Lafitte Greenway Almost Complete

July 9, 2015 by Charlie London

lafitte-greenway-map1The Department of Public Works construction contractor, Durr Heavy Construction, has completed placement of the asphalt portion of the Lafitte Greenway bicycle and pedestrian path in Areas 2, 3, 4, and 5. The path in Area 1 is 85% complete. The concrete path in Area 6 is complete. , The contractor has completed installing all trail lighting except within the N. Broad St. median. The contractor will install wiring for the trail lighting in July. Lights are being tested as the wiring is completed.

The overall project is about 96% complete and scheduled to be fully open to the public at the end of summer 2015. This schedule is weather dependent.

The contractor has installed 90% of the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs). The new pedestrian-activated flashing beacon systems are currently being tested and adjusted. Please continue using pre-project crosswalks at this time, as the new beacons are not yet fully operational.

The contractor is scheduled to complete pavement markings and signage by the end of July, pending weather.

Tree planting is 75% complete project-wide. The spring planting season has ended and remaining trees will be planted in late October and November. Landscaping work will continue through July.

Area 1 (N. Alexander St. to N. Carrollton Ave.): Concrete work is substantially complete. DPW has converted St. Louis St. between N. Carrollton Ave. and N. Solomon St. to one-way lakebound operation. Please obey the new one-way signage.

Area 2 (N. Carrollton Ave. to N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy): All work is substantially complete.

Area 3 (N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy to N. Broad St.): The Jefferson Davis intersection asphalt is 90% complete, with some curb work and additional asphalt patching remaining. Workers have removed the abandoned railroad tracks. Please note the N. Lopez St. pedestrian bridge is now closed pending the planned future construction of a replacement bridge. Please use alternate routes.

Area 4 (N. Broad St. to N. Galvez St.): After a delay for striping adjustments, workers will mobilize this month to begin widening the N Broad St median between St. Louis St and Lafitte Ave. This follows the Broad-Lafitte Streetscape project’s reduction of lanes on N Broad St from 3 lanes in each direction to 2 lanes in each direction and addition of designated bike lanes. The N. Rocheblave St. pedestrian path will remain closed for the duration of construction in Area 4. Workers have begun construction on the new, paved N. Rocheblave St. walk. Please use N. Galvez, N. Dorgenois, or N. Broad streets during construction and avoid entering the construction site.

Area 5 (N. Galvez St. to N. Claiborne Ave.): Work at the N. Prieur St. crossing is substantially complete. N. Prieur St. is now open to vehicular traffic, although that is subject to change based on construction activity. Please use caution when crossing the Lafitte Greenway, and watch out for construction materials which may be stockpiled in the parking lanes. Please do not park on N. Prieur St. within the Greenway footprint until the project is complete. The contractor will begin placing the Carondelet Walk crushed stone walking path during the first week of July, with scheduled completion by the end of July. The Carondelet walk will run along Lafitte Ave between N. Claiborne Ave. and N. Galvez St.

Area 6 (N. Claiborne Ave. to Basin St.): Durr Heavy Construction continues work in the City-owned parking lot to prepare the pavement for the asphalt path.

lafittegreenwaysignThe Broad and Lafitte Streetscape project, which connects to the Lafitte Greenway at Broad St., is also currently under construction. Crews have framed the new sidewalks and are scheduled to pour concrete for the new sidewalks this week. Additionally, the project to re-pave St. Louis St. between N. Broad St. and N. Claiborne Ave. is well underway. Crews are currently framing and pouring sidewalks adjacent to the Lafitte Greenway. Completion of these projects will coincide with opening of the Lafitte Greenway.

Please use caution when driving, bicycling or walking near active construction sites. Traffic cones, construction fencing and safety signage are in place to keep everyone safe. Please respect the signage and fencing – do not enter active construction sites.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Cheryn Robles, APR
Community Outreach Manager
Department of Public Works

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY Tagged With: bayou st john, best neighborhood in New Orleans, faubourg st john, friends of lafitte corridor, greenway, lafitte, New Orleans

Greenway Update

October 2, 2014 by Charlie London

lafitte-greenway-map1 Placement of the asphalt portion of the Lafitte Greenway bicycle and pedestrian path is now 75% complete in Areas 2, 3, 4, and 5. The Department of Public Works construction contractor, Durr Heavy Construction, has completed installing most of the trail lighting fixtures in Areas 3 and 4, and continues installation of trail lighting in Areas 2 and 5. Lighting wiring will be installed toward the end of the project construction, when the project is ready for public use.

