NEW ORLEANS (press release) – New Orleans City Park will hold two public meetings to hear the public’s input about the future of the Wisner Tract. The Wisner Tract is approximately 100 acres of former golf course bounded by Harrison, Wisner, Zachary Taylor, and Magnolia Drive. It is one of the last unprogrammed places in City Park.
Once a golf course, the greenspace suffered substantial damage during Hurricane Katrina. This devastation provided an opportunity to consider new uses for the site. In 2017, after several public meetings, the area was zoned for passive recreation. A space designated passive recreation accommodates “non-structured casual activities with minimal habitat impact; these areas are compatible with low impact and temporary uses.” Two additional public meetings were held in September 2019.
A new vibrant and immersive nature-based open space will establish a restorative escape from bustling city life, support habitat rehabilitation and ecological education, increase Park visitation, and create an experience unique to New Orleans.
WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Pavilion of the Two Sisters in the New Orleans Botanical Garden; 1 Victory Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70124
MORE: neworleanscitypark.com/in-the-park/wisner-tract-master-plan
HOW CAN THE PUBLIC HELP: There are two identical public meeting scheduled for January 15, 2020. Design Workshop will present drawings for the tract based on the input gathered from the first round of public meetings in 2019. Attendees will give feedback on the plans. If a person is unable to attend a meeting in person but wishes to make comments about the Wisner Tract and its future, they should send an email to: wisnermasterplan@nocp.org.
WHO IS HELPING: New Orleans City Park has selected Design Workshop – an international design firm – to lead this planning and design process. Identified in the 2013 Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan as a major asset to the city’s urban development Design Workshop has partnered with the Park to create a Wisner Tract Master Plan emphasizing flexible, passive programming with storm water management best practices that position the tract as both an aesthetic and functional amenity to the city. They will be joined by local and regional experts including Coastal Environments Inc., Batture LLC, and Dana Brown & Associates. The team was selected for its commitment to sustainable site design practices, experience with natural land restoration, and knowledge in integrative storm water management. Design Workshop recently completed the master plan and implementation of New Orleans’ Lafitte Greenway.
