Long-Range Interpretive Plan, New Orleans Jazz
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Louisiana New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan Prepared by the Department of Interpretive Planning Harpers Ferry Center and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park July 2007 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction 4 Foundation for Planning 7 Park Purpose 7 Park Significance 7 Mission Statement 10 Interpretive Themes 10 Visitor Experience Goals 12 Issues and Influence 19 Existing Conditions Assessment 22 Recommendations 28 Specific Recommendations 34 Implementation Plan 42 Participants 43 References 44 The only known photograph of Buddy Bolden (2nd from left, standing). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY “Jazz is hereby designated as a rare Following are the key recommen- and valuable national American dations of this plan. All are based treasure to which we should devote on the Proposed Action in the our attention, support and resources General Management Plan. to make certain it is preserved, un- derstood and promulgated.” • NPS presence and interpretive -Concurrent Resolution 57, activities in Armstrong Park are 100th U.S. Congress, 1987. critical to the mission of New Orleans Jazz National Historical This long-range interpretive plan Park. The visitor center will be (LRIP) confi rms the founda- developed in Armstrong Park on tion for visitor experience and lands provided to the National interpretation/education of New Park Service under a long-term Orleans Jazz National Historical lease by the city of New Orleans. Park (NHP), and recommends Facility development will be a strategy for achieving park and phased along with interpretive visitor goals within the next 5-10 media development. Rehabilita- years. This document is consis- tion in Armstrong Park began in tent with the NPS mission, previ- 2006. ous planning, civic engagement, partnerships, and the realities • Perseverance Hall will provide of a Gulf coast recovering from a temporary visitor center until 2005 hurricanes and a nation with funding can be obtained for a limited federal discretionary fi scal center that fulfi lls the core mis- resources. sion of the park. Perseverance Hall will be staff ed several days a This document represents the best week. Functions of visitor con- eff orts, over several years, of an tact, interpretation, education, exceptional group of luminar- performances, and cooperating ies representing music, local and association sales will be pro- regional culture, history, tourism, vided. Until Perseverance Hall is and park interpretation and edu- rehabilitated, the current visitor cation. This document is certain to center at St. Peters will continue be modifi ed as new information, largely as at present. When the opportunities, funds, and partners Hall is open, services will shift to become available. But this docu- Perseverance Hall as neighboring ment and the previous General developments, visitation, staffi ng, Management Plan (GMP) form a and funding permit with a goal of foundation from which being fully transitioned in 2008. subsequent decisions will be made. •At a later date, under Phase II as described in the GMP, a permanent visitor center will be developed in Armstrong Park. The permanent visitor center will use the latest technology to fulfi ll 1 Executive Summary the cores mission and legislative • Interpretation of other sites in the mandate of the Park. The per- metropolitan area will be accom- manent visitor center will make plished by an audio/wireless tour the jazz story compelling and of jazz-related sites; a calendar meaningful for a wide diversity of activities, a wayside exhibit of audiences, including children, plan, an interpretation/orienta- families, school groups, interna- tion exhibit kiosk in Armstrong tional visitors, those new to jazz Park, an airport exhibit, internet as well as individuals seeking programming, and other partner- in-depth information, those who ship initiatives. want mostly to hear and enjoy music, and those wanting to visit • Improved orientation and way- signifi cant historic sites. A major fi nding will be provided by function of the visitor center directional signs in Armstrong will be to encourage visitors to Park, an Armstrong Park map or visit signifi cant sites and to enjoy brochure, and directional high- musical and cultural experiences way and street signs. around the city and the region. • Personal services will expand • Exhibits will be developed in from current off erings to include phases. Temporary exhibits will performances and other events be ready to install when Perse- in the Jazz Complex courtyard; verance Hall is open in 2007. second-line parades in Armstrong The