The bicycle and pedestrian roundabout at N. Jefferson Davis Parkway is now complete.

The contractor has completed collecting the cobblestones that will line the Carondelet Walking Path. The contractor will begin constructing the walking path, which will run along Lafitte Ave., in the next two months.

Please note the N. Lopez St. pedestrian bridge is closed and will remain closed for the duration of construction in Area 3.

Please note the N. Rocheblave St. pedestrian path is now closed and will remain closed for the duration of construction in Area 4. A new, paved N. Rocheblave walk, will be constructed as part of this project. Please use N. Galvez or N. Broad streets during construction and avoid entering the construction site.

In the next two months, crews will begin demolishing the sidewalk on the uptown side of Lafitte Ave. The new Carondelet Walking Path on the interior of the park will replace the old sidewalk. Crews will also soon begin replacing the sidewalk on the uptown side of Lafitte Ave. between N. Rocheblave and N. Dorgenois streets. Crews will begin replacing sidewalk on both sides of N. Galvez St. shortly. Please use the temporary walking paths on N. Galvez St. during sidewalk construction.

Durr Heavy Construction continues final grading of Areas 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The overall project is about 50 percent complete and on schedule to be opened to the public in early spring 2015.

To expedite construction, Durr Heavy Construction has divided the Lafitte Greenway project into six sections:

Area 1 – N. Alexander St. to N. Carrollton Ave.

Area 2 – N. Carrollton Ave. to Jefferson Davis Pkwy – currently under construction

Area 3 – N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy to N. Broad St. – currently under construction

Area 4 – N. Broad St. to N. Galvez St. – currently under construction

Area 5 – N. Galvez St. to N. Claiborne Ave. – currently under construction

Area 6 – N. Claiborne Ave. to Basin St.

Please use caution when driving, bicycling or walking near active construction sites. Traffic cones, construction fencing and safety signage are in place to keep everyone safe. Please respect the signage and fencing – do not enter active construction sites.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Cheryn Robles, APR

Community Outreach Specialist

Department of Public Works

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY Tagged With: bayou st john, faubourg st john, greenway, lafitte, lafitte greenway, New Orleans, rails to trails

9 a.m. | Saturday | WGSO talks about Broad and Lafitte

August 17, 2014 by Charlie London

WGSO

 

At 9 o’clock:

Broad Community Connections

Broad Community Connections is a Main Street organization devoted to revitalizing Broad Street from Tulane Avenue to Bayou Road as a vibrant commercial corridor, bringing together the surrounding neighborhoods and promoting their economic, residential, and cultural development.

 

The ReFresh Project is an innovative fresh food hub located on North Broad Street at Bienville Avenue in New Orleans including Whole Foods Market, Liberty’s Kitchen program for at-risk youth, The Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine at Tulane University, and an onsite teaching farm, among other tenants. Read all about it!

WGSO am radio 990

Also at 9:

Lafitte Greenway construction update from Friends of the Lafitte Corridor!

 Lafitte Greenway Rendition

Green Keepers

Green Keepers is a five-part educational series offering instruction to New Orleanians on green infrastructure works.  Parkway Partners intends to collaborate with graduates to develop community-based green infrastructure projects around the city. Topics include introduction to green infrastructure; vertical gardens & rooftop gardens; small-scale water catchment; large-scale water catchment; bioswales & rain gardens; plants for green infrastructure; green infrastructure at urban farms & community gardens; and concrete & permeability. Free and open to all.  Learn more!  Series topics and schedule.

All Things Local is hosted and produced by Kevin Fitzwilliam, science teacher and co-founder of Hollygrove Market & Farm.  The show focuses on the local economy, our natural resources, green/sustainable living and urban design, and the unique culture of New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana. We explore issues that make a difference in our everyday lives: neighborhood shopping and local artisans, farmers’ markets and the local food system, transportation, outdoor adventures, festivals, and more. We interview the people who are “making it happen” to give practical information and advice to our listeners. Tune in every Saturday morning and follow us on facebook and twitter – you’ll be glad you did!

