Photo Gallery - Hike for KaTREEna Event (Jan. 25, 2012)
NEW ORLEANS - Approximately 300 volunteers from Hike for KaTREEna converged on the University Tennis on UNO's East Campus on Wednesday afternoon to plant over 1,000 new trees and shrubs.
Wednesday's visit to the Lakefront was the second visit by the group, who last May planted 140 trees in the area around UNO's new Lakeshore Drive entrance.
The beautification of the UTC property is one of several enhancements occurring on UNO's East Campus and within the surrounding area in recent months.
"This contribution to our tennis facility could not have come at a better time,” said UNO President Dr. Peter Fos. “We are currently working on renovations to Maestri Field and the city has recently re-opened the Joe Bartholomew Golf Course.”
“Beautification of our Tennis Center supports our efforts to attract first-rate athletes to all of our programs and brings visiting players to our campus from the United States Tennis Association and other major athletic organizations.”
Construction of the 26-court facility originally began in the days prior to Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 and was finished in 2006 despite uncertainties surrounding the community.
The facility became property of UNO during the spring of 2010 and has since hosted several USTA Challenger and Satellite events, as well as collegiate and Louisiana prep championship events.
The UTC has been home to the Privateer tennis programs since they were reinstated in fall of 2007.
“We have first-rate students in our tennis program -- seven of whom earned a 4.0 GPA last semester – and these students are from right here in Louisiana as well as India, Egypt, Peru, Columbia, Germany, France and Spain,” said Fos. “The tennis program at UNO is a good representation of the diverse and high-achieving students here at UNO, and on their behalf we sincerely thank our volunteers for their time and hard work.”
The event at the UTC was one of two in the greater New Orleans community for Hike for KaTREEna on Wednesday as another group of volunteers spent time at City Park.
The volunteers who planted trees at both sites were out of town visitors in New Orleans for a conference. Mayor Mitch Landrieu's Serve NOLA initiative, led by Chief Service Officer Mary-Jo Webster, connected the visitors' desire to engage in rebuilding with the Hike for KaTREEna non-profit organization.
Serve NOLA promotes service in high impact areas like education, safety and sustainability.
Hike for KaTREEna was established by Monique Pilié, who in 2006 hiked the 2175 miles of the Appalachian Trail to raise awareness of Hurricane Katrina's impact on the city's treescape. Her goal was to raise enough money to plant one tree in New Orleans for every mile she hiked.
Since her return back in New Orleans, she has teamed with a host of volunteers locally and across the country to replace the tens of thousands of trees throughout the community.
More information about the organization can be found at
http://www.hikeforkatreena.com/
