First look: New Orleans' riverfront park and playground
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The new Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park in downtown New Orleans has a marsh-themed playground. Photo: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios
The Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park opens Tuesday in downtown New Orleans.
The big picture: The park is built on top of Gov. Nicholls Wharf's concrete deck, with the Mississippi River flowing underneath, according to Jackson Kerby, Audubon's VP of construction.
- Audubon trucked in heaps of dirt to make reinforced lawns, which use small fiber strips to make them more resilient for festivals.
- Crews released 1,500 worms into the lawns to help with soil health, Kerby says.
- They also planted 120 trees that can tolerate strong winds.
Zoom in: The main feature is a covered event space called The Front Porch, which can hold several hundred people.
- Audubon plans to open a concession stand there within the next six months. Until then, food trucks will be at the park.
- The Front Porch has public bathrooms, too.
- The park also has paid parking, which leaders hope will generate income.
If you go: The new multi-use path is open for walkers, runners and cyclists.
- The dog-friendly park has a marsh-themed playground, water misters, swinging benches and shade structures.
- Plus, there's a grove where poles are installed for users to hang their own hammocks.
- An obelisk lights up at night to match the Crescent City Connection bridge.
What's next: The park opens to the public at 11am Tuesday. The main public entrance from the French Quarter is at St. Philip Street.
- The park is between the river and streetcar tracks.
Go deeper: Audubon's planning phase two of the park already