WGSO am radio 990

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, broad, broad community connections, faubourg st john, lafitte, lafitte greenway, New Orleans, wgso

Greenway Construction Should Start Soon

February 25, 2014 by Charlie London

CITY OF NEW ORLEANS SELECTS CONTRACTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION OF LAFITTE GREENWAY, SETS PUBLIC MEETING DATE

The construction of the long-awaited Lafitte Greenway, overseen by the City’s Department of Public Works, will be completed by Durr Heavy Construction, LLC.

 New Orleans, LA – February 24, 2014

 baby-boyz-lafitte-hike1aThe City of New Orleans has officially awarded the construction of the Lafitte Greenway, a 2.4-mile linear park and bike path to be built from Mid-City to Treme, to Harahan-based Durr Heavy Construction, LLC. The City received five bids from Greater New Orleans-area contractors ranging in amounts from $5.5M to $7.9M. Durr Heavy Construction submitted the lowest bid.

The City of New Orleans will hold a public meeting with Durr Heavy Construction for the purpose of communicating important information about how the construction will take place, as well as for public input and questions. The public meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 19 at 6pm, and will be held at the Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center, located at 2200 Lafitte St, New Orleans.

 Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC) is reaching out to the residents and businesses along the Corridor about the meeting to encourage community members to get clarification on any questions they may have about the construction. “While the City’s bid documents are specific about certain aspects of construction, such as the time for completion and the amenities to be included in this initial build, there are also important aspects which are left to the contractor’s discretion, such as where on the Greenway construction will begin,” said FOLC Chair Samuel Spencer. “For this reason, this single public meeting is an important event, particularly to those residents and businesses along the Lafitte Greenway and greater Lafitte Corridor. FOLC will compile questions and also live tweet the meeting, so if you cannot attend, you can still submit questions to [email protected] and follow the meeting at twitter.com/folcnola.”

 The funding available for the construction of the Greenway comes from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and will allow for the construction of a 12-ft-wide asphalt bike path from Basin Street to N. Alexander Street through currently-vacant city-owned land, once the site of a canal and railway. The construction will also include lighting, new trees and native plants, softball/baseball backstops, soccer goals, a walking path, bike racks, and rain gardens. The City currently anticipates the construction to take one year.

 Friends of Lafitte Corridor is a member-driven nonprofit organization, founded in 2006, devoted to revitalizing Lafitte Corridor by working to build, program, and promote the Lafitte Greenway as a great public space.

 

 

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY Tagged With: corridor, friends of lafitte corridor, lafitte, New Orleans

The Great Works of David Waggonner

February 10, 2014 by Charlie London

Next City
J. David Waggonner III, FAIA

David Waggonner was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971 and Yale University with a Master of Architecture in 1975. Employed previously by the Architect of the Capitol, Bechtel Corporation, and DMJM/Curtis and Davis, he has been principal in the present firm and its predecessor since 1981. He has taught Architectural design at Tulane University and the University of Oregon, is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and is a member of the Association for Preservation Technology and the Society of Architectural Historians.

In Forefront this week, Sarah Goodyear asks whether rain gardens, detention ponds, bioswales, porous pavement and the like represents the way forward for a perennially cash-strapped and tradition-bound New Orleans.

David Waggoner is a slight man, with a soft voice and self-effacing demeanor. Thanks to his involvement with the Dutch Dialogues and the Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan, though, his influence in the way the city thinks about reconfiguring the post-Katrina landscape is profound. His firm, Waggonner & Ball Architects, is also deeply involved with another coastal reconstruction project, the post-Sandy Rebuild by Design competition in the New York-New Jersey area.

Waggonner, 63, comes from Louisiana political royalty. His father, Joe, was a congressman from Bossier Parish, just up the river from New Orleans, for 18 years. The younger Waggonner, who trained as an architect at Yale, has spoken admiringly of his father. But his own worldview is one that looks away from typical political solutions, and he talks about the challenges facing New Orleans in a way that explicitly rejects conventional forms of power.

