As the City moves forward with Phase One: Safest At Home of the Safe Reopening initiative, some businesses, parks, playgrounds, and more are beginning to open with restrictions. While the Greenway trail and green spaces have remained open through the COVID-19 pandemic, Phase One includes some loosened restrictions for the recreational spaces on the Greenway, and continues to urge residents to take precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19. 

What’s New: 

• Greenway Fitness Parks & Playgrounds are now open at N Prieur and Jeff. Davis Parkway. The outdoor equipment is being routinely sanitized for your safety. Do not use shared equipment if you are feeling sick, or if you’re especially vulnerable to infection. If you choose to use these facilities, be sure to keep following the guidelines below. The FitLot, playground, and tennis court at Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center (Greenway at N Miro) remain closed, because they are managed by a private company that does not have the resources to open them safely.
  

Social Distancing & Safety on the Greenway: Phase One Reopening

• Don't leave home if you’re not feeling well, or if you’ve come into contact with someone with COVID-19 symptoms.
• Keep a 6 ft distance from others - The Greenway Trail is 12 feet wide, so keep to the outer edges of the trail and pass one at a time.
• Look for the least crowded path. If your schedule is flexible, try going to the Greenway when it’s less crowded, like early morning and mid-day.
• Don't gather in groups larger than a reasonable household size - this includes sports like basketball, football, soccer, and frisbee that require you to come in close contact with others or to touch a shared object. 
• Exercise caution on fitness parks and playgrounds. While these facilities are being routinely sanitized, you should take care when touching anything that other people have touched. Sanitize your hands before and after using equipment, avoid touching your face, and if you can, bring sanitizing wipes to wipe down surfaces before and after use.
• Avoid water fountains. Instead, bring your own water bottle. 
• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after you go outside. 
• When you get home, take off your shoes at the door.
• You don’t need to wear a mask while exercising, but if you’re taking the Greenway to get somewhere that will require you to go indoors (like an essential job, a bike shop, the grocery store or your favorite reopened bar or restaurant), be sure to bring a mask, scarf, bandana, or other face covering with you to cover your nose and mouth when you arrive.
• Stay Up to Date! Be sure you're getting reliable information about the developing outbreak: check ready.nola.gov for updates about New Orleans' COVID-19 response.

Reopening Resources:

• NORD Phase 1 Reopening Plan  
• NOLA Ready Assistance Resources

City of New Orleans Reopening Guidelines

Friend to the Greenway and bird lover David Muth has put together a short list of some of our new bird friends we should forward to spotting along the Greenway! As you read, click the links and photos for more info on our friends.

One of the things that Covid-19 has allowed many of us to do is to slow down and “smell the roses” as it were, right in our own backyards and neighborhoods. If you love birds, New Orleanians are lucky to live in an urban environment that is relatively rich in birdlife. A stroll on the Greenway can often be rewarding as well. To date, 68 species of birds have been recorded. That is pretty modest compared with City Park’s more than 260 species, but City Park is much larger and has been searched for decades by birders. As the trees on the Greenway grow and mature, and as more people spend time birding the Greenway, the list will grow. Click here to see what has been seen.

Starting today, Moss Street is a slow street! We’re grateful for the City’s commitment to creating space for people to walk, run, and ride at a safe distance during the pandemic, and reduce over-crowding along the Bayou-- a critical public space, and key connection between the Greenway and City Park. Learn more about Slow Streets here.

What You Need to Know:

WHEN: Today, May 6 - Monday May 18th

WHERE: Riverside of Moss Street, from Esplanade Ave. to Lafitte St. & Adjacent blocks (see map below)

Ephemera artist @lubazygarewicz reminds us to celebrate nature everyday in this post, beautifully paired together by Luba for Earth Day. It features her art piece "Rooted in Wonder” with a poem by fellow Ephemera artist @cubsthepoet and the photo, taken by @jccotto.

Our people and small businesses are the strength of our community. While we are under the #StayHome mandate in the city to prevent the spread of COVID-19, our small businesses need our help to maintain their operations and support their staff. Here’s how you can help the businesses of the Greenway!

Bayou Bicycles 

3530 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70119

OPEN - Online or by appointment!

Email bayoubicyclesspecialized.com to set up an appointment for new bike purchases and major service orders. Stay updated with them on Instagram.

