July 2017 - Parks & Recreation - 50

PA R K S B U I L D CO M M U N I T Y

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the Lafitte Greenway, damaging infrastructure, buildings and the community gardens that had been in existence
since the 1940s.
In 2006, local community members
were concerned about the area and how
it would be revitalized after the hurricane. They joined forces and created the
Friends of Lafitte Greenway. This active
group has been working tirelessly since
the mid-2000s to create amenities along
the greenway, enhance economic development, and encourage community and
active lifestyles for all ages.
Today, " the Lafitte Greenway is
a public amenity, " managed by the
New Orleans Recreation Development
Commission (NORDC). Friends of
Lafitte Greenway is a community-driven nonprofit organization, composed
of more than 400 members and over

A Long History
Located in the heart of New Orleans between the historic areas of the
French Quarter and City Park, Lafitte
Greenway has a long history as a transportation and recreation corridor. It
was originally part of the Indian trading route between Lake Pontchartrain
and the Mississippi River. In 1795, the
Carondelet Canal (also known as the
Old Basin Canal) was constructed to
transport boats from Lake Pontchartrain, through another canal to the
French Quarter. The canal also served
to drain the swamps in the area allowing for more development.
During this time, there was a walking
path along the canal called Carondelet
Walk which was later named Lafitte
Street. The Carondelet Walk was well
used and enjoyed by many. Beautiful
gardens aligned a portion of the walk.
Mules pulled barges filled with people
along the canal to Lake Pontchartrain
for a day's visit and boats transported goods, such as cotton, tobacco and
wood, along the canal.
In the 1920s, " it was clear that the
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Parks & Recreation

The [Lafitte] greenway fits into the city's master plan
by providing a transportation corridor, garden classes,
outdoor health and recreation opportunities.
Carondelet Canal was of no real practical use " (gonola.com) and the canal
was converted into a storm drainage
system by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). By 1938, the canal
was filled in. Railroads soon took the
role of the canal, providing a transportation route, and ran until the 1960s
when automobiles became the preferred mode of transportation. A lack
of business resulted in vacant buildings
and an overall decline in the area by
the 1980s.
Revitalization After the Storm
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina
hit New Orleans. Touted as one of the
deadliest and costly hurricanes in U.S.
history, it had a devastating effect on

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600 volunteers, that works in close partnership with the city to build, program
and promote the Lafitte Greenway as
a great public space, " says Sophie Harris, executive director of the Friends of
Lafitte Greenway.
" The Lafitte Greenway runs through
the heart of New Orleans, connecting
six neighborhoods. Over 13,000 people lived within a quarter mile of the
Greenway in 2010, and we expect that
this number is higher today. In 2017,
an average of 866 cyclists used the
Greenway daily for transportation and
recreation (UNO Transportation Institute). The Greenway is an integral
part of our transportation network,
serves local transportation needs, provides vital community space to play

July 2017 - Parks & Recreation

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