“The issues that politicians talk about, those aren’t the real issues of the voter,” Waggonner says. “Politics — that’s when I despair, because politics should support the best, but politics plays of what’s divisive.”

As an architect, Waggonner has built projects all over the world. But ask him nuts-and-bolts questions — about, say, garnering public support for the water plan, or the feasibility of reversing generations of poor engineering decisions, or the decades of corruption both perceived and proven in New Orleans — and the conversation quickly becomes abstract. This isn’t an attempt to evade such questions. It’s simply his characteristic way of thinking about and tackling the underlying problems.

“The discussion is at once practical and esoteric, and it needs to be,” Waggonner says. “The real questions that leaders need to be solving are much deeper than the daily chatter. How do we become relevant to our own time? Our inability to grasp where we are in history, our inability to grasp our mythic place and the forces impinging on ourselves, leads to catastrophe.”

The only way to mitigate that catastrophe, in Waggonner’s estimation, is to fundamentally shift the way we manage the intersection of the built environment and the natural environment. And New Orleans, he says, is the perfect place to do it. “This is a vital river delta,” he says. “Are we going to give up on it?”

The plan’s architects imagine a New Orleans that not only deals with its own water problems gracefully and efficiently, but also serves as a model for other cities around the world. If the plan is executed as outlined, New Orleans will be able to serve as a sort of laboratory from all the most up-to-date thinking and design in stormwater management. These days, cities like Seattle and Philadelphia are on the cutting edge of green infrastructure treatment of water in the U.S. Plan backers in New Orleans want to put their city at the head of the class.

To that end, the water plan includes a number of demonstration projects that put “living with water” principles into action on a neighborhood scale. One of these is the Lakeview Floating Streets project, which calls for rebuilding buckling streets in a few square blocks near Lake Pontchartrain; paving them with pervious pavement; planting bioswales that will allow stormwater to percolate slowly into the underlying soil; bundling and burying utility lines; planting trees; and reconfiguring the street to allow for different modes of travel, including biking and walking. In significant downpours, this configuration would enable a “slow, store and drain” effect that would prevent the water from overwhelming the roadway or threatening homes.

Another, more high-profile demonstration project on the table is the “Lafitte Blueway,” a complete redevelopment of a strip of abandoned, derelict land connecting Lake Pontchartrain with the French Quarter. Where there are now fenced-off, abandoned industrial wastelands, the project envisions a linear park that focuses on an excavated waterway, complete with kayak launches, bike paths, playgrounds, community gardens and other amenities.

The benefits of the Blueway, according to planners, would not simply be environmental, but also economic. They envision it as creating a redevelopment corridor not unlike the one around New York’s High Line, or the area along the Chicago River. This economic angle is important because, again, none of this will come for free. Implementation of the plan as outlined would cost $6.2 billion, and while its backers say that financing options have been identified, the dollars have not yet been secured. Will it happen? “That’s the $6.2 billion question,” says Morris of the Royal Netherlands Embassy.

Article courtesy NEXT CITY —> http://nextcity.org/infrastructure/entry/forefront-excerpt-the-recovery-that-wasnt

 

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, blue way, david waggonner, dutch dialgues, faubourg st john, flooding, forefront, greater new orleans urban water plan, green infrastructure, green way, hurricane katrina, infrastructure, lafitte, New Orleans, stormwater management

Lafitte Greenway Gazette

November 27, 2013 by Charlie London

 

carondelet-basin-mapA Contractor for Christmas: Lafitte Greenway Timeline 

By Sophie Harris, FOLC Program Director, [email protected]

The city posted the Lafitte Greenway bid documents on November 7th. Contractors are preparing their bids for the December 10th bid opening date. If all goes well, the contractor will be selected in mid-December and start construction the last week of January, 2014. The public will have an opportunity to discuss the construction process with the contractor at a public meeting in January; this meeting is not yet scheduled. We expect to be out walking, biking, and riding the Greenway in February, 2015!

