City Park embarks on a plan for the next century, and the planners want your input
Big Lake is among the recent upgrades on the south end of City Park. (David Fischer photo)
City Park is beginning an 18-month master-planning process to guide the next 100 years of development in the urban oasis.
Throughout the planning process, park officials will offer opportunities for the public to learn about design ideas and provide feedback to inform design. Six public meeting are planned, and an online survey is available now to provide
The design team will hold an introductory meeting Wednesday (Sept. 27) that will include results from the online survey and the team’s initial insights for City Park.
Before the introductory meeting, the public is invited to give City Park Conservancy their own vision for the future of City Park’s 1,300 acres by taking an online survey.
The introductory meeting will be held at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters in the Botanical Gardens. (courtesy of City Park)
The previous City Park Master Plan (City Park 2018) was approved in March 2005 and has guided the improvements of the park over the last decade and a half. The prior plan largely focused on improvements to the south end of the Park.
Now, City Park Conservancy is embarking on a re-envisioning of the Park as a whole, grounded in serving the greater good, addressing community needs, deepening the historical and cultural context, improving environmental resiliency, and creating a dynamic and enduring sense of place.
In February 2023, CPC published a Request for Proposal for master planning, which garnered submissions from firms around the world. After conducting in-person interviews with the top firms, CPC and City Park Improvement Association) boards voted unanimously in the hiring of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.
The firm will lead CPC’s 18-month master-planning process, which will steward New Orleans City Park throughout the next century. MVVA will rely on its own design experts, as well as local subcontractors, and the public to craft a roadmap for the Park’s continued preservation and evolution. This plan is made possible through a lead gift from the Greg Keller Foundation.
City Park’s walking trails became more popular during the pandemic shutdown. (David Fischer photo)
Also on Wednesday, the Conservancy is holding its inaugural State of the Park Breakfast, a fundraiser. The event will feature an update from City Park Conservancy President and CEO Cara Lambright and keynote speaker Michael Van Valkenburgh, founder and creative director of MVVA.
They will share updates on the current and future projects in City Park, highlight urban-park trends, and celebrate individuals and organizations who have helped further the Conservancy’s mission.
Tickets for the State of the Park Breakfast begin at $100. The event will also be livestreamed.
Carousel Gardens during the Celebration in the Oaks holiday light experience. (courtesy of City Park)
