What began as a bare-bones operation to clean up areas around the University Lakes has turned into a volunteer project valued by the community that lives, exercises and plays around those lakes.
Though the cleanup effort focuses on the University Lakes, it has no ties to the University or its students, who one might assume would be the first to want to keep the areas around its campus clean.
Instead, the effort is led by Parry “Matt” Thomas, a retired nuclear sales specialist who calls the Lakes home.
Few people want to spend their free time just picking up debris, but for Thomas, this hobby turned into something larger.
Thomas, the founder of the nonprofit organization The University Lakes Improvement and Preservation Association Inc., or TULIPA Inc., has been organizing volunteers to clean up areas around the LSU Lakes ever since his hobby of cleaning up the area merged with another concerned citizen’s five and a half years ago.
Thomas said he used to clean up areas along East Lakeshore Drive in his free time when, one day, he was approached by Henson Moore, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for George H. W. Bush, former U.S. Congressmen for Louisiana’s 6th congressional district and resident of the University Lakes.
The two men formed an alliance based on their common concern for the neglected upkeep of East Lakeshore Drive, and from that alliance grew a larger clean up effort that they recruited volunteers and friends to join in.
“The lake is kind of in limbo in terms of whose land it is,” Thomas said.
Thomas said the lake is not in the deeds of the homeowners, although most of them keep it up well. However, the shoreline gets out of control, Thomas said.
“Our main focus is to open up views of the lake and make it more attractive and safer for joggers by taking away hiding places for muggers or people who can break into cars,” Thomas said.
Thomas turned his small clean up operation into a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization in order to receive grants from Exxon and other organizations showing interest in his efforts, however approval is still pending.
TULIPA is a simple project that is promoted by word of mouth and email. Thomas said this helps keep costs down but causes the organization to rely heavily on exposure for support.
“The neighbors have been very supportive,” Thomas said. “It is refreshing, for as many hours and days we put into the volunteer work, it is satisfying to be appreciated.”
In recent months, Thomas said he has received a lot of attention for his efforts, being recognized by both WAFB and WBRZ, as well as receiving support from the LSU community.
“They go out a few times a week and clean up the shoreline and we help them any way we can in terms of picking up debris with our trucks and getting it out of there for them,” said Vincent Patterozzi, the University’s grounds manager.
Both LSU’s Facility Services and volunteers from Tiger Athletic Foundation’s development staff helped at a recent Saturday clean up with a large project to remove a 50 foot tall oak tree that fell into the lakes two years ago.
“That was by far the most satisfying day we’ve had with this project,” Thomas said.
Thomas also said some environmental management professors at the University have offered extra credit to students who volunteer with TULIPA.
Last year, Thomas organized a large effort to remove American Lotus, a native plant species taking over the area of the lake at Stanford Avenue between East Lakeshore and South Lakeshore, from the lake.
“The lake is so much more beautiful when you can actually see the water and the pelicans and the LSU campus,” Thomas said.
Thomas, who retired in 2002, keeps himself occupied with all types of volunteer service and said the hardest thing about being retired is remembering what day of the week it is, because you are not committed to anything you don’t want to do.
However, it is clear that Thomas is doing exactly what he wants to do — serve the Baton Rouge community and recruit volunteers for TULIPA’s clean up efforts.
To volunteer with TULIPA, email [email protected].

Gallery • 2 Photos

Richard Redmann

Parry "Matt" Thomas, president of TULIPA, clears vegetation Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013 from the bank of University Lake.