On April 13, 2010, the American Planning Association presented New Orlean’s City Park with the 2010 National Planning Achievement Award. Like many areas of New Orleans, the non-profit City Park was devastated in 2005 by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Led by UI planning alum Bob Becker (class of 1971) who serves as CEO of the City Park Improvement Association, City Park was able to use its comprehensive plan for recovery and enhancement of the park. According to the April 10, 2010 issue of Planning Magazine, having the plan in place helped to direct recovery efforts and the pursuit of much needed grant money for the park’s refurbishment. In October 2006, 37 students and three faculty members from the UI planning program traveled to New Orleans and contributed to the park’s recovery by volunteering an afternoon cleaning up debris and weeds.