 

 
Source: Bike Easy
New Orleans’ Burgeoning Bicycle NetworkBy Sam Spencer, Friends of Lafitte Corridor Chair, [email protected]
For the growing number of us who ride bikes in New Orleans, there is an extra item on our list of things to be thankful for this season: a dramatic expansion of the city’s network of bike lanes. For a city that had virtually no modern bike accommodations ten years ago, the fact that New Orleans will approach 80 miles of bikeways by the end of 2013 is a spectacular achievement, and one that bodes well for the long term sustainability and public health of our city.Upon completion of its initial buildout in 2015, the Lafitte greenway will become a critical piece of New Orleans’ burgeoning bicycle network, the backbone of our cycling skeleton. Read more.
 
 
Source: Austin Shea
 

2013 Urban Heroes: Greening New Orleans

By Dana Eness, Urban Conservancy Executive Director

The Urban Conservancy honored its 2013 Urban Heroes at the Propeller Incubator on Friday, November 22nd for their visionary leadership in developing innovative strategies to address New Orleans’ enviromental and economic challenges.  The evening included great local food and drinks, and live music provided by the Cajun-English indie band Sweet Crude.  

David Waggonner of Waggonner & Ball Architects was recognized for helping New Orleanians to rethink their relationship with water, which has led to the development of the Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan. Katrina Brees was recognized for her campaign to create a network of local vendors and manufacturers to provide locally made throws to carnival Krewes.  And Emelda Paul of the Faubourg Lafitte Tenants Assocation and Lafitte Greenway Steering Advisory Committee was recognized for her advocacy for the Lafitte Greenway and Corridor Revitalization plan.  In keeping with the “greening of New Orleans” theme, honorees each received a Where Ya Rack bicycle rack with a commemorative plaque to be installed at a location of their choosing.

 
 
 

Play Streets: New Orleans’ First Cyclovia!

By Annalisa Kelly, FOLC Community Engagement Chair, [email protected]
 
On Saturday, Oct 26th, Friends of Lafitte Corridor joined local organizations for New Orleans’ first cyclovia, a pedestrian- and cycling-focused event in which streets are closed to cars, and neighborhoods reclaim the streets for traffic-less fun and games. The event, dubbed “Play Streets,” was organized by Bike Easy and brought together families, neighbors, cyclists, and pedestrians to engage in activities in the streets of Esplanade and Bayou Road between Claiborne and Broad.

Friends of Lafitte Corridor was one of several local organizations to join in on the fun. FOLC hosted “Greenway trivia,” quizzing participants on questions about green transportation, local New Orleans history, and the Greenway itself for free FOLC t-shirts, and partnered with local artist Ashlee Arceneaux, who drew a beautiful rendition of the Lafitte Greenway and invited participants to draw what they wanted to see on the Greenway. 
 

 
We were most of all thrilled to share the upcoming news of construction and overall excitement about the Greenway with the neighborhood and participants. Thanks to all who came out!  
 
Source: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Rails-With-Trails: A Safe Option for New OrleansBy Sophie Harris, Friends of Lafitte Corridor Program Director, [email protected]​The portion of the Lafitte Greenway that will be constructed next year—Basin Street to North Alexander—is a rails-to-trails project, a conversion of a former rail corridor into a multi-use path. Ultimately, FOLC envisions a Greenway that extends past North Alexander to Canal Boulevard. The challenge is that the Canal Boulevard-North Alexander segment remains privately-owned active rail corridor.The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy recently released the America’s Rails-with-Trails Report. Rails-with trails projects are shared-use paths located on or directly adjacent to an active railroad or light-rail corridor. Surveying 88 trails in 33 states, the report finds that rails-with-trails are “safe, common, and growing.” There are 161 rails-with-trails in America, a 260% increase since 2000, and an additional 60 rail-with-trail projects are currently in development across the country. Out of the tens of thousands of fatalities on railroad corridors in recent decades, only one involved a trail user on a rail-with-trail. Read more.
 

 
 

All Things Local

By Sophie Harris, Friends of Lafitte Corridor Program Director, [email protected]

On Saturday November 9th, FOLC was pleased to appear with host Kevin Fitzwilliam on WGSO 990 AM’s All Things Local, a weekly radio hour focusing on New Orleans’ local economy, food system, artisans, and craftsmen.
 
