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About Friends of the Park - Abita Springs Park
Friends of the Park is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 2007. We are a citizen volunteer group dedicated to developing, funding, and implementing beautification projects in the park ,playground and around the town of Abita Springs. We are dedicated to providing a variety of activities, special events, facilities and services that collectively enrich the lives of all patrons.
Friends of the Park Board Members
President : Regan Contois is the current President of FOP and a founding Board Member. She moved to Abita with her husband, Mark in 2005, and began construction of a home, a playground and a family in that order! She is a landscape architect and helps to guide the master plan for the Abita Park by serving on the Town Park Committee and on the FOP Board. She works as a Planner for St. Tammany Parish. In her free time she enjoys painting, gardening, reading and hanging out with family and friends. She and Mark thoroughly enjoy raising Sam, their three year old child and Uber, his hairy dog-brother in the community of Abita. FOP has provided a wonderful way for Regan to use her own talents in a way that enhances the local community while providing the benefit of meeting many talented, enthusiastic people who have become great friends.
Vice President:Tracy Kennan moved to Abita Springs' historic district in 2006 with her husband Anthony Donado. The couple has two young children who will attend school in our town's public schools. After working in the education division of the New Orleans Museum of Art for seven years, Tracy went back to school at Southeastern Louisiana University to become a certified elementary school teacher. A native of Northwest Arkansas, Tracy lived for twelve years in New Orleans where she was founder and co-director of the non-profit, alternative art gallery and music venue, 3 Ring Circus Productions. Since 2009 Ms. Kennan has served as the membership coordinator for Friends of the Park..
Treasurer: Greg Lemon one of the founding members. Greg was born and raised in Abita and is a life long member of Abita St Jane Catholic Church. He is a decorated Vietnam combat Army veteran. Greg returned to Abita 10 years ago to retire after a 36 year career with a Fortune 500 International Business company where he and his family worked and lived all over the world. He is on the St Tammany Hospital Board and is Mayor Pro Tem / Alderman of Abita Springs La. Greg is currently Chairman of St Tammany Fire District # 8 and is on the Parrish Emergency Operations Advisory Board. Greg has been married to his wife Marilyn for 43 years and has two daughters Lanie and Mindy.
Secretary: Rachel Lambert is the (generally) proud Mom of four Abita School Boys at Abita Middle, FJH, and FHS. She is the wife of Dalton Lambert and they have lived in Abita Springs since 1992. Rachel is a former school teacher who has volunteered her time working as a PTA Abita Elementary and Middle School Volunteer, 2000-present, especially with their Gumbo Art and Warrior Art programs, and Cultural Arts Committees. She is a Covington Presbyterian Church Member and an Education Committee Member. Rachel is a Board Member of the Abita Springs Trailhead Museum. She is a board member of the Abita Springs Friends of the Park, and focuses her work there in connecting student artists to park projects. She is especially proud of FOP’s art panels and benches in the playground and around the water feature, which display work by groups and individuals who volunteered to make our park uniquely Abita!
Special Committe Chairs:
Emily Achee is the wife of Bryan Achee and is the proud mother of two amazing boys, Treavor and Nicolas. Emily graduated from LSU’s school of dentistry in 2000. She is the current Secretary for Friends of the Park and the current Treasurer of the Abita Springs Elementary PTA. She is a tireless worker who jumps in with both feet to volunteer for school functions and various FOP activities throughout the year. When she is not busy volunteering or chasing her very active boys she enjoys traveling with her family and generally making the world a better place! We are very excited to have someone with her penchant for organization on the FOP Board as secretary.
David Spicuzza is a long time resident of Abita Springs. He is a retired architect, but is so active in the community that he considers himself too busy to be employed. David is a member of the musical group, THE GROCERY CLERKS and you will see him at many festivals and jam sessions. David is also a master “grill chef” where he is always willing to serve. An accomplished and published “cartoonist” David loves creating cartoons and painting when he has free time. He serves on the
board of the Abita Trailhead Museum and the Historical Society.
Evette Randolph is the newly elected Volunteer Coordinator of FOP. Her fond memories of growing up in Abita prompted her to leave a successful event planning business in Los Angeles to move back to the small town that she grew up in. With her husband Michael by her side, she hopes to create those same wonderful memories for her children, Magnum and Ciara. She is a movie fanatic (hint: she is a movie plot spoiler, so beware of watching movies with her) and enjoys bringing the kids to visit Dad at work on the movie sets. She is also a member of the Ladies Progressive Club.
Eva Jenkins was born in Natchez, MS, but is proud to call Louisiana “home”. Her thirty year old son will be married in June and her twenty-six year old daughter is married and lives in Shreveport. Eva loves the town of Abita Springs and proudly serves as a member of the Friends of the Park, the Ladies Progressive Club, the PTA, and as a volunteer at the Abita Experience Museum. Teaching at Abita Springs Elementary has been the best experience of her twenty nine year career. In addition to teaching, she has been the activity director of a rehabilitation hospital, the education coordinator of a children’s museum, a marine education specialist, and a water safety instructor. Her hobbies are playing guitar, piano, harp, and flute. She loves bike-riding on the trace, attending local concerts and festivals, and shopping at the farmer’s market. Eva looks forward to a long, happy life in Abita Springs and has no plans to retire. 
Darlene Creel lived in Covington most of her life before moving to Abita Spring in 2002. She is retired from the St. Tammany Parish School system having spent more then 4 years at Abita Elementary. Darlene is a very active member of Hope Church of Waldheim, where she is part of a meals ministry., that provides meals to shut ins. She has accomplished many of the numerous items on her “bucket list” one being to maintain an active website and blog. This was made possible when she was welcomed on the FOP board. She and her husband, Donald have four grown and married children and a number of grandchildren and great grandkids. Darlene loves to spend time with family and friends. Her favorite past time is traveling. Her goal is to fill the pages of her 2nd pass port.
