Mayor Cantrell Leaps into Summer with NORD to Celebrate “Splash Day” and Recreation Activities
NEW ORLEANS – Today, Mayor LaToya Cantrell celebrated the
kick-off of NORD’s summer recreation season with other officials and area youth at the
annual “Splash Day,” held at the Pradat Pool in New Orleans East.
“Splash Day is not only a fun opportunity to celebrate the many great programs that NORD has to offer all of our people this summer, but it’s also a chance to celebrate the opening of Pradat Pool for the first full summer season since Hurricane Katrina,” said Mayor Cantrell, who also sits on the NORD Commission.
After her remarks, Mayor Cantrell led a group of people in a leap into the pool. The group included Maya Wyche, Interim CEO for NORD, and
several NORD campers along with other area youth. Also joining Mayor Cantrell
at the event were: Cyndi Nguyen, City Council member, District E; Brian Egana,
NORD Commissioner, District E; Theo Sanders, NORD Commissioner, District C; Rebecca
Conwell, NORD Foundation Executive Director; Ernest Price, Jr., NORD Foundation
Board Member; and NORD partners Rhonda Jackson with Share Our Strength Food Program
and James Graham with Healthy School Food Collaborative.
While summer officially began this week, NORD opened its
summer programming at the beginning of June, which included the reopening of the
Pradat Pool. This year, NORD opened and manages 13 outdoor pools and three
indoor pools across the city. NORD also oversees 42 youth and 13 teen camps
across the city, serving more than 4,800 youth and teens. The successful operation of NORD summer camps
would not be possible without cooperative partnerships with schools,
non-profits and faith-based organizations across the City of New Orleans.
“We are pleased to continue our tradition of Splash Day,
celebrating the start of summer and providing residents with quality
programming, events, and outdoor recreational opportunities,” Wyche said. “This
opportunity would not be possible without the commitment and support of our
administration, community partners, and sponsors. NORD will continue to provide
families with diverse opportunities to promote growth in a positive learning
environment throughout the summer and year-round.”
City Council members were excited about the new season,
especially City Council member Nguyen, whose district includes the Pradat Pool: “Summer
is a time for kids to have fun,” Nguyen said. “Please take advantage of the
different recreational activities offered by NORD. We want to make sure that
every child in our community enjoys his or her summer and isprepared to return
back to school in August.”
“This is a great way to remind families of the many
resources NORD has to offer across the city. From parks, to pools, to
basketball courts, I hope everyone enjoys these fantastic facilities all summer
long,” said Joseph I. Giarrusso III, City Council member, District A.
NORD also offers tennis lessons, swim lessons, open fishing
and canoeing, overnight urban camping experiences at Joe W. Brown Park, and is
gearing up to host its signature events and athletic seasons:
- Family Game Night (for all families, including those with special needs);
- Family Fun Walk at Pontchartrain Park;
- National Dance Day;
- Volleyball and flag football;
- Our annual National Seniors Day Celebration; and
- Summer camps' celebratory, culminating event in City Park.
NORD’s summer programming and events are generously
sponsored by a host of corporate partners through the NORD Foundation. Sponsors
include:
- Hertz Investment Group
- Boh Brothers
- Sodexo
- Chevron
- Entergy New Orleans
- Share our Strength
- No Kid Hungry
- And a host of others.
NORD receives a $1.18 million federal Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) funding allocation from the City of New Orleans Office of
Community Development for the operation of summer youth and teen career camps. NORD’s free summer meals program is funded
and provided through Sodexo and Share Our Strength, which provide more than 200,000
free meals to youth and teens over the course of the summer programming session.
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