The Lafitte Greenway is a 2.6-mile-long linear park that was reclaimed for recreational use from an abandoned railway corridor. The greenway was opened in 2015 after years of community support for the project and is maintained by the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission.
The purpose of the multi-use greenway is to offer recreational opportunities, green space, community enhancement, and even stormwater mitigation. The area was constructed by Design Workshop and was paid for largely through a Community Development Block Grant that was awarded after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city in 2005.
Lafitte Greenway - one of the highlights of 10 Best Outdoor Adventures in New Orleans (Read all about New Orleans here)
Highlights of Lafitte Greenway
The Lafitte Greenway features 2.6 miles of a 12-foot-wide asphalt-paved multi-use trail that is handicapped accessible and can be used for walking, biking, and inline skating. Other amenities include fields, a swimming pool that is open in the summer, outdoor recreation equipment, a gravel walking path, and tennis courts.
Landscaping along Lafitte Greenway is focused on 100% native vegetation with bioswales to assist in stormwater mitigation while at the same time removing pollutants and debris from runoff, as well as stormwater retention infrastructure. There are also approximately 500 trees to shade the greenway.
photo by Bart Everson (CC BY 2.0) modified
Good to know about Lafitte Greenway
The Lafitte Greenway is a great way to see a part of New Orleans that is off the beaten path. Used primarily by locals, this multi-use park connects the French Quarter to the Mid-City and Bayou St. John neighborhoods. Though it is not for vehicular use, there are some street crossings across busy thoroughfares, so due care is required.
The path through the greenway offers energy-efficient LED lighting, well-marked pedestrian crosswalks, and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curbs. There are some options for refreshments and shopping along the Lafitte Greenway. The city is working to expand the park another half-mile into the Lakeview neighborhood.
photo by Bart Everson (CC BY 2.0) modified
Lafitte Greenway
Open: Daily from 6 am to 10 pm
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