The theme of the November 9th broadcast was sustainability. FOLC Chair Sam Spencer spent the entire hour with Kevin discussing the latest Lafitte Corridor news–the ongoing bid process and future groundbreaking, the potential of the Greenway to help restore the city’s tree canopy (along with Hike for KaTREEna President John Carriere), and the opportunity to retain stormwater on the Greenway. In case you missed this lively conversation, not to worry, you can still stream the podcast.
 
All Things Local airs every Saturday from 8-10AM on WGSO 990AM in New Orleans. For information about each week’s show, click the links above, visit their Facebook page, or email [email protected].
 


 
Keep in touch with the Urban Conservancy via
Facebook: UrbanConservancy
Twitter:  @UrbanConserv
Web:  urbanconservancy.org
Keep in touch with FOLC via
Facebook:  folc.nola
Twitter:  @folcnola
Web:  folc-nola.org
Email:  [email protected]  
Friends of Lafitte Corridor | P.O. Box 791727 | New Orleans, LA 70179

 

Filed Under: More Great Posts! Tagged With: bayou, bayou st john, corridor, faubourg st john, greenway, lafitte, New Orleans, play, recreation, walk

Tennis Anyone?

October 28, 2013 by Charlie London

image001

The tennis courts at 2200 Lafitte Street open at noon today.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: lafitte, New Orleans, tennis

GO HIKE YOURSELF

May 12, 2013 by Charlie London

TakeAHike

We’re on for Saturday! Join us as we Hike the Lafitte Corridor (and future Lafitte Greenway) on Saturday, May 18, 2013 starting at 10 am at Louis Armstrong Park’s Congo Square! The Hike is FREE and open to the public with a suggested donation to help us to continue this annual event. Please register in advance here: http://folchike2013.eventbrite.com/

Saturday May 18:

9:00 AM: Bike Easy will host a FREE bicycle safety workshop in Congo Square at Louis Armstrong Park! Please pre-register for this workshop by selecting the FOLC Hiker & Biker ticket type.

9:30 AM: Meet at Congo Square to complete registration.

10:00 AM: Hear from speakers and start the hike! The hike will be guided by FOLC Greenway Ambassadors, who will lead groups and share the history of the Corridor area and future of the Greenway.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM (approximate): Lunch stop! Parkway Bakery & Tavern will provide po-boys for participants and we’ll have music by Warren Easton.

1:00-1:30 PM: Finish at Bud’s Broiler at City Park Avenue across from Delgado! We will have a shuttle bus to bring folks back down to Congo Square — or you can walk/bike back to the Bayou for some Bayou Boogaloo fun!

The annual hike is roughly 3 miles long, and parts of the path are overgrown and weedy. Please dress accordingly (i.e. no flip-flops!) and bring sunscreen. Water will be available throughout the hike. As in previous years we will offer free bike valet. It is also possible to walk your bike the length of the hike!

Questions? Call 504-373-9191.

FOLC’s Hike the Lafitte Corridor event has been made possible thanks to our generous Community Sponsors: Bud’s Broiler, Faubourg Lafitte, Louisiana Himalayan Association, Parkway Bakery & Tavern, Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center, and Stirling Properties. Plus many thanks to Massey’s, Coca-Cola, People United for Armstrong Park, Bike Easy, and Urban Conservancy for their support!

bike

Bike Easy Presents: Community Bicycle Workshop at the Friends of the
Lafitte Corridor 9th Annual Hike!

Bike Easy will be hosting our Community Bicycle Safety Workshop at the Friends of the Lafitte Corridor 9th Annual Hike!

Participants are invited to bring their bikes and learn to ride safely and confidently for health, transportation, and recreation before leaving on guided walks of the Lafitte Greenway.

Our instructors will be there to answer questions about riding safely with traffic, bike fit, and basic maintenance. We will also have Bicycle Valet, and can keep an eye on your bike while you hike!

When: Saturday, May 11, 2013 | 9-10am: Bicycle Workshop | 10am: Guided walks along the greenway begin

Where: Armstrong Park – Meet at Congo Square | North Rampart and Saint Peter Street

For more information about the workshops, visit www.bikeeasy.org

To register for the FOLC Hike, visit http://folchike2013.eventbrite.com/#
***
TakeAHike

SAVE THE DATE: Friends of Lafitte Corridor will be hosting their ninth annual Hike the Lafitte Corridor on Saturday, May 11th at 10 am starting at Louis Armstrong Park and ending at City Park Avenue.

