NEW ORLEANS —

Nearly 20 years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORD) has made significant progress in rebuilding its facilities.

After 80 percent of the city was underwater and damaged, fields sat empty, pools stayed dry, and FEMA trailers filled spaces where children once played. Advertisement

"One hundred percent of our facilities had damages. Whether it was from flooding, whether it was from wind damages," said Larry Barabino Jr. with NORD.

In the aftermath, NORD's workforce was reduced from 265 employees to just 16, and its budget shrank to $87,000.

"After Katrina, we were able to open the initial eight playgrounds in the city of New Orleans," said Barabino. "Today we’ve got close to 40."

These spaces host sports

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