With another museum just opening, a playground in the works, a new trailhead nearing completion and the number of special events growing in the town, tourism is booming in Abita Springs.

There is a lot to do in Abita Springs and more in the works. But there is just one problem — no place for visitors to lay their heads after a long day.

Alderman Troy Dugas said aldermen have been trying to entice companies to build a hotel or motel in the town, but their efforts have proven unsuccessful, forcing to think outside of the box. Tuesday night, the Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance allowing bed and breakfasts in all zonings with the exception of the multifamily zonings.

In order to be allowed, however, their owners must abide by a list of stipulations.

The owner must reside on the property, only 20 percent of the property can be rented out, one meal per day must be provided and no one can stay for more than two weeks at a time.

Dugas said he hopes this will encourage more residents to open bed and breakfasts in the town because it is hard to get people to come to Abita Springs from outside of the area when there are no accommodations to offer them.

Currently, people coming from out of town to partake in the town’s offerings have to stay in Mandeville or Covington.

The board also approved an ordinance that would allow people to bring their drinks with them when leaving an establishment in the town’s historic district.

Prior to the ordinance’s approval, people could bring drinks from home and walk around town, but could not walk out of a restaurant sipping on a drink.

Now, people can leave an establishment with a drink as long as it is in a paper or plastic to-go cup.

Alderman Pat Patterson said this change is designed to allow people who are enjoying to music at one of the town’s events to walk in a business, buy a drink and walk back out.

In a separate matter, the board adopted a resolution requesting the state declare the town’s historic district a cultural district, which provides tax incentives for the sale of original art and the restoration of older buildings inside the district.

Mayor Louis Fitzmorris said he thinks this would provide an excellent opportunity to revive the artistic community in the town as well as provide homeowners an incentive to refurbish their historic homes.

Alderman Sheri Campbell said the classification would also open the door for the town to obtain additional grants.

In other matters:

• The board amended the town’s tree ordinance, further protecting the town’s already protected trees, which include live oaks, magnolias, cypress and long-leaf pines. The amendment to the ordinance, which already banned the removal of such trees, prohibits anything that would do harm to the trees. This, Fitzmorris said, includes excessive trimming and the covering of roots.

He said the amendment comes after a resident “badly butchered” a live oak tree in town.

• Work continues on the park and trailhead, as McMath Construction donated the materials and labor for the columns, and the Ladies Progressive Club donated the money for an archway. The new playground is set to be built June 24-29.

The first couple of days will only be for skilled laborers, but volunteers are needed for June 28 and 29. The group needs at least 260 people each day to put up the playground.

For more information, see the groups Web site, abitafriendsofthepark.org. A meeting for team captains will be held Monday at Town Hall at 7 p.m.

If the water playground cannot be completed in time for the playground build days, it will be put on hold and will be installed in July.

• The town’s 2007 audit came back favorably without any changes having to be made to the budget.

• The St. Tammany News was named the town’s official journal for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

• Planning Director Cindy Chatelain urged residents to attend an open house FEMA will be holding June 25 from 2-8 p.m. at William Pitcher Junior High School to discuss the new flood plain maps. She said there are a lot of proposed changes in the town, and FEMA representatives will be on hand with computers to pull up specific areas for residents.

She suggested that if someone’s home is located in one of the new flood plains, they should buy flood insurance now and get locked into a price before the maps become official in approximately one year. Those who cannot attend the meeting can view the maps on-line at www.lamappingproject.com.

• The board introduced an ordinance addressing the minimum lot size as well as an ordinance governing the rules and regulations for renting out town facilities.

These will be discussed at a public hearing next month.