URBANWATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP Restoring Urban Waters, Revitalizing Communities Lafitte Greenway Project Lake Pontchartrain Area Watershed (New Orleans, LA]; 2011 - Present Summary The Lake Pontchartrain Urban Waters Partnership collaborated to develop the Lafitte Greenway, a 2.6-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail and green corridor connecting the historic French Quarter to Bayou St. John. The project transformed a former shipping canal and railway into a public space offering diverse recreational opportunities. Today, the greenway includes a 12-foot wide asphalt path, new recreation fields, basketball courts, outdoor fitness parks, green space, and landscaping improvements, (Photo credit: City of New Orleans) including approximately 500 shade trees, native plant meadows, bioswales, and stormwater retention features. Moving forward, the partnership seeks to develop a community garden within the greenway to reduce neighborhood food deserts. Federal Agency Partners include: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Non-Federal Partners include: Friends of Lafitte Greenway, The Trust for Public Land, City of New Orleans, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), Lafitte Greenway Steering Advisory Committee, Urban Conservancy, Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation (LPBF) Goals The Lafitte Greenway aims to meet the needs of the community by providing a safe, publicly accessible open space to facilitate travel and recreation among diverse, adjacent neighborhoods in New Orleans. The project seeks to: • Promote environmentally-friendly transportation and active living, • Connect community members and advance their vision for the Greenway, • Facilitate economic development, and • Serve tourists, adults, and children throughout the New Orleans region. Major Actions to Date Since 2011, the Lafitte Greenway project has become a fixture within the New Orleans community. The combined efforts of various agencies, organizations, and community members has resulted in the following achievements: • Securing $9.1 million in funds to implement the project, • Installing green infrastructure, and planting more than 500 trees, and • Planning for a community garden to foster the health and wellbeing of residents. In summary, the Greenway has brought social, economic, and health benefits to the community while improving connectivity between neighborhoods. Additionally, the project has inspired public and private investment in related projects adjacent to the greenway, further enhancing the community. ------- |