The Friends of Lafitte Corridor [FOLC] formed in early 2006 by those who were concerned about post- Katrina planning, neighborhood revitalization, and open space development and alarmed about short-term political decisions being made without benefit of long-term planning vision. Since then, FOLC has built a network of diverse constituents who share its vision of developing the Lafitte Corridor as a greenway that encourages active living, facilitates economic development, and links adjacent neighborhoods, cultural features, historic sites, retail areas and public spaces. We envision a public trail that will:
- increase transportation options by providing a safe, non-motorized path of travel;
- enhance recreational opportunities and add useful community open spaces to the City’s green space
inventory; - generate economic recovery among residents of adjacent neighborhoods;
- demonstrate best practices in environmental sustainability; and
- educate residents and visitors about the city’s cultural and economic history and its relationship to
the larger environment.
Post-Katrina recovery has allowed residents of New Orleans to re-imagine what our city should be. Grassroots efforts such as ours have been generously supported by visionary community organizations such as the Greater New Orleans Foundation, and their encouragement has allowed us to explore innovative concepts and environmental strategies that, prior to Katrina, would not have been possible or even conceivable. We feel now, more than ever, that the Lafitte Corridor is an ideal platform in which to demonstrate innovative concepts of environmental management and sustainability.
Communities rarely get an opportunity such as this one to radically re-imagine drainage, water management, and environmental sustainability. This investigation demonstrates that the Lafitte Corridor offers a unique opportunity to re-envision what an urban green space for our community could be.
We sincerely appreciate the confidence in our initiative and the support shown by the GNOF for our efforts. Thanks to GNOF and the innovative strategies presented here, residents of New Orleans now have an opportunity to discuss the concepts and strategies outlined in this study. FOLC membership looks forward to engaging residents of New Orleans in that important discussion. We encourage everyone in our community to examine this report and give it the consideration it deserves.
Download the report [PDF, 8.5MB] by Waggonner & Ball Architects.