On December 27, 2012, the Meraux Foundation, represented by Rita Gue, President, and Floyd Gue, Vice President, donated three parcels of land to the St. Bernard Parish Government.  St. Bernard Parish president, David Peralta, accepted the land donation on behalf of the parish.  The land will serve as a trailhead for the planned bicycle/pedestrian path atop the Mississippi River levee.  The trailhead will be used for parking and for an ADA-compliant access ramp from the parking area to the levee path.
The path, part of the Mississippi River Trail, will be a 10-foot wide paved facility for use by pedestrians and bicyclists.  Viewing vistas will by positioned along the path.  Preliminary engineering plans have been completed and funding secured for Phases I and II of the planned path.  The first two phases will stretch 3.2 miles from the Valero Refinery in Chalmette downriver to the Violet Canal in Violet.  Planning for Phase III, which will extend the path from Violet to the St. Bernard State Park in Braithwaite, is in progress.
“This project, in the works for ten years, was stalled, because funding was contingent on securing land for the trailhead with an existing crossing of the railroad track,” said Susan Klees, local bicycle advocate.  “The generous donation by the Meraux Foundation was essential in moving the project forward.”
President Peralta added, “I cannot thank the Meraux Foundation enough for their contribution to this project.  The wheelchair-accessible path will enable everyone to enjoy the beauty of the Mississippi River and provide a venue that will encourage a more active lifestyle for the residents of St. Bernard Parish.”