City Park (New Orleans)

City Park, a 1,300 acre (5.3 km²) public park in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the 6th-largest and 7th-most-visited urban public park in the United States. City Park is approximately 50% larger than Central Park in New York City, the municipal park recognized by Americans nationwide as the archetypal urban greenspace. Although it is an urban park whose land is owned by the City of New Orleans, it is administered by the City Park Improvement Association, an arm of state government, not by the New Orleans Parks and Parkways Department. City Park is very unusual in that it is a largely self-supporting public park, with most of its annual budget derived from self-generated revenue through user fees and donations. In the wake of the enormous damage inflicted upon the park due to Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism began to partially subsidize the park's operations.

City Park holds the world's largest collection of mature live oak trees, some older than 600 years in age. Its founding in 1853 also makes it one of the oldest parks in the country.

History

City Park was established in the mid-19th century on land fronting Metairie Road (now City Park Avenue), along the remains of Bayou Metairie, a former distributary of the Mississippi River. The park originally extended only a short distance back from City Park Avenue, as swampland covered most of the landscape between Bayou Metairie and the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain. This area, to the north of the original park, was actually platted for streets by city planners, though none were ever realized.

In the first two decades of the 20th century, numerous improvements were undertaken by the City Park Improvement Association. Notable park landmarks like the Casino, the Peristyle, Popp Bandstand, Lelong Drive and the Issac Delgado Museum of Art were constructed. City Park's governing board also accomplished a number of large land acquisitions, such that the park assumed its current boundaries. A master plan, by Bennett, Parsons & Frost of Chicago was commissioned to guide the development of the greatly enlarged park; this plan was largely implemented in the 1930s by numerous federal relief agencies, such as the Works Progress Administration.

Until 1958, all park amenities, including the playground, were restricted to white residents. African American children and families were banned from entering the park. Шаблон:Citation needed

Substantial improvements were made to the park's newly acquired land by the Works Progress Administration, including the installation of many sculptures by WPA artist Enrique Alferez, construction of buildings, bridges, roads, and much of the electrical and plumbing infrastructure that were still serving the park when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. A formal rose garden was developed, the genesis of today's New Orleans Botanical Garden. The WPA also planted Couterie Forest and constructed Popp Fountain, City Park Stadium, a second 18-hole golf course - home for many years to the New Orleans Open golf tournament - and a golf clubhouse, which was later partially demolished to accommodate I-610.

After World War II, two additional 18-hole golf courses were added, I-610 was constructed through the park, a new golf clubhouse was erected, the Wisner Foundation subsidized the development of a scenic parkway running almost the entire length of Bayou St. John (Wisner Boulevard), and multiple rounds of expansion and improvement occurred involving various park facilities. By the 1970s, City Park featured four 18-hole golf courses, over 50 tennis courts, numerous other athletic fields and facilities, and the newly expanded New Orleans Museum of Art. However, as was the case with many urban parks during this period, City Park began to suffer neglect, the result of insufficient maintenance due to budget cuts. Towards the end of this period the Friends of City Park were formed (1979) to rally support and raise resources for the park.

Since 1999, City Park has been the venue for the Voodoo Experience, which has become the largest of the live music events held in the park.

Hurricane Katrina did extensive damage to the park, with winds toppling an estimated 1,000 trees and damaging many more. The subsequent failure of multiple floodwalls brought about the inundation of much of the city, and almost the entire park was flooded with Шаблон:Convert to Шаблон:Convert of water that remained for two to four weeks, damaging all buildings, amusement rides, maintenance equipment, electrical systems and vehicles, and causing the death of more trees and landscaping - including nearly the entire plant collection in the New Orleans Botanical Garden.

