Mayor Nic Hunter was joined by community members today, Thursday, November 19, to break ground on a green stormwater infrastructure project at Hillcrest Park. 

In October 2018 the City of Lake Charles announced its selection for a $225,000 Great Urban Parks Campaign grant by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The City was one of 10 organizations awarded the grant, which supports the development of green stormwater infrastructure.

Green stormwater infrastructure in parks offers an effective way to positively impact environmental and social change, especially within underserved communities. Projects can mitigate the effects of climate-related weather events, improve community health, increase access to green space and nature, and provide opportunities for education, employment and social inclusion. By empowering local residents through meaningful community engagement, projects can address community needs while meeting local stormwater management goals. The grant award issued to the City of Lake Charles is being used to make significant upgrades to Hillcrest Park. 

“This is an exciting day not only for the community surrounding Hillcrest Park, but also for the entire City of Lake Charles,” said Mayor Nic Hunter. “Since announcing our Partners in Parks program in July 2018, we’ve secured nearly three quarters of a million dollars in private funds to make major improvements across the City at our parks, without raising taxes for our citizens. This historic grant is allowing us to make some very significant changes to this park that will greatly enhance the usability and functionality of the existing greenspace at Hillcrest Park.” 

Specifically, this project entails the following:

  • A bioswale that, when complete, will be capable of holding 73,000 gallons, or 1,460 bathtubs, of stormwater. This represents 54 percent of the water that falls on the bioswale’s catchment area in a typical one-year storm.
  • The existing trees on site, along with the 20 cypress trees scheduled for planting, will intercept 8,700 cubic feet of runoff. The trees and bioswale combined will capture 93 percent of the site’s runoff in a one-year storm.
  • The project will add one-third of a mile of walking path, more than doubling the existing walking path at Hillcrest Park. 

Weather permitting, the project is expected to be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2021. 

The Great Urban Parks Campaign aims to demonstrate the social and environmental benefits of green stormwater infrastructure in underserved communities — including increased public access to recreational opportunities and access to nature via parks. 

For more information about the Great Urban Parks Campaign, visit www.nrpa.org/about-GUPC. 

To learn more about the benefits of green stormwater infrastructure in parks, watch this video. 

To learn more about the City of Lake Charles, visit www.cityoflakecharles.com