The annual hike is free to the public and a great way to meet fellow Greenway enthusiasts and to learn about the history of the Corridor and the future plans for the Lafitte Greenway. E-mail [email protected] if you want to get involved as a FOLC Ambassador or sponsor.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: corridor, exercise, greenway, hike, lafitte, New Orleans, walk

Lafitte Corridor Gets Green Room Funding

September 19, 2012 by Charlie London

LOCAL, NATIONAL RETAILERS SHOW COMMITMENT TO LAFITTE GREENWAY

NEW ORLEANS, LA – On Saturday, September 22, local sporting goods store Massey’s Professional Outfitters and national outdoor clothing manufacturer Merrell will present a donation to Lafitte Corridor Greenway advocacy groups in support of the “Green Room” construction on the neutral ground at North Carrollton Avenue near St. Louis Street. The Green Rooms are innovative way-finding informational structures that mark the location and importance of the greenway. The presentation will take place at noon on the neutral ground in front of Massey’s, 509 N. Carrollton Ave., in conjunction with the build.

“While many cities throughout the US have put more and more effort into alternative transportation and outdoor recreation, New Orleans has really just begun to get fully behind it,” says Blake Gill, Massey’s grassroots marketing coordinator/cycling buyer. “The greenway will only help to solidify New Orleans as one of the nation’s greatest cities because it will promote outdoor recreation.” National retailer Merrell became familiar with the Lafitte Greenway project through its relationship with Massey’s. Merrell relies on their local retailers to keep their “ears to the ground” for causes such as the Lafitte Greenway that they can help support. “Merrell is a strong believer in community involvement and feels that this project in particular will help change the landscape of New Orleans in a huge way, so they are happy to contribute to its fruition,” says Gill.

“The Lafitte Corridor and Greenway promises to be an economic driver as well as a recreational amenity for New Orleans,” says Dana Eness, Urban Conservancy director. “The support from outdoor enthusiasts like Massey’s and Merrell as well as a diverse array of local businesses like FutureProof, Laurel Street Bakery, and Woodward Design+Build who recognize that ‘the Greenway means business’ has been critical to our ability to raise awareness about the Greenway through our Green Room projects.”

The Urban Conservancy and local sustainable design firm FutureProof oversee the project. The Carrollton Green Room is the third structure to be built to date; other kiosks are located at Jeff Davis Parkway at the foot of Bayou St. John, and South Galvez Street near St. Louis Street. All are built barn-raising style by volunteers over a few days using repurposed scrap materials.

The Lafitte Corridor and Greenway is a stretch of land running between the Mid-City and Tremé neighborhoods of New Orleans. The Corridor, a largely derelict strip of land, is to be converted by the City of New Orleans into a public linear park and trail system. The public can learn more about the Lafitte Corridor and Greenway, and view and comment on project documents at www.lafittecorridorconnection.com. To learn more about greenway volunteer opportunities, visit www.folc-nola.org or contact the Friends of Lafitte Corridor at [email protected].

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou, bayou st john, best, corridor, eclectic, faubourg, faubourg st john, greenway, lafitte, neighborhood

Are You FOLCsy?

January 19, 2012 by Charlie London

Friends of Lafitte Corridor Board Nominations
By Bonnie at MCNO on January 18, 2012

Call for nominations to the Friends of Lafitte Corridor Board
It is time for the election of Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC) Board of Directors. FOLC’s Board can consist of up to twenty-one directors that can hold office for three-year terms with no consecutive terms. You can see the current board on the FOLC website. Currently, there are seven positions available. We are seeking nominees for board members with the following qualities:

• Interest in developing the Lafitte Corridor as an urban trail with multiple activity uses

• Willingness to promote FOLC at meetings, events, and other venues

• Willingness to assist or lead fundraising efforts to support FOLC operations

• Ability to attend monthly FOLC meetings (missing three consecutive meetings results in automatic dismissal)

