January 2025 – Parks & Recreation - 41

Participants' hard work comes to
fruition, inspiring future members
of the STEM workforce, during the
annual " Punkin Chunkin " competition.
park, surrounding residents also
gained an expanded walking path,
an indigenous " Cajun Prairie " pollinator
garden and an outdoor classroom.
The renovations to the park
became a model for successful, integrated
park planning that positively
influences both social and environmental
outcomes.
Unforeseen Challenges
City of Lake Charles was earning
a reputation for success. Continued
development and reinvestment
in
the community were
driving
population and business growth.
However, in early 2020, the inevitable
effects
of the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic reached
Louisiana.
Government shutdowns,
physical distancing and rising
hospital numbers halted local
tourism and caused city leaders to
alter ongoing initiatives.
Staff tried to ensure Partners in
Parks programming kept pace with
the ever-changing government
guidelines while still offering the
Lake Charles population free recreation
opportunities. The Lemonade
Lecture Series offered outdoor
history walks. Art 6-Feet Apart was
held in neighborhood parks around
the city.
Then,
amid the uncertainty
brought on by the pandemic, a major
hurricane hit the city in August
2020. Hurricane Laura, a category
4 storm, tracked right through the
Calcasieu River, obliterating
the
cities in its path. Lake Charles had
not seen a direct hit from a major
hurricane in 15 years. Residents returned
home to utter destruction.
A quick survey by officials revealed
much of the city's infrastructure
and assets suffered severe damage.
Unfortunately, as Lake Charles began
making plans to rebuild, it was
dealt another crucial blow.
Just 45 days after Laura, Hurricane
Delta followed in almost the
exact same path. The wind, rain
and storm surge poured salt in the
wound of an already battered city.
Delta compounded damages from
Laura, and the back-to-back storms
made it nearly impossible for many
to distinguish which storm was
responsible for what. It was more
than just a blow to morale. It put
additional burden on community
members and city officials to prove
damages and mitigation efforts to
insurance companies. Many houses
and properties that once stood a
chance at repair were now considered
total losses.
Large segments of public and affordable
housing no longer existed.
Many small businesses were wiped
off the map. A population that had
been steadily rising year after year
lost more than 10 percent of its
residents in one month. Together,
Hurricanes Laura and Delta cost
the city and its residents tens of billions
of dollars in property damage
and economic loss. Mayor Hunter
and his administration now faced
an additional challenge: inspiring
people to remain and rebuild in
Lake Charles.
The months that followed were
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | J ANUAR Y 2 0 2 5 | Parks & Recreation
41
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAYTON DODDS
January 2025 – Parks & Recreation

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