This celebration has been a long time coming, said Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter as officials gathered to mark the refurbishment of the Boys and Girls Club basketball court at Columbus Circle Recreation Center.

“It has been decades since we had a Boys & Girls club in this community, and thanks to Cheniere LNG and the City of Lake Charles partnering together we are here at Columbus Circle and we are a part of the resurgence and reimagination and reintroduction of that Boys & Girls Club over the last couple of years.”

The Cheniere Energy Club – created in 2021 through the Partners in Parks initiative – provides children six and older with after-school and summer activities that support academic achievement, healthy lifestyle choices, character building and recreation. Currently, there are 84 registered members.

“Boys & Girls Club’s mission is to empower all young people, especially those who need us most to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens,” said Rhyan Wheeler, Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana CEO. “We are able to give kids a safe, positive environment here at the Boys & Girls Club with life-enhancing skills.”

The refurbishment of the basketball court is in conjunction with the NBA Cares 75th Anniversary Project, which aims to refurbish basketball courts in each NBA team’s local market.

“When we first learned about this opportunity, we knew we wanted to come to Lake Charles,” said Julie Shea Borsch, Senior Director of Community and Government Relations for the New Orleans Pelicans. She recalled contacting State Senator Jeremy Stine for a recommendation. “He felt strongly that the work being done here at this club should be rewarded with this court and we couldn’t agree more.”

“The New Orleans Pelicans are thrilled to have played a part in bringing this new court to the Lake Charles Community. We know it’s important to create safe places to enjoy the game of basketball and encourage a healthy and active lifestyle, but we hope that benefits extend beyond that.”

“It is our commitment to support and enhance local communities across Louisiana and it’s our pleasure to once again partner with our state legislature in advancing places of recreation,” said New Orleans Pelicans President Dennis Lauscha. “In addition to giving local children a safe place to enjoy the game of basketball, this brand-new court refurbishment also supports one of our organization’s greatest missions, which is to encourage our youth to live healthy and active lifestyles.”

Members of the Cheniere Energy Boys & Girls Club joined the ceremony to celebrate and the New Orleans Pelicans representatives hosted a Junior Training Camps (JTC) program on the court after the ceremony for the children.

To kick off the JTC and christen the refurbished court, eleven-year-old member Nathan L. shot a commemorative free throw alongside New Orleans Pelican Mascot, Pierre the Pelican.

Funds for the project were provided by the NBA and matched by the City of Lake Charles.