If you or someone you know possess these qualities, please feel free to nominate yourself or another person to be included on the ballot for Board elections. Send all submissions to [email protected] The 2012 FOLC Board of Directors nominees are voted on by the attending membership at our next monthly meeting to be held on Thursday, January 26th at 6:30PM. The meeting location is yet to be determined, but please continue to send your submissions to [email protected], and you’ll receive an update as soon as the location is solidified. Additionally, you can follow us at our website and on twitter @folcnola for updates. Thank you, Friends of Lafitte Corridor www.folc-nola.org

Filed Under: More Great Posts! Tagged With: corridor, folc, greenway, lafitte

Day Tripping

December 29, 2011 by Charlie London

article and photos by Charlie London

Those over 50 likely remember the Beatles’ song Day Tripper.
If you don’t, click on the video below.

My day trip started with my wife giving me a ride to City Hall so I could participate in the public commentary on the location of the Skate Park that drink manufacturer Red Bull is donating to New Orleans.

Mr. Vincent Smith, Capital Projects Administrator for the City of New Orleans basically repeated the information you can find in my previous blog post in the link below:
https://fsjna.org/2011/12/skate-park-meeting-at-city-hall-wednesday/

There were large poster boards explaining the selection criteria which you can see in the link below:
https://fsjna.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Skate-Park-Site-Selection-Criteria.pdf

I asked if the Skate Park would have a fence built around it. Mr. Smith replied that it would not and added that the preference for the Skate Park is for an area that already is “secure”. Meaning that parks that already have gates and regular opening and closing times would have preference.

That would almost certainly disqualify the Lafitte Corridor as it is open 24 hours each day. So, if you are interested in a Skate Park in Mid-City you should likely get busy asking for it.

I asked about better public input. I work at night so I have the luxury of attended a few daytime meetings. Most people don’t. With meetings that begin at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. that leaves most folks out of the planning process for the Skate Park. Mr. Smith indicated that people should be able to comment by phone and on the internet soon.

There were about 10 people who attended the meeting. Michael Homan, his son Gil and myself were there on behalf of the Lafitte Corridor. Councilmember Jon Johnson and several others were there to promote the Skate Park going in at Joe Brown Park in New Orleans East and a couple of people were there to try to get the Skate Park in Martin Behrman Memorial Park in Algiers.

Regardless of whether you are for or against a Skate Park make your opinion known to Councilmember Guidry at [email protected] *** Follow Gil Homan’s lead and make your voice heard.

My day trip continued with a walk from City Hall down Loyola where I encountered this new and innovative bus stop at Tulane and Loyola. It’s been there about one week.

I continued my day trip to Canal Street where I waited for the streetcar to take me all the way to Esplanade Avenue by the museum. The newly restored Joy Theatre was across from the streetcar stop and the first performance will be by Irma Thomas tonight.

If you have the time, I highly recommend riding the streetcar downtown from or to the museum. And, don’t forget you can get on the Esplanade Bus at Fortier Park which will take you right to the French Quarter. Both the busses and streetcars are very clean.

It’s only $1.25 each way and sure beats paying much more to park your car, that is… if you have the time. The streetcar and bus schedules are getting better but aren’t quite up to running exactly on time.

(courtesy youtube user kouran92)

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY Tagged With: bayou st john, corridor, faubourg st john, fsjna, greenway, joy, lafitte, lafitte corridor, New Orleans, park, skate, skate park, streetcar, theatre

Skate Park Meetings

December 21, 2011 by Charlie London

The City and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) announced that three public meetings will be held to review proposed locations for a skate park. In October 2011, a skateboard ramp was donated to the City and NORDC.

The proposed locations for installation are Joe Brown Park, Behrman Memorial Park, or the Lafitte Greenway.

The three public meetings will be held in the New Orleans City Council chamber, 1300 Perdido Street, 1st floor, on the following dates:

Wednesday, December 21, 2011; 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011; 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Wednesday, January 4, 2012; 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Citizens are encouraged to attend and provide their input. Please write to Councilmember Guidry at [email protected]

Skate Park Site Selection Criteria

Map of NORD Parks Recreation Facilities December, 2011

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, city, corridor, faubourg st john, fsjna, greenway, lafitte, mid, new, New Orleans, orleans, park, skate

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