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City Park Conservancy (CPC) invites members of the Greater New Orleans region to take part in the third of four interactive community planning meetings to help design the future of New Orleans City Park.
Community Meeting: Mixing the Gumbo is part of a series of iterative planning meetings that use a “Making Gumbo” metaphor to describe the planning process, and will be held on Wednesday, April 9 at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters. Because of the large turnout at past meetings, participants are asked to choose between a morning session at 11:30am or an evening session at 6pm. Refreshments and food will be provided. The Park asks attendees to please RSVP now for their preferred session to ensure there are accommodations and planning materials for everyone.
In this meeting, participants will combine the Foundational Planning Themes and Placemaking Ideas from past meetings to begin the co-design process for the City Park Plan. This session will focus on aligning these ideas with the Core Intentions established during previous sessions and transforming them into actionable integrated planning designs for the Park’s future.
“This meeting is going to be very informative for our community members,” said Rebecca Dietz, CPC President and CEO. “This is where the concepts that the public has shared with us are becoming a part of the Park’s actual design plan. We’re excited to show people how their ideas are coming to life.”
At the last Community Meeting in January, residents and stakeholders engaged in a collaborative placemaking activity to shape the future of City Park. Using a structured reference sheet with Existing and Future Placemaking Ideas as a guide, participants categorized key proposals into three areas:
Youth priorities were a key focus, ensuring that teen-friendly spaces, inclusive playgrounds, and recreational opportunities remain integral to the Park’s future. The public engagement offered valuable insights, reinforcing the community’s shared commitment to making City Park more accessible, sustainable, and engaging for all generations.
To access the full summary of Community Meeting: Stirring the Roux, and the full summary of Community Meeting: Prepping the Ingredients, visit City Park Conservancy’s Community Input page.
For those who cannot attend the meeting on April 9, there are more opportunities to participate – pop-up events led by Community Fellows in every council district – as well as a future community meeting on June 25.
When complete, the City Park Plan will foster an innovative and thoughtful long-term proposal for the Park grounded in serving the greater good, addressing community needs, preserving historical and cultural context, enhancing environmental resiliency, and fostering a welcoming sense of place.
This plan is made possible through a lead gift from the Greg Keller Foundation. For more information, visit lytf.bet.