New Orleans City Park
Annual Report
Fiscal Year: 2013-2014
"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
– William Shakespeare
Nature is the common thread in City Park's mission to
preserve and improve our park for recreational,
educational, cultural, and beautification purposes.
Whether it's the dancing, sprawling shade of our
mature live oaks or the unique sculptural elements
found at every turn or the distinct rallying cry of a team
scoring on the field, City Park's 1,300 acres of outdoor
space provides a magnificent backdrop.
As one of the nation's oldest urban parks, City Park is a
beauty growing stronger and more vibrant by the year.
History whispers from the 800-year-old grand oak, the
dancing platform of the Peristyle, and the antique
Carousel's hand-painted, wooden "flying horses." The
present beckons visitors to experience the blooms of
the Botanical Garden, to traverse miles of biking,
jogging, and walking paths, and to explore modern art
in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden.
Today's City Park is a testament to the strength of our
community and our commitment to preserving and
improving this vital resource. From the serenity of
Couturie Forest to the camaraderie of sportsmanship to
spirited live music, City Park offers something for
everyone. Drop by to discover this gorgeous live
performance, 160 years in the making.
We are pleased to present the New Orleans City
Park Annual Report covering the fiscal year which
began on July 1, 2013, and ended on June 30,
2014.
The Park continued its recovery from Hurricane
Katrina and the implementation of its Master Plan.
We celebrated the one year anniversary of our
miniature golf complex, City Putt, inaugurated a
new concert program on the Great Lawn- The
Happy 3rd of July celebration, finished converting
the lights at Celebration in the Oaks to 100% LED
fixtures, and held our first Earth Day event in the
Botanical Garden, as well as holding all of the
other great events, festivals, and races which are
part of our normal activities.
The Park received a 2014 Certificate of
Excellence from Trip Advisor for consistently
rating 4.5 stars out of a possible 5, took home five
Best of Awards from Gambit readers, ranked in
the top ten Amusement Parks in the country by
Mensa, and received AARP’s “Great Places in
Louisiana” award.
The attached report highlights these, and other
activities, and gives an account of our financial
performance during the fiscal year. We hope you
find the information useful and informative.
William D. Hoffman Robert W. Becker Ph.D.
President Chief Executive Officer
JULY 2013 to JUNE 2014: What a year!
City Park knocked it out of the park on so many levels ...
More than 3,900 volunteers clocked 11,745 hours of
planting, cleaning, and Park beautification.
"Best Place for a First Date" was just one of the five Gambit Best of Awards City Park scored
in the coveted annual list. (In case the romance doesn't pan out, we also picked up
"Best Place to Break-up.")
City Park's stunning coffee table book, Magnificent Balance of Art, Nature & Play, by writer
and photographer Kerri McCaffety, was published in November 2013.
Eco-friendly LED lights launched at Celebration in the Oaks – every single strand of bulbs
supports our ongoing efforts to keep the Park green.
Every day is Earth Day at City Park, and our official,
inaugural celebration was a resounding success.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl Track & Field Meet brought 2,100 students
from 89 schools and 7 states to City Park.
City Park picked up a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, and the
Park ranked #4 out of 643 New Orleans attractions.
Shutterbugs swarmed City Park with more than 750 entries
submitted to our first photo contest.
The smart folks of Mensa ranked Carousel Gardens #6 in a list of
Top 10 Amusement Parks in the country.
New Orleans City Park
Mission Statement:
Preserve and improve City Park
spaces for recreational,
educational, cultural, and
beautification purposes.
Preserve and improve City Park spaces for recreational,
educational, cultural, and beautification purposes.
City Putt hosted more
than 100K rounds of mini
golf by its 1 year
anniversary in May 2014.
City Park’s breathtaking,
historic grove of mature
live oaks—and the cool
shade they provide—
continues to top lists of
the best spots in New
Orleans. From a distance, you
can hear the roar of
Friday night
football crowds at
Pan American
Stadium.
