In 1982, Penny and Joe Nuccio’s son, Jason, was 5 years old and ready for organized entertainment. So Penny and Joe began volunteering at Versailles Park, Joe as a coach, Penny for whatever needed to be done. It didn’t take long for the two to realize that due to a shortage of volunteers, if they didn’t get involved, things might not get done. Penny was soon elected playground secretary and a life of volunteering and serving Versailles Park and St. Bernard Parish recreation had begun.
Under Penny’s leadership and round-the-clock work ethic, improvements came quickly. Individual team needs were met; new equipment was purchased and upgraded; money was raised including funds for non-sport programs like dances, sock hops, and parties. Such recreational opportunities were almost unheard of on playgrounds for children who did not have athletics as their main interest. But Penny believed every child should have an opportunity to take part in the fun.
Versailles playground was located in an environmentally dangerous area of St. Bernard Parish, located next to the Tennaco Oil Company on Paris Road and St. Bernard Highway. Fumes, smoke, chemicals, possible explosions, etc. all were potential mishaps. Parish and playground leaders Ronnie Evans and Julio Fernandez knew it was time for preventative action and needed someone to spearhead a move for a safer playground which could only happen if Versailles Park was moved to a different location.
But finding a volunteer who would spend the hours needed, the paperwork, meetings, phone calls, etc. had proved impossible until Penny Nuccio volunteered herself, and her family, in what could best be described as a 24/7/365 dedication of love.
In fact, Penny was the only one to volunteer to take on this task. She started a relocation movement working with parish officials to make the move happen. To keep this dream alive, funding was needed, the State had to relinquish the land to the Parish, and thousands of signatures were needed for the relocation. Few in parish politics and administration thought this goal could be achieved. But not Penny Nuccio. She first gathered club members, friends, coaches, kids and other volunteers to go door to door to get the required signatures.
Penny succeeded obtaining more than enough signatures. She was gaining momentum and support. Parish President Charlie Ponstein rode this wave of momentum to help convince parish leaders to assist in the playground relocation all the while accomplishing the long-term goal of obtaining the old playground site for the new parish jail. The project was even given a theme: “Let’s make a great playground for kids with healthy supervised entertainment that will help keep them out of trouble”. It was enough to impress the Police Jury who approved the relocation of Versailles Playground to the Val Riess State Park.
The signatures were a good start, but so much more was needed. A committee was formed with Penny, Club President Billy Showalter, Carlos Bogran, Coach Huey Rabalais, Joe Catalanoto, George Pecquet and a few others to press on, prodding the Parish to take control of the land from the State of Louisiana so that the park could become a true playground. Since the parish was not financially able to help with the funding for this project, Penny and the committee helped raise the needed funds for refurbishing buildings on the property and grooming and fencing the land.
Once relocation began, the added challenges didn’t scare Penny Nuccio. She asked her family for their support. Her husband Joe and sons, Jason, Chris and Matt, told her “go for it!” They knew this would steal more of her time from home, but they were family, she had a dream, and they believed in her vision. They had all come too far; it was all or nothing and her family said … Go for the ALL! St. Bernard Parish, its residents and youth, were the recipients of the ensuing success.
During her tenure, Penny served many roles including playground President, secretary, treasurer, public relations person and anywhere she might be needed. It even became a Nuccio family affair with her son Jason serving as the Public-Address Announcer for games, husband Joe would coach and help as needed, as would sons Chris and Matt.
Ronnie Evans and Julio Fernandez were quoted in the St. Bernard Voice as saying … “Penny Nuccio was definitely a vital part of the work of the Versailles Booster Club.” Fernandez went on to explain that Penny’s dedication, long hours, and tireless work is what allowed the park to move and grow when the Parish most needed this kind of park.
The new Val Riess State Park is the culmination of a life’s work for Penny Nuccio and for the children of St. Bernard Parish. In reminiscing, Penny said about all who were involved, “We were proud of the new Val Riess State Park. It took a lot of Booster Club members, coaches, and people to get our park together and finally relocated which was the result of the hard work from so many people and kids working together to make it a beautiful park. Now our kids will be safe. This challenge would not be possible without all of the help andnd teamwork to accomplish the great goal.”
This park’s site today is where the St. Bernard Parish Sports Hall of Fame Building is located and is the signature playground of its kind in the Parish. For her hard work, leadership, dedication, never-quit attitude, and love for the children and adults of St. Bernard, Penny Nuccio is recognized and honored by the St. Bernard Parish Sports Hall of Fame with the 2017 Gulf Coast Bank Humanitarian Award.