team's base in Jefferson Parish make the Saints an important part of Jefferson civic life.
"On game days, we host pre-game tailgate parties in our facilities. Other times in the year, we have mini-camp and training camp," explained Conrad "Connie" Kowal, senior director of marketing for the New Orleans Saints. "Whether during the football season or in the off-season, we are always looking for ways to connect with fans right in their own backyards."
Of course, one doesn't always want to be just a spectator of sports. When Jefferson Parish locals are feeling active, they have plenty of options for outdoor (and indoor) recreation. The parish maintains 25 community centers and 18 satellite parks, the most celebrated being 155-acre Lafreniere Park containing everything from a Frisbee golf course to jogging paths. Throughout the parish communities, the active Department of Parks & Recreation coordinates year-round classes and programs for people of all ages.
Residents who believe the great outdoors is found beyond grassy neighborhood soccer fields still don't have to cross parish lines. Jefferson Parish is home to two state parks and a national park and preserve; nature seekers will discover bayous, swamps, hardwood forests, and marshlands-all populated by indigenous wildlife-where canoeing, fishing, hiking, and camping are popular pastimes. In addition, the fact that the parish borders both Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf of Mexico means sailing, water skiing, and other watersports always have many devotees.
As a rule, Jefferson Parish residents feel their quality of life is second to none. With so many great cultural and recreational activities available to them, it's obvious why.
