Mayor Nic Hunter, along with special guest Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, recently gathered with area stakeholders to provide an annual update on the administration’s Partners in Parks Initiative.  

Launched in 2018, the initiative brings transformative infrastructure enhancements and programming to City parks, at no additional burden to the tax payer. To date, the Partners in Parks initiative has raised more than $1.7 million in private and grants funds. The Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana serves as the nonprofit fiscal agent for the fund. 

“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 projects of note have been made possible through Partners in Parks, including the following: 

  • 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 the tree canopy 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

Another goal of the Partners in Parks fund was to build up enough of an endowment balance so there would be dependable funds every year for projects, based solely off of the interest income. This year, 2024, was the first year this goal was achieved. The following projects have been completed or will be completed very shortly at parks due the interest income alone from the Partners in Parks Fund.

  • Landscaping and beautification enhancements at Mary Belle Williams Park and Columbus Circle Park
  • Installation of two new pavilions at Grace Medora Park
  • A new Mom and Me swing coming soon to McMillan Park
  • Brand new pickleball courts at Hillcrest Park
  • New child-size construction play equipment soon to be installed at Millennium Park
  • New wooden benches and stools soon to be installed at Tuten Park
  • Refurbishment of picnic tables and decorative seating arrangements at Drew Park. Additional paved walkways are coming soon to increase connectivity and accessibility

 

Major projects currently in the works, thanks to the successful passage of LC REBOUND, a tax neutral bond proposition, and private support through Partners in Parks, include:

  • ·         A putting greens course at JD Clifton Park
  • ·         A botanical garden at JD Clifton Park
  • ·         New playground equipment at Mary Bell Williams
  • ·         New playground equipment at College Oaks
  • ·         The expansion of ballfields at Buddy Prejean Park
  • ·         The expansion of the Boys and Girls Club at Columbus Circle
  • ·         Complete refurbishment of the lakefront 9/11 Memorial
  • ·         The Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park
  • ·         Complete refurbishment and transformation of Lock Park into the City’s first fully inclusive park that will be accessible to families of 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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