Shreveport’s Fair Grounds Field Litigation: Essential Facts
Background of the Case
The City of Shreveport has been immersed in a legal dispute over the demolition of Fair Grounds Field for almost two years. On September 9, 2022, actions were commenced in the First Judicial District Court of Caddo Parish by a local organization seeking to preserve the stadium, highlighting potential health threats if the structure were dismantled.
Formerly, Mayor Adrian Perkins in 2022 disclosed plans to destroy the desolate baseball field to pave way for a modern multi-sport facility. However, in February 2024, the current mayor, Tom Arceneaux, suspended the new project and halted the demolition following a feasibility study.
Who are the Parties in the Lawsuit?
The Friends of Fairgrounds Field, LLC and John V. Lowe are the plaintiffs in this litigation, as indicated in court records. Friends of Fairgrounds Field, according to the court files, is a group of individuals determined to conserve and improve the venue. John V. Lowe has been a volunteer at Louisiana State Fair for 57 years and served as county agent for North Louisiana for over 30 years.
On the other hand, the City of Shreveport and Henderson Construction Services, Inc. are named as defendants in the case.
Underlying Reasons for Litigation
For over a decade, Fairgrounds Field, which was previously used for numerous public events, has been neglected and left in a disintegrated state. According to the lawsuit, the stadium has had a long history of bat infestations. It is alleged that the demolition would expose the residents of Shreveport to a potentially lethal fungus, histoplasmosis, caused by significant bat droppings, also known as guano.
The City of Shreveport entered into an agreement for the demolition of Fairgrounds Field with Henderson Construction Services, Inc., on June 27, 2022, worth $280,306. The scope of work provided in the initial submission did not address bat infestations, bat removal, or guano and Histoplasma complications. Eventually, provisions for bat removal and guano clean-up were added to the contract, thereby increasing the contract amount to $192,500.
Complications in Remediation
Perault Nuisance Wildlife Control, LLC was subcontracted to address the bat infestation issue and guano cleanup. Prior to this, in June 2022, United Bat Control, Inc. had provided a comprehensive proposal for bat removal, guano removal, and histoplasmosis eradication, among other services at a total cost of $167,850. This proposal was, however, rejected for reasons unclear to the plaintiffs.
According to court documents, the plaintiffs – Lowe and Friends of Fairgrounds Field – arrived at the conclusion that the bat infestation and significant guano depositions remain unresolved, based on observations and reports from United Bat Control Inc.
Hazardous Consequences of the Demolition
Concerns raised by the plaintiffs include the risk of having bat-infested and guano-ladened structural elements being pulverized on site, resulting in the release of harmful particles. This can pose substantial health risks such as respiratory diseases and, in extreme cases, death to those residing in the surrounding areas and those utilizing the Louisiana State Fairgrounds.
The lawsuit asserts that these developments would have a negative impact on the organization’s members and other individuals who frequent the Louisiana State Fairgrounds.