One of the biggest impacts for improving quality of life and making our area more attractive to visitors, residents, and potential residents would be for us the rid the area of litter. This may sound simplistic, but the number one complaint we hear is about trash and overgrown lots. What can be done? It starts with each individual. Keep your property litter free. Adopt the street in your neighborhood and check it frequently for trash. Homeowners and renters can certainly do that.

Each of us can play a role in making a difference. We can take a cue from Pick It Up Calcasieu and not throw trash out your vehicle window and be sure truck beds are clean. We will be saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in your tax money if
governments don’t have to use tax money to pick up litter.

If you own or manage a business, you can join the Alliance-sponsored Clean Biz Partnership, part of Keep Louisiana Beautiful. All businesses, large and small, are urged to participate. What’s required are steps that welcoming businesses
already do: 

• Keep your parking lots litter-free; place a trash can at your storefront or transition
  points;
• Maintain a clean dumpster area;
• Maintain your business lawn and landscaping; and
• Create a culture of cleanliness for your employees and customers.

Get details and sign up at: https://keeplouisianabeautiful.org/cleanbiz/

An upcoming positive development will make a major impact. The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has announced the Gateway Calcasieu Initiative. This will introduce aesthetic enhancement measures along the I-10 corridor such as the removal of
unwanted vegetation growth, interstate interchange enhancements such as tree plantings and other landscaping, and the design of more attractive east and west entrances into the parish along I-10. This is one of the most positive series of projects for impacting and enhancing tourism. It will help us with economic development by creating an inviting place. And it will build pride in all of us. The Police Jury has developed and advertised a request-for-proposals to procure a consulting firm to partner with the parish in developing a phased improvement plan for I-10 corridor aesthetic enhancement. The Police Jury hopes to approve a qualified consultant proposal within 60 days, assuming budgetary and time frame parameters are acceptable. Once this selection process is completed, work can begin this fall. The planning process is expected to take several months. 

Local city and parish governments are to be commended for condemning property that has been left sitting since the hurricanes of almost four years ago. 

Another very major development is to rid our skyline of the battered and destroyed Capital One Tower. This iconic building has defined the Lake Charles skyline for many years. However, it cannot be repaired so the only solution is to take it down. While it’s sad to see this happen, the destroyed tower is a constant reminder of destruction for the past four years. When the building is removed the property can be used for a quality development.

Another eyesore, the old Players Parking Garage, has been reimagined to serve the Port Wonder and Crying Eagle projects on the lakefront. Lake Charles will have a new look but one we can certainly embrace. Each of us can play a role in making a difference. There is too much litter on the roads and in ditches. If we step up and do our part we can make a huge difference in the appearance of our communities. Cleaning up will demonstrate our Southwest Louisiana pride and improve quality of life for all.