City of Lake Charles Announces Free, Family-Friendly Partners in Parks Activities for First Quarter of 2023

Lake Charles, Louisiana - The City of Lake Charles, Louisiana is offering a range of free, family-friendly events in the first quarter of 2023, including a health fair, a nature event focusing on trees, a free tree giveaway, and a birding and reptile exploration event, as part of its Partners in Parks initiative. The initiative aims to contribute private and public funds to repair park infrastructure and expand activities and has invested more than $1m in the city's parks without imposing new taxes on local residents.

On January 4, 2023, the City of Lake Charles announced a full schedule of Partners in Parks activities for the first quarter of 2023. Unless otherwise specified, all events are family-friendly, free, and open to the public.

The CHRISTUS Ochsner Health SWLA "It's a Healthy New Year Community Health Fair" is scheduled for Saturday, January 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at Drew Park.

Sasol's Nature in Focus series returns on Saturday, January 14, with a free educational event focusing on The Mighty Importance of Trees. The Southwest Louisiana Master Naturalists will be on hand at Tuten Park from 10 a.m. to noon with a range of informative and fun activities for the entire family.

As part of the City's ReTree LC Initiative, the month of January will finish with a free tree giveaway in cooperation with Northrop Grumman. The giveaway will take place at Hillcrest Park on Saturday, January 21, from 9 a.m. to noon, in honor of Louisiana Arbor Day.

In February, there will be several Nature in Focus events, a Children's Mardi Gras Stroll, and a CSE Mad City Money Financial Literacy program.
Residents may look forward to Book it to the Park with the Calcasieu Parish Public Library, a birding and reptile exploration event, and a Waste Management instructional lecture on the importance of recycling in March. “Our parks are a critical component of quality of life in the City of Lake Charles,” said Mayor Nic Hunter. “Programs like these are a small part of a larger effort we are making across the City through our Partners in Parks initiative to expand opportunities for citizens of all ages to make their way outside and explore science and nature in their own backyard.”

The City of Lake Charles launched its Partners in Parks initiative in July 2018, with the goal of contributing private and public funds to repair park infrastructure and expand activities. To date,

Partners in Parks has invested over a million dollars on the City's parks with no new taxing on local residents.

Individuals interested in investing in City parks can do so online at www.foundationswla.org.

All events are subject to change. For the most recent schedule updates, visit www.cityoflakecharles.com.