Visitors love to pedal and paddle! Wheel Fun
on Big Lake had an excellent year of boat and
bike rentals.
Golf meets gorgeous:
a wildflower field added a
touch of colorful whimsy to
City Park’s range.
A world-class Park inspires
community service. More
than 3,900 volunteers pitched
in at City Park between July
2013 and June 2014.
In the swing of things:
free-spirited fun is the
cornerstone of recreational
fun at City Park.
Soccer fans and players had a ball on
the soccer fields near the Matt Savoie
Soccer Complex.
Tourists and locals alike love to raise a racket at the
City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center, which features 26
lighted courts, a practice court with two backboards,
and a locker room with showers for players.
Preserve and improve City Park spaces for recreational,
educational, cultural, and beautification purposes.
The Grow Dat Youth Farm empowers and
educates young leaders through the rewarding
work of growing good-for-you food.
Not just another pretty face—the New
Orleans Botanical Garden offers classes
for kids, lectures for adults, and tours
for everyone.
The Louisiana Outdoors Outreach Program
(LOOP) offers life-changing, vital outdoor
experiences to the youth of the Greater
New Orleans area.
Earth Day?! It happens 365 days a year at City Park.
On April 22, we hosted our first
Annual Earth Day event.
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about City Park—
from tree tops to bayou bottoms to stories
past to the revitalized present—is delivered to
you in a new, easy to navigate website.
NewOrleansCityPark.com
City Park knows that the best
classroom in the world is in the
great outdoors. Learn about
flowers, food, composting, and
more while you're at the Park.
Preserve and improve City Park spaces for recreational,
educational, cultural, and beautification purposes.
There’s always
music in the air at
City Park! The
Singing Oak chimes
ring a melodic
scale at the
slightest breeze
at Big Lake.
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s free
springtime concert series at the Peristyle and
Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn is a seasonal
tradition.
Celebration in the Oaks is one of New
Orleans’ most iconic holiday traditions.
The month-long lights
spectacular attracts
visitors from all 50 states.
Some of our favorite
words: Hot. Beignets.
Everyday. All day.
Our 100-year-old
hand-carved and
hand-painted Carousel
is one-of-a-kind in Louisiana
and the crown jewel of the
Carousel Gardens
Amusement Park.
Our Happy 3rd of July musical
event brings the Marine Corps
band’s patriotic tribute and a
striking display of fireworks
from the top of the Peristyle.
Jazz, blues, brass, swing, you name
it and it’s at the Park. Thursdays at
Twilight draws music lovers of all
types to enjoy some of
New Orleans’ best musicians.
New Orleans’ distinct culture is woven into everyday
experiences of City Park, from public art and historic
architecture to live music series and festivals.
We love being neighbors
with the New Orleans
Museum of Art and
the Sydney and
Walda Besthoff
Sculpture Garden.
Preserve and improve City Park spaces for recreational,
educational, cultural, and beautification purposes. The famous Peristyle is one of the oldest and
most recognized architectural structures in City
Park. Built in 1907, as an elegant platform for
dances, the Peristyle is a popular wedding
ceremony destination in New Orleans.
City Park’s nature trails and thriving
waterways are home to myriad
varieties of trees, fish, and birds.
Picturesque Spanish moss drapes many of
City Park’s 25,000 trees.
City Park’s wildflower fields burst with blooming color and
provide a gorgeous backdrop to delight visitors.
WPA sculptor Enrique Alferez’s
leaping dolphin sculpture is a
dynamic, aquatic centerpiece to
the magnificent Popp Fountain.
Popp’s Bandstand
is a popular and
unique site.
“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
One of many old stone bridges in
City Park, the Langles Bridge is a
favorite photo subject
for many visitors.
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature,
he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”
-John Muir
New Orleans City Park
1 Palm Drive, New Orleans, LA 70124
#iheartcitypark
For more information on the Park, or on how to volunteer
or donate, please visit NewOrleansCityPark.com
or call 504-259-1509.
