City Park, New Orleans
Encyclopedia
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.
. The park originally extended only a short distance back from City Park Avenue, as swamp
land 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
.
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 1 foot (0.3048 m) to 10 feet (3 m) 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
.
.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, is the 6th-largest and 7th-most-visited urban public park in the United States. City Park is approximately 50% larger than Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the municipal park recognized by Americans nationwide as the archetypal urban greenspace. Although it is an urban park
Urban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
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
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, 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
Live oak
Live oak , also known as the southern live oak, is a normally evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States...
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 RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The park originally extended only a short distance back from City Park Avenue, as swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
land covered most of the landscape between Bayou Metairie and the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It is the second-largest inland saltwater body of water in the United States, after the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the largest lake in Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake.It covers an area of with...
. 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
Edward H. Bennett
Edward Herbert Bennett was an architect and city planner best known for his co-authorship of the 1909 Plan of Chicago.-Biography:Bennett was born in Bristol, England in 1874, and later moved to San Francisco with his family...
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
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
.
Substantial improvements were made to the park's newly-acquired land by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
, including the installation of many sculptures by WPA artist Enrique Alferez
Enrique Alférez
Enrique Alferez was Mexican-born Louisiana artist, best known as a sculptor in the art deco style.The son of a sculptor, young Enrique spent some time in the army of Pancho Villa in the Mexican Revolution before coming to the United States. He studied with Lorado Taft in Chicago, Illinois in the...
, 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
New Orleans Botanical Garden
The New Orleans Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located in City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana.-1930s: Planning and construction:The Botanical Gardens in New Orleans City Park was unveiled in 1936 as a part of the massive restructuring and development project of City Park that took place in...
. 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
Interstate 610 (Louisiana)
Interstate 610 is a long auxiliary route of Interstate 10 that lies entirely within the boundaries of New Orleans, Louisiana.-Route description:...
.
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
Parkway
The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
running almost the entire length of Bayou St. John
Bayou St. John
Bayou St. John is a bayou within the city of New Orleans, Louisiana.The Bayou as a natural feature drained the swampy land of a good portion of what was to become New Orleans into Lake Pontchartrain...
(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
New Orleans Museum of Art
The New Orleans Museum of Art is the oldest fine arts museum in the city of New Orleans. It is situated within City Park, a short distance from the intersection of Carrollton Avenue and Esplanade Avenue, and near the terminus of the "Canal Street - City Park" streetcar line...
. 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
Voodoo Experience
Voodoo Experience, also commonly referred to as Voodoo or Voodoo Fest, is a multi-day music and arts festival held in City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana. It was first held on Halloween weekend in 1999. It has since moved between the weekend before Halloween and Halloween weekend throughout the years...
, which has become the largest of the live music events held in the park.
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
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 1 foot (0.3048 m) to 10 feet (3 m) 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
New Orleans Botanical Garden
The New Orleans Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located in City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana.-1930s: Planning and construction:The Botanical Gardens in New Orleans City Park was unveiled in 1936 as a part of the massive restructuring and development project of City Park that took place in...
.
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
Uptown New Orleans
Uptown is a section of New Orleans, Louisiana on the East Bank of the Mississippi River encompassing a number of neighborhoods between the French Quarter and the Jefferson Parish line. It remains an area of mixed residential and small commercial properties, with a wealth of 19th century architecture...
.
Facilities
City Park has dozens of attractions that make it a popular destination in Greater New OrleansNew Orleans metropolitan area
New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner, or the Greater New Orleans Region is a metropolitan area designated by the United States Census encompassing seven parishes in the state of Louisiana, centering on the city of New Orleans...
.
- Carousel Gardens Amusement ParkCarousel Gardens Amusement ParkCarousel Gardens is a seasonally operated amusement park located in New Orleans, Louisiana at New Orleans City Park. It features many rides including an antique carousel, the Live Oak Ladybug Rollercoaster, and a miniature train that tours the park. Since the amusement park is for younger children,...
- features a miniature train, a small roller coaster and several 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.
- New Orleans Botanical GardenNew Orleans Botanical GardenThe New Orleans Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located in City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana.-1930s: Planning and construction:The Botanical Gardens in New Orleans City Park was unveiled in 1936 as a part of the massive restructuring and development project of City Park that took place in...
– a lush 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) 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. The event, originally called "Christmas In the Oaks," included a two-mile (3 km) driving tour of exhibits placed throughout the park and a separate walking tour of the Botanical Garden, Storyland, and the Amusement Park. The Friends of City Park began this popular annual fundraiser. As of the 2008 Christmas season, only the walking tour has returned.
- New Orleans Museum of ArtNew Orleans Museum of ArtThe New Orleans Museum of Art is the oldest fine arts museum in the city of New Orleans. It is situated within City Park, a short distance from the intersection of Carrollton Avenue and Esplanade Avenue, and near the terminus of the "Canal Street - City Park" streetcar line...
– 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 StadiumTad Gormley StadiumTad Gormley Stadium is a multi-purpose outdoor stadium, located in City Park, in New Orleans, Louisiana, named for Frank "Tad" Gormley. It has been used for football, track & field, and soccer. It played host to the US Olympic Track & Field Trials for the 1992 Summer Olympics...
- 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 US 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 USL Premier Development LeagueUSL Premier Development LeagueThe USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
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 11 miles (17.7 km) 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'sNew Orleans Police DepartmentThe New Orleans Police Department has primary responsibility for law enforcement in New Orleans, Louisiana. The department's jurisdiction covers all of Orleans Parish, while the city is divided into eight police districts....
stables.