As of 2011, City Park is administered and being redeveloped according to its 2005 master plan, the existence of which proved invaluable to the effective channeling of rebuilding assistance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The park is recovering, repairing old attractions and adding new ones as well. Most facilities have reopened, including Storyland, the stadiums, the Botanical Garden, and Carousel Gardens. A dedicated bikeway was added between Wisner Boulevard and Bayou St. John for the length of the parkway, another was installed between Bayou St. John and Marconi Drive along the park's northern boundary, and a third was introduced alongside Harrison Avenue. Most recently, a landscaped walk debuted surrounding Big Lake, adjacent to the New Orleans Museum of Art. This new amenity, called for in the park's 2005 master plan, has realized the long-held wish of surrounding neighborhoods for a pedestrian- and bicycle-only scenic walk akin to the popular facility long offered in Audubon Park, Uptown.

Facilities

City Park has dozens of attractions that make it a popular destination in Greater New Orleans.

  • Carousel Gardens Amusement Park - features a miniature train, a small roller coaster and 15 other rides, and one of the few remaining antique, carved wooden carousels in the country. The carousel turned 100 years old in 2006.
  • Storyland – a children’s fairy tale themed playground that features twenty-six larger than life storybook exhibits for kids to climb on, slide down, or pretend within. Storyland is open 7 days a week.
  • New Orleans Botanical Garden – a lush Шаблон:Convert site containing a large collection of temperate, tropical, and semitropical plants. The Garden is also home to the New Orleans Historic Train Garden, a G-scale model railroad exhibit with houses representing the various neighborhoods of the city recreated in twigs, bark, and other plant matter.
  • Celebration in the Oaks – a popular holiday light and entertainment extravaganza that generates 13 percent of the park’s annual operating budget.
  • New Orleans Museum of Art – originally named the Delgado Museum of Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art is considered one of the finest art museums in the South.
  • Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden – opened in 2003, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden features over 30 works of world-renowned sculptures in a beautifully landscaped area featuring mature live oak trees.
  • Weddings & Catering – venues within the park host hundreds of weddings and other functions throughout the year. The park is the largest non-hotel caterer in the city.
  • Historic Structures – the Peristyle, Popp Bandstand and the Casino Building were constructed between 1907 and 1917. Popp Fountain was added in 1937.
  • City Park Golf Courses – on the eve of Hurricane Katrina the park boasted three 18-hole golf courses, one of which was once home to the city’s PGA tournament. The courses were damaged by Katrina-induced flooding. One course "The North Course at City Park" reopened in 2008 after undergoing a slight redesign with new greens and tees. The land that contained the former East and West courses is awaiting redevelopment. Several plans have been discussed.
  • City Park Driving Range – a 100-tee, double decker driving range.
  • Softball and Soccer – the park offers more than a dozen softball and soccer fields.
  • Tad Gormley Stadium - originally known as City Park Stadium, this multipurpose arena seats 26,500 and was built by the Works Progress Administration. It was renovated for the 1992 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials and in July 2005 was home to the Jr. Olympics track and field competitions. After Reggie Bush was drafted by the New Orleans Saints, he donated over $80,000 to repair Katrina-induced damage to the field, so that area high school football teams had a place to compete. In acknowledgement of Bush's generosity, Tad Gormley's playing field is recognized as Reggie Bush Field.
  • Pan American Stadium - a 5,000 seat stadium, home of the New Orleans Jesters National Premier Soccer League soccer team. The stadium also plays host to many high school football games as well as numerous additional soccer matches.
  • Track – the 400-meter, international track was designed as a practice track for the 1992 US Olympic Track & Field Trials.
  • Tennis – the City Park Tennis Center, featuring rubico and hard courts, is one of the largest municipal tennis facilities in the South.
  • Boating and Fishing – the Park features Шаблон:Convert of lagoons, lakes and bayous stocked with a wide variety of fish, including bass. Boating returned to City Park in 2009. Fishing is allowed seasonally. The park also hosts an annual fishing rodeo - one of the oldest in the nation.
  • Horse Stables – Equest Farm offers boarding for horses, party accommodation, and equestrian lessons. The park has also historically housed the New Orleans Police Department's stables.
  • City Putt – As of May 24, 2013, City Park’s newest attraction is City Putt. It is a 36-hole mini golf complex with two courses: the Louisiana Course highlights cultural themes and cities from around the state; the New Orleans Course showcases streets and iconic themes from around the city, with signs detailing the city’s historic sites at each hole. City Putt is 100 percent ADA accessible and located on Victory Drive across from the entrance to Carousel Gardens, Storyland and the Botanical Garden.
  • Bike and Boat Rentals - Wheel Fun Rentalsoperates a bike and boat rental facility, which began operation in July 2013. Wheel Fun Rentals offers specialty (Surrey Bikes) and two wheel bicycle rental along with Paddle Boats, Kayaks and Stand-up Paddleboards (SUP)

External links

Шаблон:Commons category

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Will N
30 March 2013
6th-largest urban public park in the US, approx. 50% larger than Central Park in NYC. Holds the world's largest collection of mature live oak trees. Founded in 1853, one of the oldest parks in the US.
Kim
2 February 2015
13,000 acre outdoor oasis. Botanical Gardens, Besthoff Sculpture Garden, Biking, Jogging, and Walking Trails, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, Paddle Boats and newly added Putt -Putt .
Tony T
30 May 2017
This park is huge! Alot to do in one day! Museums, sculpture gardens, botanical gardens, small Amusement Park, Golf, boat riding, bicycle trails, mini golf! definitely a place for the whole family
Jess O'Halloran
24 April 2017
I dare say the most beautiful inner city park I've ever been to. Be sure to so see the dueling oaks, anseman oak and the incredible McDonough oaks. Botanical gardens gorgeous too!
Kayla Henson
13 October 2016
Rent kayaks at the Big Lake and kayak through the little canals. You'll see lots of turtles, birds, and potentially crocodiles that will make you paddle harder than you thought you could ????
Ryan Eugene
12 November 2018
Described as 10 times bigger than Central Park, I'm not sure any guest has seen it all. The south side features NOMA, the festival grounds, a free sculpture garden, mini golf and an amusement park.
Load more comments
foursquare.com
8.1/10
john fournier and 121,342 more people have been here
Map
1001 Harrison Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA Get directions
Thu Noon–8:00 PM
Fri 10:00 AM–9:00 PM
Sat 8:00 AM–8:00 PM
Sun 9:00 AM–7:00 PM
Mon 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
Tue Noon–8:00 PM

New Orleans City Park on Foursquare

City Park (New Orleans) on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Troubadour Hotel New Orleans, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

starting $104

Holiday Inn New Orleans-Downtown Superdome

starting $100

Hotel 504

starting $0

B on Canal

starting $112

Moxy New Orleans Downtown/French Quarter Area

starting $98

The Troubadour

starting $0

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
New Orleans Museum of Art

The New Orleans Museum of Art (or NOMA) is the oldest fine arts museum

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Longue Vue House and Gardens

Longue Vue House and Gardens, also known as Longue Vue, is a historic

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
St. Louis Cathedral (New Orleans)

The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, also called St.

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Aquarium of the Americas

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is an aquarium in New Orleans,

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
National World War II Museum

The National World War II Museum, formerly known as the National D-Day

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Audubon Park, New Orleans

Audubon Park (historically français. Plantation de Boré) is a city p

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Audubon Zoo

The Audubon Zoo is a zoo located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is part

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (IATA: MSY, ICAO:

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Millennium Park

Millennium Park is a public park located in the Chicago Loop community

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Central Park

Central Park is a large public, urban park in New York City, with

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Englischer Garten

The Englischer Garten or 'English Garden' is a large public park in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Treptower Park

Treptower Park is a park along the river Spree in Alt-Treptow, in the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Vondelpark

The Vondelpark is a public urban park of 47 hectares (120 acres) in

See all similar places