Donovan Mohr, of the Lower Garden District, picks up large amounts of trash in a vacant lot that touches Taylor Park on Washington Avenue on Mayor Mitch Landrieu's second "Fight the Blight" day Saturday afternoon. "Fight the Blight" day at Taylor Park coincided with the Hoffman Triangle Neighborhood Association's fifth annual community fair, Hoffman Extravaganza, which had live music and family entertainment. "Fight the Blight" day took place at five locations across New Orleans Saturday. "I want all the areas of the city to look clean. It would be depressing if I was a kid and saw broken bottles and assorted junk around the park," said Mohr. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Mayor Mitch Landrieu paints a gate surrounding a pool that has been closed for the last few years with Laquinn Huey, 8, at Taylor Park on Washington Avenue on "Fight the Blight" day Saturday afternoon. Huey said the last time he swam in the pool he was 6 years old. Landrieu made plans with Huey to swim in the pool when it reopened in May. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Tyrone Muse, of Bridgestone Construction Co., works to clean up trash and debris on blighted properties across from Taylor Park Saturday afternoon. The homes will ultimately be demolished, according to Muse. "This is encouraging. People have blight in their consciousness now and are becoming aware of the magnitude of the problem. As long as we are aware, it helps with the problem. It takes the city, volunteers and community groups to solve the problem," said Rev. Kenneth E. Thompson, Vice President of the Hoffman Triangle Neighborhood Association. Thompson pointed out that he was disappointed that the blighted properties across from Taylor Park hadn't been demolished yet. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Christine Hawkins and Chase Williams, students at Sojourner Truth Academy, spray paint sidewalks near storm drains surrounding Taylor Park to read "Dump No Waste Drains to Lake" on Mayor Mitch Landrieu's second "Fight the Blight" day Saturday afternoon. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Trevon Keasley, a student at Sojourner Truth Academy, spray paints the sidewalk near a storm drain to read "Dump No Waste Drains to Lake" outside Taylor Park on Washington Avenue on Mayor Mitch Landrieu's second "Fight the Blight" day Saturday afternoon. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Students at Sojourner Truth Academy work hard to paint Taylor Park on Mayor Mitch Landrieu's second "Fight the Blight" day Saturday afternoon. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Trevon Keasley, of the 8th Ward, works hard to paint a gate surrounding a pool that has been closed at Taylor Park on Mayor Mitch Landrieu's second "Fight the Blight" day Saturday afternoon. The pool will reopen in May. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Blighted properties surrounding Taylor Park. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Mayor Mitch Landrieu plays a game of basketball with youth at Taylor Park on Fight the Blight" day Saturday afternoon. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Mayor Mitch Landrieu plays a game of basketball with Ken Scott at Taylor Park on Fight the Blight" day Saturday afternoon. "It was pretty fun," said Scott. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