Thank you to Michael Ricks, District Director of the Small Business Administration (SBA), for leading an informative webinar on SBA COVID-19 Loans & Resources. Special thanks to Henry Kothmann of the Greater Mid-City Business Association for moderating. 

Materials & Resources:

• Webinar Video Recording
• SBA's Website: COVID-19 Guidance & Loan Resources
• Webinar Slide Deck 

SBA COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans

• Where to Apply: COVID-19 EIDL Online Application Form - Use this link to apply for SBA's forgivable loan advance of up to $10,000 and additional loan resources. Applications must be submitted online at this website to be eligible for the $10,000 loan advance.
• Correction: Checking Status of COVID-19 EIDL Application - Out of date information was shared during the April 1st webinar; there is not currently an SBA website for applicants to check the status of their loan application online.

Paycheck Protection Program

• About the Program: SBA Guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program
• Where to Apply: Apply directly through your bank.

Questions Submitted

We have compiled questions submitted via email and Zoom Q&A, and shared them with the SBA team for review. The SBA team is working to respond to questions not addressed during the webinar. As available, we will post these responses publicly here. Please stay tuned.

Future Webinars

New policy guidelines are rapidly evolving. Michael Ricks has generously offered to return for a future webinar as policy guidelines become available. Please stay tuned and let us know if there is particular information that would be useful as a topic for a future webinar at [email protected]

As COVID-19 continues to spread and impact more New Orleanians, we all need to do our part to curb community spread and reduce the burden on our healthcare system. The Greenway is still open and it’s one of the essential places you can go for  exercise during the current Stay Home mandate, as long as you’re not in a group, and staying at least 6 feet from others.  In addition to the basic CDC guidance, there are a handful of ways we can all keep each other safe while enjoying the Greenway we love. Here are some tips on safe outdoor exercise, adapted from the New York Times:

1. Don't leave home if you’re not feeling well, or if you’ve come into contact with someone with COVID-19 symptoms.
2. Keep a 6 ft distance from others - The Greenway Trail is 12 feet wide, so keep to the outer edges of the trail and pass one at a time.
3. Look for the least crowded path. If your schedule is flexible, try going to the Greenway when it’s less crowded, like early morning and mid-day.
4. Don't gather in groups - this includes sports like basketball, football, soccer, and frisbee that require you to come in close contact with others or to touch a shared object. 
5. Keep off fitness parks and playgrounds. For the safety of our community, the Greenway's fitness parks and playgrounds are closed.
   
6. Avoid water fountains. Instead, bring your own water bottle. 
7. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after you go outside. 
8. When you get home, take off your shoes at the door.
9. Stay Up to Date! Be sure you're getting reliable information about the developing outbreak: check ready.nola.gov for updates about New Orleans' COVID-19 response.

On March 10th, the ribbon cutting for the Lafitte Greenway Shelter formally the city’s Brake Tag Station took place. With its renovations worth $1.5 million this new multipurpose facility will be used for programming, and rentals. We hope to foster our mission and vision as we work to bring vibrancy to this space through community events, like Greenway Festivities, along the Greenway. Be on the lookout for all the possibilities to come, so be sure to sign up for our newsletter here so you are up to date on future programming.

Big thank you to all who made this possible, @mayorcantrell @nordcommision @nftgroupllc @cityofnola 

Greenway Fest: Postponed & Transformed

Friends of Lafitte Greenway's team has been working closely with City officials and health experts to monitor the spread of Coronavirus in Louisiana. Today, we have the opportunity to curb the spread of the virus, support public health, and relieve pressure on our healthcare system by postponing and transforming Greenway Fest, originally scheduled for Saturday, March 21st.

Spread the Fest - Not the virus

This year only, Greenway Fest will be transformed into Greenway Festivities this summer/fall: a series of music, arts, and cultural celebrations. Greenway Festivities will take the best of the Fest and spread it out throughout the season and along the trail.

Friends of Lafitte Greenway is thrilled to welcome a fantastic group of new members to our Board of Directors: Michael Ricks, Misty Frye, Mike Leitzinger, Melissa Lee, Debbie de la Houssaye, and Emily Bullock. These folks were elected to the board by Greenway members at our Annual Membership Meeting this January. Read about our board members on our website: Our Team.