The Hammond Area Recreation District No. 1 was created by ordinance of the Tangipahoa Parish Council in the mid 1990’s that includes most of the corporate limits of the City of Hammond and the Seventh Ward, bordered on the west by the Tangipahoa/ Livingston Parish Boundary, bordered on the east by Tangipahoa River, and shares a border on the south with Ponchatoula Area Recreation District.
It is governed by a Board of Five persons appointed by the Tangipahoa Parish Council. In November of 2010, a 10-mill proposition was approved by the voters and construction began in February 2011 on Chappapeela Sports Park. After two years of hard work, Chappapeela Sports Park held the Grand Opening Ceremony on January 31, 2013.
Hammond Area Recreation District #1 is a public park that is funded by HARD #1 taxpayers. Taxpayer dollars goes into the maintenance, upkeep, and general operations of the park. Chappapeela Sports Park's recreation programs are self-funded. Registration fees are collected to help the district to continue to offer and grow both youth and adult programs. Fields and courts are on a per rental basis. Rentals are important to help the park fund capital improvements and grow to accomodate ever-increasing participation at the park. Rentals, recreation programs, plus the taxpayer dollars have continued to help the park grow and flourish since the grand opening in January, 2013.
CLICK HERE to listen to our latest radio commercial about the future of Chappapeela Sports Park!