Sw Louisiana News

Mayor Nic Hunter, accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, recently presented an update on the Partners in Parks Initiative to local stakeholders. Launched in 2018, this initiative aims to enhance city parks through infrastructure improvements and programming without increasing taxpayer burden. The initiative has raised over $1.7 million through private donations and grants, with the Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana acting as the fiscal agent.

“When we launched Partners in Parks six years ago, my modest goal was $100,000. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the success we would see with securing corporate partners, grant funding, and family-friendly programming,” said Mayor Nic Hunter. “I praise the value of partnerships all the time, but there really are no words that can adequately define what can happen in your community when you bring the public and private sectors together to pursue quality of life initiatives.”

Several significant projects have been accomplished through this initiative:

- McMillan Park STEM Playground

- Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project at Hillcrest Park

- Establishment of a Boys and Girls Club in Lake Charles for the first time in 30 years at Columbus Circle Park

- Multiple tree plantings by industries and nonprofits to replace those lost during Hurricanes Laura and Delta

- New Orleans Pelicans Court Refurbishment at Columbus Circle Park

- Baseball and softball field improvements for local recreation leagues

- Reopening and rehabilitation of Alligator Pond

- Reopening of the Back Trails at Tuten Park

- New exercise and play equipment at Bark du Lac Dog Park

- Updated master plans for Tuten & Riverside Parks

- The first Teen Center to open in Lake Charles in decades

- An outdoor musical instrument at Millennium Park

- A mural of jazz singer Nellie Lutcher at Nellie Lutcher Memorial Park

This year marked a milestone as sufficient endowment funds were achieved to support projects solely from interest income. Projects completed or nearing completion include landscaping enhancements at Mary Belle Williams Park, new pavilions at Grace Medora Park, pickleball courts at Hillcrest Park, child-size construction play equipment soon to be installed at Millennium Park, among others.

Future major projects involve:

· A putting greens course and botanical garden at JD Clifton Park

· New playground equipment for Mary Bell Williams and College Oaks

· Expansion of ballfields at Buddy Prejean Park

· Expansion of the Boys and Girls Club at Columbus Circle

· Complete refurbishment of both lakefront 9/11 Memorial and Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial

· Transformation of Lock Park into a fully inclusive park accessible to families with all ability levels

“We are six years in with Partners in Parks, but it feels like we have only just begun to truly make an impact,” added Mayor Hunter. “More families than ever are coming to our parks for the quality programs we are providing nearly every weekend. I am so proud of the work we are doing to truly leverage these quality-of-life assets for our community.”

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