Recently, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling regarding the ownership of the land used for some of the existing Rails-to-Trails projects. While that dealt a fearful blow to those of us that enjoy biking on those trails, it was not a death blow by any means.
New Orleans, not a city typically known for forward thinking, is about to begin construction on a greenway through its urban center. Within the next week, crews will begin construction on a 12 foot wide, 2.6 mile long mixed use trail leading from the French Quarter to New Orleans City Park. The project, named the Lafitte Greenway Corridor, will use an abandoned railway corridor.
The city plans to make this pathway a destination of its own. Lining the path will be over 500 new trees as well as multi sport grass fields. The area through which the trail will lead should expect a dramatic increase in visitors.
Essentially, the trail is shaping up to be a long narrow park between New Orleans two largest playgrounds, the French Quarter and City Park. City Park, for those of you not familiar with New Orleans, is the largest urban park in the country. Larger in acreage than even Central Park in New York.
After the damage caused to the park by Hurricane Katrina, the city invested a great deal of resources into cleaning up the park and creating a new infrastructure within the park to provide better services. New trails were established and new services as well. One invasive species, feral pigs, was removed from the park but another, the Rio Grande Cichlid has continued to flourish. Visitors to New Orleans now have a designated path from their hotels in the French Quarter directly to the park to help combat this destructive species.
The path will also run by Bayou St. John which has been incorporated into the City Park structure. The bayou has recently undergone its own transformation with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers removing the flood wall separating it from Lake Pontchartrain. In doing so, the water has become more hospitable to aquatic life and the fish population has boomed. Bayou St. John is frequent favorite area for paddle sports and fishing. There are also several festivals that take place on its banks annually. This new pathway should serve to increase the attendance at those events.
If you get hungry riding the path, stop by the Parkway Tavern and Bakery for the best damn Po-Boy sandwich you will ever have. Seriously, try the shrimp. It is amazing!
New Orleans, not a city typically known for forward thinking, is about to begin construction on a greenway through its urban center. Within the next week, crews will begin construction on a 12 foot wide, 2.6 mile long mixed use trail leading from the French Quarter to New Orleans City Park. The project, named the Lafitte Greenway Corridor, will use an abandoned railway corridor.
The city plans to make this pathway a destination of its own. Lining the path will be over 500 new trees as well as multi sport grass fields. The area through which the trail will lead should expect a dramatic increase in visitors.
Essentially, the trail is shaping up to be a long narrow park between New Orleans two largest playgrounds, the French Quarter and City Park. City Park, for those of you not familiar with New Orleans, is the largest urban park in the country. Larger in acreage than even Central Park in New York.
After the damage caused to the park by Hurricane Katrina, the city invested a great deal of resources into cleaning up the park and creating a new infrastructure within the park to provide better services. New trails were established and new services as well. One invasive species, feral pigs, was removed from the park but another, the Rio Grande Cichlid has continued to flourish. Visitors to New Orleans now have a designated path from their hotels in the French Quarter directly to the park to help combat this destructive species.
The path will also run by Bayou St. John which has been incorporated into the City Park structure. The bayou has recently undergone its own transformation with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers removing the flood wall separating it from Lake Pontchartrain. In doing so, the water has become more hospitable to aquatic life and the fish population has boomed. Bayou St. John is frequent favorite area for paddle sports and fishing. There are also several festivals that take place on its banks annually. This new pathway should serve to increase the attendance at those events.
If you get hungry riding the path, stop by the Parkway Tavern and Bakery for the best damn Po-Boy sandwich you will ever have. Seriously, try the shrimp. It is amazing!
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