July 2017 - Parks & Recreation - 51

and exercise for New Orleanians, " explains Harris.
" The site is unique; it runs straight down the city and
connects the French Quarter to City Park, " says Victor N.
Richard III, chief executive officer of NORDC. The Lafitte
Greenway is part of an overall citywide master plan called
the Plan for the 21st Century: New Orleans 2030. Adopted in
2010, the plan calls for historic and cultural preservation, vibrant neighborhoods, green infrastructure, sustainable transportation options and urban agriculture, among other points.
The greenway fits into the city's master plan by providing a
transportation corridor, garden classes, outdoor health and
recreation opportunities.

Paula Jacoby-Garrett is a Freelance Writer based in Las Vegas, Nevada (paula.
jacoby.garrett@gmail.com).

MAKE ANY SPA
ACE
E
P IR
R IN
NG
INSP
Contemporary, eco-friendly solutions
integrate with any landscape so you can
introduce water fun anywhere.
World leader in aquatic play solutions with over 6,500 installations worldwide
1.866.586.7839 (USA/CA) | info@vortex-intl.com

VORTEX-INTL.COM

WILLOUGHBY WODFS-1

Outdoor Beach
Foot Washer
Keep sand where it
belongs- on the beach!
Our outdoor foot washer
is solid fully welded Type
304 or 316 stainless steel
and designed to last -
even near salt water!

Now we're even
easier to specify:

Information sheets and REVIT files
available at willoughby-ind.com

8 0 0 . 4 2 8 . 4 0 6 5 | w w w. w i l l o u g h by - i n d . c o m

W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | J U LY 2 0 1 7 |

Building Out Lafitte Greenway
To date, the Lafitte Greenway is on its way to meeting its
own master plan objectives. Private lands were acquired,
in part through a grant from the Trust for Public Lands,
to bring back the full length of the greenway to the public.
A 2.6-mile asphalt trail for pedestrians and bicyclists has
been created and is extensively used. Recreation fields and
landscaping improvements, including approximately 500
shade trees and areas with native plants, have been included in the greenway. Lighting was added to the trail, and
ADA-compliant curbs and crosswalks were added at each
road crossing.
Improvements so far have gone beyond the greenway and attracted new businesses, such as restaurants and housing developments, to the area. This is sparking a revitalization and buzz
that the area has not seen in a long time. While the greenway
has made much progress, there is still more development to occur to fully build out this space.
" The greenway was a brainchild of the entire community,
and they are ecstatic about its progress. The multipurpose amenities, open green spaces, mixed-use areas and different types
of programming are having a positive effect on citizens' lives.
Everyone is extremely excited and proud of the progress. It was
a great honor for the Lafitte Greenway to be selected for the
Parks Build Community Program, " says Richard.
As with all Parks Build Community projects, the renovations
and transformation are made possible through the donation of
materials, equipment, manpower and funds from our NRPA
community. A tour of the new park facilities will be conducted
on September 24, 2017, during the annual conference in New
Orleans. If you would like to be involved with this year's Parks
Build Community project, please contact Gina Mullins-Cohen
at 703.858.2184 or gcohen@nrpa.org. Stay tuned for more information on the progress of Lafitte Greenway!

Parks & Recreation

July 2017 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2017 - Parks & Recreation