second stage of exhibits Park; interpretive programs that will be ready to install in about start and/or end at Perseverance three years, or two years from the Hall; walking tours of Armstrong time when funding is obtained. Park, Tremé, and other neighbor- They will include interactive and ing areas; concerts and infor- audiovisual elements such as mances; and education programs short videos and audio listening (onsite and off site) for schools stations, graphic and text panels, and other organized groups. and historic objects. • Perseverance Hall and Phase • The fi nal stage (described in II exhibits – since they involve the GMP as Phase II) of exhib- multi-sensory and interactive its includes those necessary for technologies -- will require front- accomplishing the functions end, formative, and remedial eval- described in the GMP. They will uations to ensure achievement of require a larger space than is desired outcomes. available in Perseverance Hall. They are summarized below. • A visitor study of New Orleans tourists will determine jazz-re- • As funding becomes available, the lated interests, prior knowledge, Caretaker’s, Reimann, and Ra- expectations, resources used, and bassa Houses in Armstrong Park good and bad experiences. will be considered for rehabilita- tion based on associated costs; should rehabilitation costs prove 2 excessive, other options will be considered. Executive Summary Phase II • The long-term solution to pro- viding an adequate park visitor center remains to be worked out. Neither Perseverance Hall nor the Firehouse is large enough, nor confi gured adequately, to accommodate exhibits and audiovisual media that will be required to interpret primary interpretive themes. • The GMP states: The rehabilitated [Persever- ance] hall would be expanded to construct a visitor center complex that would be cost effi cient to staff and would be suited to inter- pretive and educational needs. -- New Orleans Jazz GMP, p. 45 • Concurrent with Phase I devel- opment the NPS will pursue an expanded Cooperative Agree- ment and/or lease with the City of New Orleans in the Area of Potential Expansion as detailed in GMP. A larger visitor center complex for the purpose of using the latest and best technology to make the jazz story compelling and meaningful for a wide variety of audiences is identifi ed in Phase II development. • About 3,000 square feet of visitor center exhibits will be needed. These will be highly interactive, multi-sensory, and able to accom- modate organized groups. 3 INTRODUCTION This Long-Range Interpretive Plan This is a long-range plan, spanning (LRIP): from 7 to 10 years. It will join an Annual Interpretive Plan (AIP) and • Describes goals and issues for an Interpretive Database to make visitor experience, interpretation, up a Comprehensive Interpretive education, and resource steward- Plan (CIP) for New Orleans Jazz ship National Historical Park (JAZZ). Intended audiences for this LRIP • Recommends ways to achieve include park staff , interpretive those goals and address the issues media and facility designers, through facilities, interpretive partners, and regional offi ce staff . media and programs, and access to resources and experiences This plan is congruent with other park plans, including the New • Provides relevant background Orleans Jazz General Management information Plan (GMP). Why is jazz important? Jazz captures and stylizes 20th century life encourages resilience and improvisation brings people (races) together conveys beauty and meaning expresses some of our deepest values created an indelible body of art (recordings) has stood the test of time aff ords and encourages freedom delivers on many levels (dance, parades, concerts, folk, popular) is highly infl uential -- John Hasse 4 Introduction The Planning Process New Orleans Jazz Planning Comprehensive In 1993 a Special Resource Study Interpretive (SRS) analyzed options for pre- Planning serving jazz heritage. New Orleans The Comprehensive Interpretive Jazz National Historical Park was Plan (CIP) is a program manage- created on October 31, 1994. A ment plan that encompasses visi- General Management Plan (GMP) tor experience, interpretive media, was completed in 1999. This Long- orientation/information services, Range Interpretive Plan (LRIP) is and personal interpretation and a program management plan that education services. The CIP is conforms to the direction and the basic planning document for decisions provided by the GMP. interpretation. CIPs have three components: the Long-Range Work on this LRIP began with a Interpretive Plan (LRIP), Annual three-day workshop in December, Implementation Plans (AIP), and 2001 in New Orleans. A second an Interpretive Database (ID). workshop was held in September,