Request for Qualifications

Friends of Lafitte Greenway, in partnership with the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission and Arts Council New Orleans, is calling on artists to submit qualifications for From Parking to Plaza, a permanent public art installation on the Lafitte Greenway.

This project seeks to activate and celebrate a public space located at a critical juncture with regard to New Orleans’ history, ecology, and bicycle and pedestrian circulation systems. First developed for boats at the historic crossroads of Bayou St. John and the former Carondelet Canal, and later for cars as the driveway to the “Brake Tag Station” for motor vehicle inspections, the project begins the transformation of this unique site at the central node of New Orleans bike network into a place for people, community, and celebration--expanding the Greenway’s role as a cultural asset. 

The project is a commemorative work, made possible by a gift from Elaine Ravich, to celebrate the life and contributions of local artist, volunteer, mother, and teacher, Deborah Vorhoff.

Announcement Date: July 1, 2019

Q&A Informational: Weds. July 17, 5:30-6:30 PM, Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center, 2200 Lafitte Avenue. RSVP for the Q&A informational here!

Submission Deadline: August 1, 2019

Eligibility: Professional artists and artist teams

Maximum Budget: $17,000

More Details & Apply: Arts Council New Orleans Submittable

Greenway Supporters,

The Mystic Krewe of Nyx and NORD have announced exciting plans to work together to build NORD's first three inclusive playgrounds. These new playgrounds--safe and accessible to people of all ability levels--are proposed for the Mid-City, New Orleans East, and Algiers neighborhoods.

By: Kathy Finn | May 31, 2019

Source: MyNewOrleans.com | Full Article

In a city where land available for commercial development is scarce, it is refreshing to see a strip of green space not only preserved, but transformed into a magnet for new activity, which is what is happening along the corridor that stretches from New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood through Mid-City.

The former railroad right-of-way now known as Lafitte Greenway is slowly becoming an oasis of outdoor fun and relaxation thanks to a 2.6-mile bicycle path, with playgrounds and pedestrian-friendly features that have taken shape there. Since the corridor’s opening in 2015, about 320,000 cyclists and pedestrians access the greenway annually, according to automated people counters monitored by local researchers.

Now, developers who recognize the growing appeal of the green space have begun re-purposing adjacent sites and renovating ramshackle structures into new housing, cafés and bars, with plans to make the Greenway a place where people will routinely come for a refreshing break in the heart of a bustling city.

NEW ORLEANS -- The Lafitte Greenway multi-purpose field is currently closed for field reconditioning and to improve the natural grass quality, the New Orleans Recreation Development (NORD) Commission announced today. Lemann Field, located at 628 N. Claiborne Ave., is available for use nearby until further notice.

"We want to ensure that all of our facilities are in the best possible condition so that they can satisfy the needs of as many residents as possible. This closure allows NORD to continue to preserve the investment made on the Lafitte Greenway, and we're excited that the field will come back greener and better than ever," said NORD CEO Larry Barabino, Jr. "We want to thank our residents for their understanding."