FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW ORLEANS, LA, January 27, 2015— Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC) today announced the election of six new members to its Board of Directors. The new board members include: Amy Allen, Clarence Becknell, Judith Dangerfield, John Hopper, Eric Van Hoven, and Jared Zeller.

"We are delighted to welcome this extraordinary group of individuals to the Friends of Lafitte Corridor's board of directors," said Annalisa Kelly, Interim Chair. "Their wide array of expertise and talent further strengthens FOLC as we retool the organization to serve as the community's partner in the long-term maintenance, programming, and use of the Lafitte Greenway."

Construction Update from City of New Orleans Department of Public Works, January 8, 2015

Placement of the asphalt portion of the Lafitte Greenway bicycle and pedestrian path is 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 2, 3, and 4, and continues installation of trail lighting in Area 5. Lighting wiring will be installed toward the end of the project construction, when the project is ready for public use.

Craig Guillot of NOLA Aerials captured extraordinary aerial low-altitude images of Lafitte Greenway on October 20, 2014. Construction of the Greenway is over 50% complete in these images, shot from two locations--North Prier and Jefferson Davis Parkway.

Friends of Lafitte Corridor is proud to announce that we have been selected by the White House and six federal agencies to participate in Local Foods, Local Places, a federal initiative providing technical support to 26 communities nationwide to integrate local food systems into community economic action plans. A team of agricultural, transportation, environmental, public health and regional economic experts will work directly with Friends of Lafitte Corridor and a team of community partners to bring together growers, stakeholders, Lafitte Corridor neighbors and City leaders to develop a plan for community gardens and a farmers market on the Lafitte Greenway.

The League of American Bicyclists recently upgraded New Orleans from bronze to silver bicycle friendliness ranking, thanks largely to a significant increase in new bike lanes and the upcoming Lafitte Greenway!

The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization is supporting the installation of anti-crime cameras on Mid-City Neighborhood homes. MCNO received a $9,500 grant from the Mid-City Security District to make the security camera program possible. This is a great opportunity to promote safety in the Lafitte Corridor! If you live in Mid-City in the Lafitte Corridor, consider applying to MCNO’s reimbursement program to install a camera on your home. For more information and to apply, visit MCNO’s website.

Laffite Greenway Status: Nov. 26, 2014

FOLC thanks Cheryn Robles and everyone at DPW for another monthly greenway construction update:

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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 2, 3, and 4, and continues installation of trail lighting in Area 5. Lighting wiring will be installed toward the end of the project construction, when the project is ready for public use.

Friends of Lafitte Corridor partnered with Providence Community Housing and the after school program at Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center to host Lafitte Greenway Week. Centered around the Greenway's official groundbreaking, students attending the after school program participated in activities inspired by the well-anticipated park amenity. During the week of March 17^th, 2014, students learned concepts of environmental stewardship, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and respect and responsibility for the surrounding community. Each day involved a different activity that promoted these concepts as well as the arrival of the Greenway.

Most if not all of the major spiritual traditions on our planet seem to embrace the path as a metaphor. Maybe that's why I've found the prospect of a greenway in the Lafitte Corridor so inspiring over the years. There's been something very compelling about imagining a trail in what is currently fallow, empty land — and treading that ground with others who share the dream each year.

I thought I should share my personal FOLC tale, since it's central to the origin of the group. During my terms as president (2009-2012) anytime I was asked to present, this is basically the story I told: