The Lafitte Corridor

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative: An Emerging Opportunity to Connect New Orleans Neighborhoods to Healthy Living CONTENTS

I. Executive Summary 2

II. Plan Review Summary 8

III. Current Conditions 10 Social Conditions 12 Community Facilities and Resources 16 Physical Conditions and Recommendations 35

IV. Community Outreach 50

V. Recommendations and Action Plan 53 Action Items to Complete During Design/Build Phase 53 Action Items to Complete After Trail Completion 58

VI. Conclusion 61

Appendices A . Works Cited 62 B. Technical Appendix 64 C. Party on the Greenway Survey Summary 71

Photos on front cover: Two women walking and the 2011 Hike the Lafitte Corridor are courtesy of Bart Everson; marching band courtesy of Benedicte Desrus. The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative: An Emerging Opportunity to Connect Neighborhoods to Healthy Living

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Project Team: Lindsay Martin Stephen Miller Kelly Pack

Acknowledgements This community assessment was made possible by a generous grant from The Kresge Foundation to support Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s (RTC) Urban Pathways Initiative. RTC and our many local partners extend our gratitude to the Foundation for their support and shared vision to create healthier communities by connecting people and places with urban pathways.

RTC is grateful for the support of local residents, groups and businesses that advocate for sustainable and community-minded development of the Lafitte Corridor. We extend a special thank you to Ethan Ellestad, outreach coordinator for the Lafitte Corridor, and to Bart Everson, Daniel Samuels and the rest of Friends of Lafitte Corridor, the Urban Conservancy, KidsWalk Coalition, Sojourner Truth Neighbor- hood Center, Bike Easy (formerly Metro Bicycle Coalition), University of New Orleans, Louisiana Safe Routes to School National Partner- ship, New Orleans Regional Planning Commission, and the city of New Orleans.

Finally, the team wishes to recognize RTC staff who contributed to the accuracy and utility of this assessment: Barbara Richey, graphic designer, Karl Wirsing, editor, Tim Rosner, GIS specialist, and Jay Rauschenbach, GIS intern. Executive Summary

2 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Executive Summary

I. Executive Summary

Since 2006, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has worked with local organizations in New Orleans to advocate for trail development within the Lafitte Corridor, a former railroad and canal corridor that stretches through several neighborhoods in the heart of the city. In 2009, with support from The Kresge Foundation, RTC began a multi-year effort in New Orleans to implement the Urban Pathways Initiative (UPI), a program that provides community-based assistance to groups and municipal agencies that promote or develop pathways intersecting low-income communities. New Orleans is one of four U.S. cities receiving in-depth assistance through RTC’s UPI program. The first phase of UPI consisted of a thorough assessment of the physical environment and social conditions of neighborhoods adjacent to the Lafitte Corridor. Findings and recommendations are presented in the four main sections of this report:

• Plan Review Summary — An overview of existing research and planning documents that inform subsequent sections of this report. The Plan Review Summary emphasizes planned and proposed changes that will impact the study area outlined below;

• Current Conditions — A description of existing physical and social conditions of the New Orleans neighborhoods within a quarter-mile of the corridor. This analysis covers both important demographic and social factors and identifies significant landscape barriers that may limit accessibility to the future greenway;

• Community Outreach — A summary of RTC’s outreach activities and involvement with the community and key stakeholders;

• Recommendations and Action Plan — Suggestions for increasing awareness of the corridor revitalization project and for encouraging use of the facility once it is constructed.

This report combines the community assessment with empirical research, community input and RTC’s 25 years of trail-development experience to inform a set of recommendations and multi- year action plan for creating equitable access to the corridor and encouraging use and community stewardship of the future greenway.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 3 Executive Summary

The Corridor

The Lafitte Corridor is a largely vacant strip of land once used by Norfolk Southern Railroad, stretching from Basin Street to Canal Boulevard and connecting the French Quarter to the Bayou. Residents from surrounding neighborhoods have worked to preserve the 3.1-mile section of corridor for future open space and greenway development. The corridor has been critical to transportation throughout New Orleans’ history — first as a waterway and later as a rail line. There is no other direct route between Mid-City and Tremé, the French Quarter and the Central Business District that is publicly owned and generally undeveloped. In post-Katrina New Orleans, with land use being re-examined throughout the city, supporters have realized the urgency of putting their idea into action.

Citizen advocates dedicated to preserving the open space of the Lafitte Corridor for use as a greenway formed Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC) in 2006. Shortly after FOLC established, they spearheaded an effort to produce the first plan for the Lafitte Corridor’s redesign, the “Lafitte Greenway Master Plan” (2007). Local support grew for the concept, and in 2009 the city of New Orleans received a federal grant from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to design and redevelop the corridor, including the construction of a multi-use trail or “greenway,” as it is being referred to in this report. This grant will support the complete design of the corridor and construction of the greenway. RTC has been involved in this project for several years and is currently implementing UPI by adding capacity to local organizations that advocate for the greenway and by encouraging neighborhood residents and local business owners along the corridor to be involved in the planning process.

4 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Executive Summary

Community Study Area

Recommendations presented in this report, especially those related to infrastructure, focus on a defined area surrounding the corridor. For the purpose of this report, that study area is bound by Canal Street and Orleans Avenue and by Canal Avenue and Basin Street. The study area includes a buffer of approximately a quarter-mile around the corridor and was determined based on previous planning efforts (Lafitte Greenway Master Plan, 2007) and on advisement of FOLC board members and an urban planning specialist with the city of New Orleans. Neighborhoods included are: Tremé, Iberville, Lafitte, Tulane/Gravier, Bayou St. John, Mid-City and Navarre (South Lakeview).

The physical assessment of walking and biking conditions used these boundaries to examine streets that connect or are close to the Lafitte Corridor in order to determine future greenway access and overall neighborhood walkability and bikeability. The summary of the social conditions in this report presents data for U.S. Census tracts that are either completely within or intersect the defined study area. The results of the physical assessment included in this report, combined with social data and community resource inventory, can help shape the greenway planning process while also informing citywide policy for creating safe and accessible pedestrian and bicycle network.

The Trail-Health Connection

During the past 20 years, obesity has become a significant health risk to millions of Americans. The number of deaths associated with obesity is second only to the number of deaths per year related to smoking. In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control announced that the obesity rate among the adult population swelled to 30 percent (about 60 million), a figure that has doubled since 1980. The health risks associated with obesity can be mitigated by creating environments that provide individuals with a place to engage in regular, safe physical activity. Research suggests that walking is a particularly important component to active living since it is the most accessible form of physical activity across socioeconomic groups and in areas that are urban or rural (Henderson, 2005). Related studies support the role of multi-use trails as enhancers of communities’ pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and reinforce the notion that

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 5 Executive Summary

trails contribute to community health by providing accessible and safe walking and biking Action Items to be Completed environments (Troped et al, 2005). The Lafitte Corridor extends through economically During Design/Build Phase distressed communities that are in need of safe, inexpensive recreational facilities to help DESIGN AND INFRASTRUCTURE promote healthy lifestyles and curb the significant trends of obesity-related disease among • Access Points/Gateways New Orleans residents. • Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure • Include Sustainable Water Design as Recommendations and Action Plan Element of Greenway Planning

Since the Lafitte Corridor is currently undeveloped, the recommendations and action plan GREENWAY ATTRACTIONS developed for this project provide suggestions for neighborhood infrastructure improve- • Informational Kiosks and Wayfinding ments that will facilitate safer access to the greenway. Recommendations also suggest ways Stations to build community support and involvement around the planning process and future stewardship of the greenway. Recommendations throughout this report include suggestions • Community Gardens for programs that will take little time and money to accomplish, as well as large tasks that • Public Art will take time, significant amounts of funding, dedication and work to achieve. The recommendations fall into two main categories: Action items to be completed during the design/ CREATING INTEREST & COALITION BUILDING build phase, and action items to complete after the greenway opens. See sidebar. • Community Outreach and Promotion • Public/Private Partnerships • Naming the Greenway

Action Items to Complete After the Greenway opens EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING • Events and Activities • Safety Considerations

MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS

6 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Executive Summary

Conclusion

Neighborhoods along the Lafitte Corridor are still recovering from the destruction of the floods that followed Katrina. As part of this healing process, they are re-imagining the possibilities for healthy, vibrant communities and taking action to develop housing, community facilities and amenities that will help New Orleans thrive in the 21st century. And as the Lafitte Corridor gains more advocates (and eventual stewards), more New Orleans residents will be introduced to the benefits of using the greenway for recreation and transportation.

We hope this report serves as a tool for those who are involved in the trail-planning process and who wish to encourage use of the Lafitte Corridor Greenway so it becomes a well-used and beloved community asset.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 7 Plan Review Summary

II. Plan Review Summary

The idea of redeveloping the Lafitte Corridor was first conceived in the 1970s when a design team — tasked with studying the impacts of the construction of Interstate 10 on adjacent neighborhoods — proposed developing the aging Norfolk Southern rail corridor into a linear park. The Interstate 10 Multi-Use Study released in 1976 envisioned a vibrant public space with a botanical garden, streetcar line and water features that would serve as a public amenity — as North Claiborne Avenue’s oak-lined neutral ground once did, before it was built over by the elevated expressway — and stimulate reinvestment in New Orleans’ downtown neighborhoods. Though the study was funded by the Federal Highway Administration, funding for implementing the park was not provided, and the idea sat idle for many years (Samuels, 2000).

More than two decades later, interest in the Lafitte Corridor was revived in the New Century New Orleans Master Plan (1999–2004). This plan embraced the original redevelopment idea for the corridor as public space and a catalyst for revitalization of an ailing industrial area, but it also added another dimension. The “Land Use” and “Transportation” elements of this plan recommend including a non-motorized path — a safe, energy-efficient route for bicyclists and pedestrians that provides a key cross-town connection within the city’s larger bicycle and pedestrian systems. The need for safe routes and well-connected non-motorized networks was underscored by the 2005 New Orleans Metropolitan Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, produced by the Regional Planning Commission.

As New Orleans took on the challenge of rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, developing the Lafitte Corridor was viewed as a key component of local recovery. It is identified in a number of plans as a strategic project that would promote neighborhood rebuilding and commercial revitalization, including the Mid-City Neighborhood Planning District 4 Rebuilding Plan (2006), Office of Recovery Management Recovery and Rebuilding Plan (2007), Broad Connections: A Revitalization Strategy for a New Orleans Commercial Corridor (2007), and the Unified New Orleans Plan, District 4 Recovery Planning Projects (2007).

In 2007, the Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC) teamed up with the design firm Brown+Danos landdesign, inc., to flesh out a vision for the corridor and adjacent redevelopments—to “change the character of the corridor from a spatial barrier that historically separated and isolated neighborhoods to an amenity linking neighborhoods with each other and a network of open spaces

8 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Plan Review Summary

and places of commerce, education and employment.” Inspired by Several major themes for the development of the Lafitte Greenway other greenways around the country, the Lafitte Greenway Master Plan arise from these plans: illustrates the connections the greenway would provide to neighbor- • Enhanced Non-motorized Transportation Network — The hoods, schools, religious facilities, parks and open space, areas of greenway will link existing trails and provide a safe, cross-town cultural and historical significance, and transportation networks. The route for bicyclists and pedestrians. plan also identifies opportunities and challenges posed by greenway development, and it suggests overarching planning principles for the • Improved Access to Park Space — Currently, the neighborhoods project. These principles focus on access and safety, incorporating the adjacent to the eastern third of the corridor lack adequate access unique cultural heritage of the adjacent neighborhoods into the green to parks and open space. The greenway will significantly improve way design, and creating a great public space that fosters activity, access to quality park and recreation opportunities for those connection with nature and opportunities to facilitate social cohesion. residents.

The current master plan for the city, A Plan for the 21st Century: New • Recovery and Economic Revitalization — Many of these plans Orleans 2030, incorporates many elements of the previous plans for for the greenway are inextricably linked to the economic revitaliza- and in support of the Lafitte Greenway. In several sections, the plan tion of areas near the corridor, some that have long suffered from recognizes the greenway as a key component of the city’s transporta- economic disinvestment, and others that were severely damaged tion and park and open space networks, as well as a prototype for trail by the flooding after Hurricane Katrina. and greenway development in New Orleans. There is now also interest in developing the greenway into a central component of • Sustainability — Developing the corridor into a linear a new sustainable water-management system. park and non-motorized path will green this heavily industrial Given the city’s vulnerability to flooding, the area, promote energy-efficient transportation, provide local firm Waggoner & Ball Architects devised opportunities to restore the city’s tree canopy, and use a holistic approach to absorbing, filtering and green infrastructure to create a more resilient city. draining stormwater. The Lafitte Greenway: Given the comprehensive approach of these plans for Sustainable Water Design (2010) report was created the Lafitte Corridor, the development of the greenway following an intensive dialogue with water man- is closely tied to our study area. Creating the greenway agement experts from The Netherlands, which will enhance the overall quality of life for residents and is also on low-lying land. The proposed corridor workers in the area by improving transportation options, design uses natural vegetation and water features opportunities for exercise and recreation, and access to to provide a more resilient water-management places to shop, play and relax. system that alleviates pressures on the city’s pump- ing system and creates a greener, healthier urban environment.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 9 current conditions

III. Current Conditions

The ecological model concept is a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach to exploring the relationship of individual, social and environmental variables that affect public health and influence physical activity levels (Gobster, 2005). By examining a combination of these factors, we can begin to understand why, how and when people choose to engage in physical activity (Saelens et al, 2003). The levels of influence are rarely independent of one another and tend to be strongly associated. For example, an individual level factor like socioeconomic status may also be a predictor for the presence or absence of physical activity facilities that are perceived as safe and accessible (Wilson et al, 2004).

The ecological model provides important guidance for conducting a neighborhood evaluation of active living opportunities. This section focuses on the existing social conditions of the neighborhoods surrounding the Lafitte Corridor, highlighting both opportunities and constraints in foster- ing active communities.

Neighborhood Overview/Study Area The 3.1-mile Lafitte Corridor runs through the heart of New Orleans, bridging more than 200 years of the city’s development from the original settlement in the French Quarter to Lakeview, a suburban neighborhood built in the early 20th century (Douglas et al, 2007). The study area for this assessment is bound by Orleans Avenue to the north, Canal Street to the south, Basin Street to the east and City Park Avenue to the west. This area covers approximately 1.5 square miles and comprises all or a portion of the following neighborhoods: Tremé, Iberville, Lafitte, Tulane/Gravier, Bayou St. John, Mid-City and Navarre (South Lakeview).

Every year hundreds of people participate in Bike Easy’s Bicycle Second Line, a New Orleans-style parade for bicyclists. (Photo courtesy of Bike Easy)

10 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Lafitte Corridor Neighborhoods and Study Areas New Orleans, LA

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The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 11 current conditions

Social Conditions

Demographics According to the 2005–2009 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, the population of our study area is 23,717. A large portion of this area has returned to 75 percent of its pre-Hurricane Katrina population (Greater New Orleans Community Data Center, 2010). This rate of repopulation is on par with the citywide average of 78 percent (Plyer, 2010).

Employment The unemployment rate for our study area is about 7.5 percent, slightly below the city’s rate of 7.7 percent. The occupational distribution also closely mirrors that of the city. The three most common occupations in our study area are: management, professional and related occupations (33.5 percent); service occupations (27.2 percent); and sales and office occupations (19.4 percent). There is a slightly higher percentage of service workers in our study area than in the city as a whole (2005–2009 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates).

Poverty Rates New Orleans has long been plagued by high poverty rates (El Nasser, 2005). In our study area, about 28 percent of individuals live below the poverty level. This percentage is higher than the poverty rate of the overall city (23.4 percent) and the nation (13.5 percent). Of those individuals below the poverty level, almost a third are children under the age of 18 (2005–2009 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates).

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Majority Minority Race/Ethnicity by Block Group, 2009 New Orleans, LA

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Percent Population that is a Minority Race/Ethnicity 0 - 20% 21 - 40% 41 - 60% 61 - 80% 81 - 100%

Data courtesy of:

Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)

New Orleans Regional Planning Commission

US Census Bureau, 2005-2009 American Community Survey Estimates

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 13 current conditions

Percentage of Population Living Below Poverty Level, 2009 New Orleans, LA

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Percent Population Below Poverty 0 - 25% 26 - 50% 51 - 75% 76 - 100%

Data courtesy of:

Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)

New Orleans Regional Planning Commission

US Census, 2005-2009 American Community Survey Estimates

14 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Non-Motorized Transportation Usage Public Health According to recent estimates, more than 10 percent of workers in our For many years, New Orleans has had high levels of obesity and obesity- study area walk or bike to work — 1.1 percent bike and 9.1 percent related diseases. In 2000, the city had the fifth-highest obesity rate in walk. This level of non-motorized transportation for commuting is well the country. A 2002 study by the Louisiana Department of Health and above the citywide level (6.5 percent) and triple the national average Hospitals reported about a quarter of New Orleans adults as obese, and (3.3 percent). Additionally, 13.1 percent of workers in the study area cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death. The same study ride the bus or streetcar to work; this mode of travel also involves reported high levels of physical inactivity; a third of adults did not ex- walking or biking to and from the transit stop (2005–2009 American ercise regularly or engage in physical activity. Childhood obesity is also Community Survey 5-Year Estimates). The completion of the greenway prevalent. A recent study suggests that the rate of obesity among New will provide an off-street route for workers who walk, bike or ride public Orleans school children is higher than state and national averages, and transit to work — affecting almost one out of every five residents in our that obesity rates tend to be higher among African-American and His- study area — connecting them to major streets, bus lines and the Canal panic children (Matevich et al., 2011). Street streetcar. In recent years, the mental health of New Orleans residents has become an issue of greater concern. Long-time residents report experi- encing a lower quality of life in post-Katrina New Orleans, largely due to the lingering effects of the flooding. This diminished quality of life is attributed to decreased physical health and mental duress, resulting from the stress and strain involved with rebuilding their homes, lives, social networks and communities. These burdens have fallen dispropor- tionately on two groups in the New Orleans area: African-Americans and the economically disadvantaged (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010).

Public Safety New Orleans has long held the dubious distinction as one of the nation’s most dangerous cities. In the late 1980s and 1990s, the city consistently ranked among the nation’s most murderous cities. Since Hurricane Katrina, though the city has seen some declines in violent crime, New Orleans’ murder rate remains high (Associated Press, 2008). In 2009, the city’s per capita murder rate was 52 per 100,000 residents — the highest in the nation that year (McCarthy, 2010).

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 15 current conditions

Community Facilities and Resources

The Lafitte Corridor runs through several unique and established neighborhoods that offer a number and variety of community facilities and cultural resources. These include schools, religious facilities, parks and open space, as well as historical districts and sites.

Schools Schools are often the anchor of a community, and that is no different in New Orleans. Schools are also perhaps the best available conduit for raising community awareness about the greenway Marching bands could use the corridor as a practice and performance space. (Photo courtesy of Benedicte Desrus) project. As schools are involved with this project and other walking and biking efforts, information about access to community facilities (like the greenway) and active living flows from the students to the adults in their lives. The greenway will provide key connections between the neighborhoods and schools and can serve as an outdoor classroom for students to learn about the environment, history and culture. The schools in our study area are shown in the table and map following.

Map id name Location A New Orleans Christian Academy 122 North Dorgenois St. B Joseph S. Clark High School 1301 North Derbigny St. C St. Peter Claver Elementary School 1020 North Prieur St. D Wicker Elementary School 2011 Bienville St. E Christian Brothers School 8 Friederichs Ave. F John Dibert Elementary School 4217 Orleans Ave. G Cabrini High School 1400 Moss St. H Delgado Community College: City Park Campus 615 City Park Ave. I St. John Lutheran School 3937 Canal St. J Warren Easton High School 3019 Canal St. K McDonogh High School 2426 Esplanade Ave. L KIPP McDonogh 15 School for the Creative Arts 721 St. Philip St. M Thurgood Marshall-UNO Early College High School 4621 Canal St.

16 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative SAINT CLAUDE AVE

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Schools Near the Lafitte Corridor New Orleans, LA

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FR W A T S S H T IN R CHARTRES ST G D A T C P O LE CA N V N M E A A A LA L R S V ND T E A VE T L W S T A R S T Data courtesy of: S A H N P I M N A T E G M A S R V T O T R A O R U Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) S T N N L A O C A C A A T Y E LLT V NA S O D New Orleans Regional Planning Commission O E L IN R R S R T S A A C B Rails-to-Trails Conservancy T ULA N E CA AV N E AL T T S V S ST F N E O A D E R N T G A V R R S T A O A O E C S M IN R E O T B E M R E A N M B S LE RH R O E N T AU A O S T D R B T E T I R P BL A FON VD L TA M C IN T A EBL S R E D T A A IN U O D R LU E T R R B E T V S H V D T E A S R A T O K A E N LE I S L N E E A G LA B L U R D J P R R O R T A B O O O N S LV Y A N E T I LE A U D O E O R H H P LO N T C K O A S R U A T T L E N T O Y T B Z LV N

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Churches Map id name Location A Korean First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans 4439 Canal St. The sheer number of churches located within and around our study area is indicative of B Little Zion Baptist Church 2600 block of Saint Louis St. how important they are to the social fabric of C St John Lutheran Church 3937 Canal St. the area. Community leaders should involve D St. Matthew Baptist Church 1826 Conti St. church leaders in the planning process as E Old Zion Baptist Church 430 North Johnson St. the greenway will provide space for church F First Trinity Evangelical United Church of Christ 119 North Murat St. picnics and other events, and new opportunities for physical activity in their communities. G Our Lady of the Rosary Church 3368 Esplanade Ave. Churches can effect positive change by en- H First Pentecostal Church 122 North Dorgenois St. couraging open discussions with congregants I Central Congregational United Church of Christ 2401 Bienville Ave. about the benefits of physical activity. The J Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church 3235 Orleans Ave. churches within the study area are shown in K Grace Episcopal Church 3700 Canal St. the table and map. L First United Methodist Church 3401 Canal St. M St. James African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church 222 North Roman St. N Holy Temple Church of God in Christ 1818 Conti St. O Sixth Union Baptist Church 2000 block of Orleans Ave. P St. Philip Church of God in Christ 1309 Saint Philip St. Q Christian Unity Baptist Church 1700 Conti St. R Vieux Carré Assembly of God Church 433 Dauphine St. S Greater First Pilgrim Baptist Church 1517 Saint Ann St. T St. Louis Cathedral 615 Pere Antoine Alley U Vieux Carré Baptist Church 711 Dauphine St. V St. Peter Claver Church 1923 Saint Philip St. W First Baptist Church of New Orleans 5290 Canal Blvd. x Cosmopolitan Evangelistic Baptist Church 1929 Bienville St. y Greater Tulane Baptist Church 214 North Johnson St. Z Mt. Zion Baptist Church 2200 Dumaine St.

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Churches Located in Lafitte Corridor Study Area New Orleans, LA

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Physical Conditions T S E T T Study Area O F D A N A R E B Parks

T S Z E J V L A G BA C NK S ST

S A I K N T B E R L E N V A A R B E D A N NK R A S CA O V S N IB E T A L LA S C T Z E V A L B E E P V N AN R SH O MC IB A L E O C SP PA L LM 10 A NA D ST E A I VE H E P E S V A T N S S O A T T IN R W S T A LLT Y D P O A D PE R S A CLE T M R H N E A I O V X R S R A N R E T C B LA G N T D Q O A Data courtesy of: N V E

A T V S E T R T M A W S P A N M A A Environmental Systems Research S R U H M

I O T N R S Institute (ESRI) G T R O U T T N T A CA S C A N N E V A I D L S R E S A T New Orleans Regional Planning B T ULA N T E S AV L Commission E A Y T O ULA R NE AV E C AN Rails-to-Trails Conservancy A T L S S T D A T S O R EA E B R V CO S H M R AR A M T E O E FO B N N T N L S E T V R T AIN D P E O E BLE B AU I V A A D R L M C A E LA R T T V IN O S T S A R LU Y D T S D O T S A H A O E E T R LE R LO L B L E K U D I R E N A G E O R J A A N R R T T B H H I S O LV A P R C D T E U S B T T L T V O 0 0.375 0.75 1.5 D N A I H T A C S S Miles Copyright © 2011 bT y Rails-to-Trails Conservancy www.railstotrails.org

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 19 current conditions

Parks, Green Space and Community Centers Parks, green space and community facilities are places where people can congregate and engage in the physical activity of their choice — whether playing a team sport, joining a neighborhood walking club, or going for a bike ride or run. However, there is a noted dearth of access to park and recreation space within our study area, particularly between Broad Street and North Claiborne/ Interstate 10 (New Orleans City Planning Commission, 2002). The development of the greenway will increase access to open space for all neighborhoods — particularly the Tremé and Lafitte neighborhoods where it is needed most — and provide an opportunity to restore the city’s urban forest. It will also provide a key link to connect the park spaces along the Mississippi riverfront and the Pontchartrain lakefront. Providing ample opportunities for public input in the planning process for the greenway will help identify and address potential barriers to access and use, and ensure the design of the greenway meets the needs of all residents.

name L location Easton Park St. Peter (between N. Lopez and N. Rendon Streets) Lemann Playground 1600 Lafitte St. Lemann Pool Lafitte and N. Prieur Streets Sojourner Truth Community Center 2200 Lafitte St.

20 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Historical Districts and Cultural Sites The Lafitte Corridor is enveloped by rich historical neighborhoods and landmarks of cultural significance. These sites commemorate New Orleans’ culture and traditions that have been shaped by the city’s unique history and geography. The corridor traverses several designated Historic Districts: Parkview, Mid-City, Esplanade Ridge and Tremé. The former site of the New Orleans Storyville District is also within our study area, and just beyond it is the Vieux Carré Historic District and Congo Square, which is a part of the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.

name Location Higgins World War II Boat Production City Park Ave. and St. Louis St. Holt Cemetery 635 City Park Ave. Masonic Cemetery 400 City Park Ave. Odd Fellows Rest 5055 Canal St. Site of Jardin du Rocher de St. Helene Bound by the Corridor, Orleans, North Miro Streets and N. Galvez St. St. Louis Cemetery #1 Basin St. at St. Louis St. St. Patrick Cemetery #1, #2 & #3 143 City Park Ave.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 21 current conditions

Grocery and Retail Business Name Business Type(s) Address Payless Tax Services LLC Tax Services 2663 Iberville St. Grocery stores and other retail markets are important to any neighborhood, as they Lucky Inn Hotel Guest Accommodations 2625 Iberville St. provide access to everyday necessities. L & R Bar & Lounge Bar/Nightclub 2235 Iberville St. A recent inventory produced by Broad Russell’s Tire Repair Services Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 141 N. Galvez St. Community Connections revealed that Office of Family Support Human Services (Gov’t.) 1630 Iberville St. neighborhood-serving retail is scarce along Paul Piazza & Son, Inc. Wholesale Seafood 1552 St. Louis St. the eastern half of the corridor — particularly outlets for groceries and fresh food. The Rudy Smith Services Inc. Taxi/Towing/Limo 425 N. Claiborne Ave. greenway will provide a connection between Auto Electric & Brake Service Inc. Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 2500 St. Louis St. existing and planned food outlets and stores Mid-City Carriages Miscellaneous 1515 Lafitte St. along the corridor. Bonomolo Limousines Taxi/Towing/Limo 1401 Lafitte St. Bryant A/C Heating Refrigeration Building Trades/Supplies 1608 Basin St. Business and Industry True Stylez Barber Shop Beauty & Barber 1604 Basin St. Just as grocery and retail stores provide many Basin St. Lounge Bar/Nightclub 1600 Basin St. necessities for area residents, businesses and Bertha’s Place Bar & Restaurant Bar/Nightclub 1501 Basin St. the industrial sector can employ many of Temple Shop Clothing 1610 Basin St. those same individuals. Nearby businesses Pack-A-Jug Grocery/Convenience/Liquor 1620 Basin St. and industries include automotive services, Tiger’s Creole Cuisine Restaurant 1612 Basin St. home improvement, sporting goods and Jazzy Belle’s Café Restaurant 1535 Basin St. multi-media studios. Plans for the Lafitte Corridor also address using the greenway as Q Lee Laundry & Cleaners Laundromats & Dry Cleaners 1629 Basin St. a catalyst for the economic revitalization of Robertson’s Vieux Carre Lounge Bar/Nightclub 1523 Orleans Ave. vacant sites along the route. Will & Lenny’s Auto Service Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 401 N. Galvez St. Wheels 2 Go Auto Sales Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 331 N. Galvez St. Fletcher’s Collision Center Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 315 N. Galvez St. Cacamo’s Auto Repair Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 2205 Bienville St. C & R Body Shop Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 213 N. Galvez St. Broad Warehouse Furniture 119 N. Galvez St. Andy’s Grocery Grocery/Convenience/Liquor 120 N. Galvez St. Star Lock & Key Co. Locksmith 200 N. Galvez St. * denotes national chain David’s Transmission Service Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 330 N Galvez St.

22 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

The Green Room Bar/Nightclub 400 N. Galvez St. Bienville Auto Parts Inc. Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 414 N. Galvez St. Southern Recycling* Recycling 2525 Lafitte St. HUME Child Development Center Childcare 319 N. Tonti St. Ricca & Puderer Construction/Retail 2645 Toulouse St. Gloria’s Grocery Grocery/Convenience/Liquor 1800 Conti St. Two Sisters Kitchen Restaurant 223 N. Derbigny St. Cozy Spot Bar/Nightclub 326 N. Miro St. Bienville Community Thrift Store Thrift 2600 Bienville St. Aluminum & Stainless Industrial 401 N. Roman St. Lady J’s 2 Bar/Nightclub 2410 Conti St. Santos Automotive Center, Inc. Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 2637 Conti St. Conti Beauty Supply Beauty/Barber Supplies 2645 Conti St. Golden Express Restaurant 400 N. Broad St. Love Me Tender Day Care Childcare 700 N. Broad St. Hand Wash Car Wash Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 247 N. Claiborne Ave. G & M Electric Motors & Pumps Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 419 N. Claiborne Ave. Rainbow Auto Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 201 N. Claiborne Ave. Durand’s Tuxedo Clothing 321 N. Broad St. Calamari’s Trim Shop Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 339 N. Broad St. Contin-U-Care Adult Day Health Care Health Services 315 N. Broad St. Cut n Curlz Barber & Beauty Salon Beauty & Barber 218 N. Broad St. Louisiana Auto Title LLC Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 213 N. Broad St. Final Destination Barber & Beauty Beauty & Barber 208 N. Broad St. Crescent School of Gaming & Bartending Miscellaneous 209 N. Broad St. Delta World Tire Company* Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 407 N. Broad St. AutoZone* Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 649 N. Broad St. City of New Orleans Reg. Fuel Facility Government 506 N. Broad St. Evangeline Lounge Bar/Nightclub 4501 Toulouse St. Mid-City Studios Artist/Gallery 4436 Toulouse St.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 23 current conditions

TriYoga NOLA Fitness 4436 Toulouse St. Krewe of Orpheus Warehouse Miscellaneous 4422 Toulouse St. Quality Woodcraft Skilled Trades 4422 Toulouse St. Frischhertz Electric Co. Inc. Construction 4240 Toulouse St. Martin Insurance Agency Insurance 4700 Orleans Ave. Plastic Distributors Company Business Supply/Distribution 4631 St. Louis St. CJ’s Electric LLC Construction 509 N. Carrollton Ave. CAIRE Hotel & Restaurant Supply Inc. Business Supply/Distribution 4815 Conti St. Legend Interiors Building Trades/Supplies 4833 Conti St. PlayNOLA Miscellaneous 4833 Conti St. Piattoly Law Firm Legal Services 4833 Conti St. Law Office of James Maher III Legal Services 4833 Conti St. Law Office of William A. Glennon Legal Services 4833 Conti St. Law Office of Carlos E. Zeledon Legal Services 4833 Conti St. Many & Lococo, Attorneys at law Legal Services 4833 Conti St. Law Office of Rachel Connor Legal Services 4833 Conti St. John W. Fisk Company Insurance 4833 Conti St. Office of Dave Sobel, Certified Rolfer Fitness 4833 Conti St. Repasky Law Firm LLC Legal Services 4833 Conti St. KC Web Concepts Technical Services 4833 Conti St. Mid-City Business Services Inc Financial Services 4441 Iberville St. Law Office of Wilson H. Barnes Legal Services 4307 Canal St. Peaceful Bhudda Day Spa Fitness/Spa 4303 Canal St. Blue Dot Donuts Restaurant 4301 Canal St. Hair Therapy Beauty Salon Beauty & Barber 4305 Canal St. New Orleans Outreach Nonprofit 4327 Canal St. Innovative Hospitality Systems Employment Services 4333 Canal St. Ronald McDonald House of NO Nonprofit 4403 Canal St. Morgan & Company Marketing 4407 Canal St. SPLC Schools to Prison Reform Project Nonprofit 4431 Canal St.

24 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Law Office of Bonnie Zakotnik Legal Services 4501 Canal St. Shell Gas Station* Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 4701 Canal St. Law Office of Frank J. D’Amico Jr. Legal Services 4731 Canal St. Hope Mausoleum Miscellaneous 4841 Canal St. Beach Corner Lounge Bar/Nightclub 4905 Canal St. Office of Carl W. Mixon Insurance 4716 Canal St. Advanced Healing Fitness/Spa 4710 Canal St. Riguer Silva Law Firm Legal Services 4706 Canal St. Vacations at Sea Travel Agency Miscellaneous 4919 Canal St. Law Office of Robert G. Rivard Legal Services 4919 Canal St. Law Office of Robert J. Pastor Legal Services 4919 Canal St. Southern Legal Clinics Legal Services 4919 Canal St. Alliance Reporting Inc. Legal Services 4919 Canal St. Permits Secured LLC Legal Services 4919 Canal St. Herb Import Company Retail 5055 Canal St. Sacred Grinds Restaurant 5055 Canal St. Café Minh Restaurant 4139 Canal St. Doggy Dog World Daycare Pets 4145 Canal St. Louisiana Running Company Fitness/Spa 4153 Canal St. Allan Berger & Associates Legal Services 4173 Canal St. RDI Security Agency Miscellaneous 4201 Canal St. PC Copy Center Business Services 4201 Canal St. Pulse Communications Business Services 4203 Canal St. Spears Realty Industry Real Estate 4203 Canal St. Go Auto* Insurance 4207 Canal St. New Orleans Birthing Project Nonprofit 4205 Canal St. Stephen Rue & Associates Legal Services 4209 Canal St. Erickson, Krentel & Laporte LLP Legal Services 4227 Canal St. EKCL Financial Advisors LLC Business Services 4227 Canal St. Lewis Automotive & Tire Services Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 4243 Canal St.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 25 current conditions

Leila Haller Ballet Classique Performing Arts 4916 Canal St. Anytime Fitness* Fitness/ Spa 4900 Canal St. Mystere Mansion Special Event Venue Miscellaneous 4800 Canal St. Kambur Law Firm Legal Services 4700 Canal St. Salon M Beauty & Barber 4336 Canal St. Sofas & Chairs Inc Furniture 4116 Canal St. Audubon Title Insurance Agency LLC Insurance 4130 Canal St. Urban Architecture Construction/Engineer/Architect 4130 Canal St. Volunteers of America of GNO Nonprofit 4152 Canal St. Green Coast Enterprises Real Estate 4164 Canal St. Burk-Klienpeter Inc. Construction/Engineer/Architect 4176 Canal St. Vision Center of the South Medical Services 4200 Canal St. Code 3 Supply Specialty Retail (Uniforms) 4200 Canal St. Capasso & Associates LLC Legal Services 4220 Canal St. Louisiana Bucket Brigade Nonprofit 4226 Canal St. Crescent City Technologies Computers 4228 Canal St. Income Taxes Center Tax Services 4230 Canal St. Norma’s Grocery Grocery/Convenience/Liquor 4230 Canal St. Shearman-Denenea LLC Legal Services 4240 Canal St. Conservation Corps of GNO Nonprofit 4240 Canal St. Partnership for Youth Development Nonprofit 4240 Canal St. Local 478 IATSE Union 432 N. Anthony St. Robert B. Anderson Consulting Engineers Construction/Engineer/Architect 432 N. Anthony St. Style2 Beauty & Barber 432 N. Anthony St. Pro Tech Collision & Automotive Center Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 415 N. St. Patrick St. American Luxury Limousines Taxi/Towing/Limo 503 N. St. Patrick St. Bertel Shipping Co. Shipping/Delivery 523 N. Alexander St. New Orleans Guitar Company Specialty Retail (Instruments) 523 N. Alexander St. Masonry Products Construction (Retail) 410 N. Alexander St. Zahn’s Towing LLC Taxi/Towing/Limo 337 N. Alexander St.

26 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Trep’s Auto Service Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 318 N. Alexander St. Hooley Inc. Construction (Retail) 331 N. Alexander St. Zahn’s Towing & Automotive Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 337 N. Hennessey St. Continental Kitchens Inc. Construction (Retail) 511 N. Hennessey St. Centurian Marble Construction (Retail) 511 N. Hennessey St. Pipes ‘R’ Us Plumbing Construction 642 N. Hennessey St. Ricca’s Architectural Sales Construction (Retail) 511 N. Solomon St. Mattix Cabinet Works Construction (Retail) 415 N. Solomon St. Paul’s Automotive Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 509 David St. Creoly Country Sausage Factory Wholesale Food 512 David St. Kiddie Korner Nursery & Preschool Inc. Daycare 4300 St. Ann St. Municipal Training Academy Government 401 City Park Ave. Masonic Temple Cemetery Cemetery 400 City Park Ave. Bud’s Broiler Restaurant 500 City Park Ave. Subway* Restaurant 514 City Park Ave. Burger King #6406* Restaurant 512 City Park Ave. Chimes Textbook Exchange Bookstore 618 City Park Ave. Louisiana National Guard Recruiter Government 514 City Park Ave. Werling Builders Construction 5331 Canal Blvd. Saenger Theatre (under redevelopment) Performing Arts 143 N. Rampart St. Budget Rent-a-Car* Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 1317 Canal St. VIP Health Club Fitness/Spa 1401 Canal St. Downtown Parking Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 1535 Canal St. Kids First TigerCare Pediatrics Health Services 1661 Canal St. Distinctive Parking Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 1701 & 1715 Canal St. Hollywood Trucks LLC (parking lot only) Miscellaneous 1717 Canal St. Volunteers of America of GNO Health Services 4152 Canal St. Jennings Automotive Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 1901 Canal St. Enterprise Rent-A-Car* Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 1939 Canal St. Urban Express Retail (Clothing) 2131 Canal St.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 27 current conditions

Ideal Discount #3 Market Grocery/Convenience/Liquor 2201 Canal St. IYC Financial Consultants Financial Services 2235 Canal St. Green Acres Towing & Recovery Taxi/Towing/Limo 2323 Canal St. New Orleans Council on Aging Nonprofit 2475 Canal St. Bayou State Security Services Inc. Security 2475 Canal St. Canal Latino Restaurant 2501 Canal St. Family Services of Greater New Orleans Nonprofit 2515 Canal St. So. Louisiana Submerged Roads Program Government 2601 Canal St. New Orleans Technology Services Computers 2609 Canal St. Rite Aid #7262* Pharmacy 2669 Canal St. Chevron Station #210684* Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 2701 Canal St. Burger King #502* Restaurant 2727 Canal St. Broadway Bound Costumes Inc. Retail (Costumes) 2737 Canal St. McDonalds* Restaurant 2757 Canal St. Regional Transit Authority Government 2817 Canal St. Herbert-Wiltz Insurance Agency Insurance 3201 Canal St. Allied Adult & Child Clinic Health Services 3201 Canal St. Hospitality Staffing Solutions* Employment Services 3201 Canal St. Office of Robert M. Schimek, M.D. Health Services 3217 Canal St. Office of Dr. Robert T. Kenny, M.D. Health Services 3225 Canal St. Dimitri Eye Care Health Services 3301 Canal St. Whitney Bank* Bank 3311 Canal St. New Orleans Faith Health Alliance Nonprofit 3401 Canal St. Edward J. Womac Jr. & Associates LLC Legal Services 3501 Canal St. Burgos and Evans LLC Legal Services 3535 Canal St. AAA Care LLC Health Services 3601 Canal St. Mid-City Smiles Family Dentistry Health Services 3625 Canal St. Lewis & Caplan Legal Services 3631 Canal St. Kirschman Realty LLC Real Estate 3631 Canal St. Rogers & Associates CPAs Business Services 3637 Canal St.

28 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Crescent City Trade Exchange Miscellaneous 3715 Canal St. Willis & Buckley, APC Legal Services 3723 Canal St. Schoen Funeral Home Funeral Home 3827 Canal St. Eco Café & Bistro Restaurant 3903 Canal St. Guaranty Savings Bank* Bank 3915 Canal St. Walgreens #10316* Pharmacy 4001 Canal St. Brotherhood Incorporated Nonprofit 4032 Canal St. The Runway Boutique Retail (Clothing) 4030 Canal St. Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza Restaurant 4024 Canal St. Canal Street Veterinary Hospital Pets 4022 Canal St. Coastal Truck Driving School Employment Services 4016 Canal St. Dynamic Health IT Health Services 4016 Canal St. Soniat Realty Inc. Real Estate 3940 Canal St. Law Firm of Silvestri & Massicot, LLC Legal Services 3914 Canal St. Venezia Pizza Pub Restaurant/Bar 134 N. Carrollton Ave. Rebirth Clothing Exchange Clothing 140 N. Carrollton Ave. Mattress Direct* Retail 200 N. Carrollton Ave. Brocato Ice cream parlor Restaurant 214 N. Carrollton Ave. Red Door Lounge Bar/Nightclub 206 N. Carrollton Ave. Yummy Yummy Chinese restaurant Restaurant 220 N. Carrollton Ave. Kjean Seafood Restaurant/Retail 236 N. Carrollton Ave. Subway* Restaurant 231 N. Carrollton Ave. Papa Johns* Restaurant 231 N. Carrollton Ave. WOW Café & Wingery Restaurant 231 N. Carrollton Ave. Little Tokyo Restaurant 310 N. Carrollton Ave. Quizno’s* Restaurant 404 N. Carrollton Ave. Verizon Wireless* Retail 406 N. Carrollton Ave. Home Depot* Retail 500 N. Carrollton Ave. Massey’s Professional Outfitters Retail 509 N. Carrollton Ave. Rouses Fresh Grocery 400 N. Carrollton Ave.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 29 current conditions

Winter’s Title Agency Real Estate 630 N. Carrollton Ave. Internal Medicine Association Health Services 618 N. Carrollton Ave. The Bean Gallery Coffee House/Restaurant 637 N. Carrollton Ave. Law Offices of Robert T. Hughes Law Services 610 N. Carrollton Ave. Earth Savers Spa Services 614 N. Carrollton Ave. James A. Campo, DDS Health Services (Dentistry) 2215 S. Carrollton Ave. 21st Century Computing Design Services 1530 N. Claiborne Ave. Tardo & Marshall Hair Designer Beauty Services 625 N. Carrollton Ave. Alison’s Nail Salon Beauty Services 215 N. Carrollton Ave. Crescent City Pediatrics LLC Health services 320 N. Carrollton Ave. Wit’s inn Restaurant/Bar 141 N. Carrollton Ave. Fiesta Latina Restaurant 133 N. Carrollton Ave. Rue 127 Restaurant 127 N. Carrollton Ave. Italian Pie Restaurant 125 N. Carrollton Ave. Doson Noodle House Restaurant 135 N. Carrollton Ave. Gates Mortgage Solutions Mortgage Services 630 N. Carrollton Ave. (Photo courtesy of Bart Everson) Edward Jones* Financial Advisor 606 N. Carrollton Ave. John F. Greene Law Services 702 N. Carrollton Ave. Parkway Bakery Restaurant 538 Hagan Ave. Katie’s Bar/Restaurant 3701 Iberville St. Nocgi Glass Services 3924 Conti St. Office Machine Rentals, Inc. Rentals 3733 Conti St. Fernandez Plans LLC Consulting 134 N. Telemachus St. New Orleans Faith Health Alliance Health Services 3401 Canal St. Capital One* Banking Services 4121 Canal st. Spine Care Health Services 1540 Canal St. Gulf States Health Services Health Services 3535 Bienville St. New Orleans Health Care Center* Health Services 3909 Bienville St. Tommy Crane Inc. Real Estate 3702 Bienville St. Liuzza’s Bar & Restaurant Restaurant/Bar 3636 Bienville St.

30 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Gambit Communications Communications 3923 Bienville St. Devita Crescent City Dialysis Center Health Services 3909 Bienville St. Neyow’s Creole Café Restaurant/Bar 3340 Bienville St. New Orleans Roofing & Metal Roofing & Metal services 3806 Orleans Ave. PJ`s Coffee Coffeehouse/Restaurant 3700 Orleans Ave. Cork & Bottle Wine Shop Retail 3700 Orleans Ave. Clever Wine Bar Bar/Nightclub 3700 Orleans Ave. X-Trainers Personal Training Gym 3700 Orleans Ave. Studio Zen Gym 3700 Orleans Ave. Pascal Architects Architectural Firm 3700 Orleans Ave. The Olive Branch Cafe Restaurant 3700 Orleans Ave. Mariposa Salon & Spa LLC Spa Services 3700 Orleans Ave. Armstrongs Electrical Co. Electrical Services 3600 Orleans Ave. Fetch! Mid-City Dog Supplies 3536 Toulouse St. Bayou Bicycle Retail 3530 Toulouse Street United States Post Office Government 501 N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy. Louisiana Health Care Initiatives Health Services 211 N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy. Memorial Medical Center Health Services 301 N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy. Bayou Beer Garden Bar/Nightclub 326 N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy. RTC Providers Health Services 330 N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy. Mardigras Spot Wholesale Retail 2812 Toulouse St. Plush Appeal LLC Wholesale Retail 2811 Toulouse St. Toulouse Gourmet Catering 3811 Toulouse St. Pieri Tile & Marble Co. Inc. Tile & Marble Wholesale 3622 Toulouse St. Studio 3, Inc. Design Services 3610 Toulouse St. Pel Hughes Printing Printing 3801 Toulouse St. Floor de Lis Flooring 3803 Toulouse St. Melancon Ortega Design Architectural/Engineering Firm 4005 Toulouse St. Dave Streiffer Co. Inc. Shipping 500 N. Cortez St. Booth & Booth Law Services 138 N. Cortez St.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 31 current conditions

Legal Wings Inc. Courier Services 138 N. Cortez St. Kathleen C. Cresson Law Services 221 N. Clark St. Office Machine Rentals Inc. Rentals 3733 Conti St. Melancon Ortega Design Architectural/Engineering Firm 4005 Toulouse St. Hardy Chiropractic Center Chiropractic Services 2912 Canal St. Rent A Harley Motorcycle Services 2830 Canal St. New Orleans Center for Clinical Research Research Center 2820 Canal St. GNO Federal Credit Union Banking Services 2812 Canal St. A Priority One Rent-A-Car Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 2800 Canal St. Canal Street Family Dentistry Dentist Services 2752 Canal St. Cameron College Educational Services 2740 Canal St. Dan Burghardt Insurance Insurance 2714 Canal St. Family Dollar* Retail 2650 Canal St. American Red Cross* Health Services/Nonprofit 2640 Canal St. Hartwig Moss Insurance Agency Insurance 2626 Canal St. Betsy’s Pancake House Restaurant 2542 Canal St. Asian Health Club Health services 2536 Canal St. United Machinery Corporation Laundry Services 2530 Canal St. Midas Auto Service Experts* Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 2526 Canal St. Cahal Motor Company Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 2518 Canal St. Bordelon Auto Market Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 2500 Canal St. Canal Motor Company Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 2032 Canal St. Mid City Automotive & Towing LLC Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 2000 Canal St. Canal Street Guesthouse Hotel 1930 Canal St. Fastenal Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 1806 Canal St. Canal Street Hotel Hotel 1630 Canal St. Chickie Wah Wah Restaurant/Bar 2828 Canal St. Liberty Bank * Banking Services 2714 Canal St. Eatwell Food Mart Grocery 2700 Canal St. Aristocrat Salon & Nail Spa Spa Services 2700 Canal St.

32 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Ted’s Reddy Teddy Haircutters Beauty Services 2540 Canal St. Avis* Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 2025 Canal St. Dance Practice Studio Dance studio 1926 Canal St. Chanzy Auto Sales & Automotive Service Auto Supplies/Services/Repair 1820 Canal St.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 33 current conditions

Physical Study Area New Orleans, LA

Nava rre Avenue Legend

e l Lafitte Corridor u o Physical Study Area B

l Park a O n rl a ONE 1 ea Waterbody C Z ns A ve nu e

t e e r t S d e a u o n r e ZONE 2 v B A n o t ll o r r ¨¦§10 a C C an a l S tr ZONE 3 ee ¨¦§10 t

t Data courtesy of: e Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and e Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) r t S in s a B E 0 0.2 0.4 0.8 Miles Copyright © 2010 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy www.railstotrails.org

34 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Physical Conditions and Recommendations

During the course of three days in April 2010, RTC staff and approximately 30 volunteers, coordinated in part with the NolaCycle volunteer bicycle mapping project, assessed more than 60 miles of roadway and intersections for the following: o Intersection controls: Identify whether an intersection was regulated by a stoplight, stop sign or nothing at all; o Sidewalks: Assess sidewalk width (in feet) and quality of the pavement surface; o Amenities: Identify locations of drinking fountains, benches, public art, picnic tables, wayfinding signage and bike racks; o Crosswalks: Identify crosswalk marking type, paint quality, whether it is signed to alert drivers and has pedestrian signals;

A volunteer assists with the assessment of current o Curb ramps: Locations and quality of curb ramps providing access for the disabled. physical conditions along Canal Street in April 2010.

The study area surrounds the Lafitte Corridor and is bound by Canal Street, Orleans Avenue, Basin Street, Navarre Avenue and Canal Boulevard.

The assessment tools used to evaluate the area’s physical conditions can be found in the Technical Appendix (Appendix B).

For the purposes of this assessment, major roads are Canal Street, Basin Street, Orleans Avenue and Canal Boulevard bounding the study area, and Claiborne Avenue, Galvez Street, Broad Street, Jefferson Davis Parkway, Carrollton Avenue and City Park Avenue intersecting the corridor. Minor streets are all other streets within or bounding the study area.

For most of its length, the Lafitte Corridor is currently a wide swath of unused property. Most remnants of the railroad infrastructure have been removed.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 35 current conditions

Intersection Treatments New Orleans, LA

Nava rre Avenue Legend

e Lafitte Corridor

l u Physical Study Area o

B Park l City Park A a venue

n Waterbody

C Traffic signals No signals or signs O rl ea ns A v t e e n e u r ¨¦§10 e t S d e a t u o e n r e e r e v B t S u A n n z e e v o v lt l A l a o y e r a G n r r a w o C k r ib a a P C l an C is a v l S a t re D e n t o s r e f f e t Data courtesy of: J e Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and e Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) r t S in s ¨¦§10 a B E 0 0.2 0.4 0.8 Miles Copyright © 2010 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy www.railstotrails.org

36 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Intersections Signalized intersections are found primarily at the intersections of major roadways in the study area, while most minor streets have all-way or partial stops. There are a number of low-traffic intersections with no traffic signal or stop sign.

The most conspicuous unsignalized intersection is City Park Avenue and Canal Boulevard. Due to its location at the confluence of two significant through-routes adjacent to a major bus and streetcar transfer point, the intersection has significant pedestrian and vehicular traffic. It is a point through which many future Lafitte Corridor users will pass to access the greenway. The nearby intersection of Canal Street and City Park Avenue, which is signalized, is similarly busy. Both intersections pose serious hazards to pedestrians and cyclists.

Because the Lafitte Corridor intersects a number of major roadways, provisions must be made to facilitate a safe crossing for greenway users. While a fully signalized intersection may not be appropriate, pedestrian-activated signals such as pedestrian hybrid beacons (also known as HAWK signals), as identified in Chapter 4F of the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), could provide safe crossings for greenway users.

The only traffic signals within the study area are found on major roads, such as Canal Street. Introduction of HAWK signals at greenway crossings could facilitate safe crossings of major roads. Crosswalk Resource Across the Arterial: Mid-block Shared-Use Path Crossings of Multilane Roadways in California (2010)

This brief overview of crosswalk treatments is intended as an introduction for both planners and community members. Developed by RTC’s Western Regional Office, this report was supported by the Healthy Transportation Network, a project of the California Active Com- munities (CAC) within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). At-grade crossings examined in this California-based study offer numerous measures that can increase trail user safety.

Available for download at: http://community.railstotrails.org/media/p/15636.aspx

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 37 current conditions

Sidewalk Width New Orleans, LA

H V ick G Orleans a n t a

w i e a isi sb o n r th V p e u o u r r Saint Peter Legend r a M n g ym l l e D n O le ia eib z Rosedale Toulouse W Clayton r Saint Loui e s

ZONE 1: le d

i c a xa n t d i vi

g r Lafitte Corridor Conti e o

se t r a t o o i l

R a l A

y o

P C a n r Canal Boulevard to

n t r a Park

n a k o i

o r n n a

h i Bienville p

s a e a t C

m P e n l B

o S n Waterbody ym y l A Carrollton Avenue t l i n

o n

C O Iberville e

S o

H l l Sidewalk Width (ft) o

r 1 Canal r 0 Canal a 12.0 - 30.0 E C 7.0 - 11.5 Orleans Je n 6.0 - 6.5

f d int Peter f Sa i

e o Saint Peter M n

h ce

r d r so o e o

e 5.0 - 5.5

W e s

r i ss R n ce

P Toulouse yo

a D u Toulouse H

S 4.0 - 4.5 a D a v G Lafitte s g Saint Loui is a n Saint Louis 3.0 - 3.5

d ZONE 2: d

vi a t Conti 1.0 - 2.5

a o

z r

e D

t B

r S Carrollton Avenue

n o 0 o Bienville s

t C l

l o

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ch to Broad Street r h

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n Orleans

ter o nt Pe s Sai 0 Saint Peter i r

1 i

h o Ramp r M

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a e

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a Data courtesy of: e

z a

p r Rails-to-Trails Conservancy,

e Conti e

e o

T r

Broad Street to r g City of New Orleans, and v

l r s

i B P Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)

a y

n n

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b M n b

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38 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Sidewalk Width Sidewalk width varies from 0 (indicating a sidewalk does not exist) to as wide as 30 feet. Most major roads, with exceptions on a few blocks, have sidewalk widths meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards (5 feet or greater). Many minor streets in residential areas have sidewalk widths between 3 and 4.5 feet, while many streets closer to the Central Business District (CBD) and in Iberville have widths ex- ceeding 5 feet.

In light industrial areas near much of the Lafitte Corridor, sidewalks closest to the corridor, especially on parallel minor streets such as Conti Street, St. Louis Street and Lafitte Avenue, are missing for blocks at a time. Even some residential streets leading to or near the corridor, such as General Diaz Street, Rosedale Drive and Iberville Street in Tremé, are without sidewalks.

The industrial land uses and missing sidewalks create significant barriers to accessing the corridor for residential areas closer to Orleans Avenue Many streets closest to the future greenway, such as St. Louis Street, lack sidewalks, making access more difficult. and Canal Street. Many residents may be unlikely to walk in this industrial area presently due to a hostile environment or lack of nearby destinations. The introduction of a greenway along the Lafitte Corridor will require upgrades of connecting pedestrian infrastructure along these minor streets.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 39 current conditions

Sidewalk Quality New Orleans, LA

H V ick G Orleans a n t a

w i e a isi sb o n r th V p e u o u r r Saint Peter r a M n g ym l l e D Legend n O le ia eib z Rosedale Toulouse W Clayton r Saint Loui e s

ZONE 1: le d

i c a xa n t d i vi

g r Conti e o Lafitte Corridor l

se t r a t o o i l

R a l A

y o

P C a n r Canal Boulevard to

n t a r

n a k o i Park

o r n n a

h i Bienville p

s a e a t C

m P e n l B

S n

ym y l A Waterbody Carrollton Avenue t l i n

o n

C O Iberville e

S o

H l l Sidewalk Quality

r 1 Canal r 0 Canal a 3 - good E C 2 - fair Orleans Je n 1 - poor

f d int Peter f Sa i

e o Saint Peter M n

h ce

r d r so o e o 0 - non-existent

W e s

r i ss R n ce

P Toulouse yo

a D u Toulouse H

S a D a v G Lafitte s g Saint Loui is a n Saint Louis

d ZONE 2: d

vi a t Conti

a o

z r

e D

t B

r S Carrollton Avenue

o Bienville s

t C l

l o

u o e

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ch to Broad Street r h

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a D e a

L C i

m e

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G a

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T Canal Canal

n Orleans

ter o nt Pe s Sai 0 Saint Peter i r

1 i

h o Ramp r M

v T

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r e o

z o r

a is b Saint Lou i ZONE 3: t

a e

Oa r m

C o k

r d

a Data courtesy of: e

z a

p r Rails-to-Trails Conservancy,

e Conti e

e o

T r

Broad Street to r g City of New Orleans, and v

l r s

i B P Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)

a y

n n

a n

Bienville o

a a

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so e l i

Basin Street t n

b M n b

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40 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Sidewalk Quality Sidewalk surface quality scores ranged from 0 to 3, with 0 indicating the sidewalk did not exist, and 3 indicating a smooth surface that a wheelchair user would have no difficulty navigating. Quality of sidewalks within the study area varies greatly. Sidewalks on major roads are usually of sufficient quality, with most blocks receiving values of 2 or 3.

Minor streets, however, reveal a patchwork of unreliable quality. On many minor streets, sidewalks are missing entirely or are obstructed by tree roots and parked vehicles. This spotty availability of adequate sidewalks makes safe, off-street walking a frustrating, on-again, off- again experience. On many minor streets with slower, lower volumes of vehicular traffic, the most realistic option is to walk in the street.

In the neighborhoods adjacent to the Lafitte Corridor, there is significant post-Katrina residential construction. However, only some of this new construction was accompanied by sidewalk upgrades.

Many sidewalks near the Lafitte Corridor are of poor quality, leading to an unpleasant walking environment and hardship for the disabled.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 41 current conditions

Curb Ramps New Orleans, LA H a n G w a isi e i t o d n o p t h V o e Saint Peter o w r a n r r e a ym

n e u r l l Legend e G n D M le i O ib a e z Rosedale Toulouse W Clayton Saint Louis

le k d n n

a i e ZONE 1: d c t i vi o

t t se r Conti l r a o t l

i R o

a Lafitte Corridor D o

V d t

a r C a n

n Canal Boulevard to t a n a k o i

r u

o n r n

h Bienville p

i C a a t e Park

m l P n B

A l

y y it l Carrollton Avenue o Waterbody O Iberville

C se

n Curb Ramp Quality Canal n

e 1 Canal xa

0 e l 3 - good

E A 2 - fair Orleans Je n

t 1 - poor f d int Peter f Sa i

e o Saint Peter M n

h ce

r d r so o e o

W e s

r i ss R n ce

P Toulouse yo

a D u Toulouse H

S a D a v G Lafitte s g Saint Loui is a n Saint Louis

d ZONE 2: d

vi a t Conti

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e D

t B

r S Carrollton Avenue

o Bienville s

t C l

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a D e a

L C i

m e

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n Orleans

ter o nt Pe s Sai 0 Saint Peter i r

1 i

h o Ramp r M

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l a

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r e o

z o r

a is b Saint Lou i ZONE 3: t

a e

Oa r m

C o k

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a Data courtesy of: e

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p r Rails-to-Trails Conservancy,

e Conti e

e o

T r

Broad Street to r g City of New Orleans, and v

l r s

i B P Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)

a y

n n

a n

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b M n b

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b b

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t t l o

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42 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Curb Ramps intersections. Because missing curb ramps are so prevalent, it’s difficult to recommend specific locations where they should be installed to Curb ramps at each intersection were assessed on a scale from 0, improve access to the Lafitte Corridor. indicating a ramp was absent, to 3, indicating a ramp was smooth and included a textured area to assist vision-impaired pedestrians. A significant number of intersections also lack curb ramps at all four Curb ramps are a crucial component of ensuring handicapped access corners. Some of these intersections are locations where a curb ramp and ADA compliance. Although many curb ramps have been installed was newly installed on one corner but not on the others. This creates a in recent years within the study area, the area remains deficient. Few frustrating environment for wheelchair users. Completion of curb ramp streets in the study area have a consistent network of curb ramps. installation at these intersections would have the most significant impact by allowing a disabled pedestrian to complete his or her journey Both major roads and minor streets have inconsistent availability of across the intersection safely. curb ramps. There are some corridors where curb ramps have been installed for significant stretches, as a result of streetscape projects or targeted curb ramp installations: o Bienville Avenue (Anthony Street to Carrollton Avenue) o Canal Street (downtown from Claiborne Avenue) o Basin Street (Conti Street to Canal Street) o Galvez Street (Canal Street to Orleans Avenue)

Other corridors with significant curb ramp access include: o Carrollton Avenue (Canal Street to Orleans Avenue) o Canal Street (City Park Avenue to Claiborne Avenue)

There are also clusters of intersections on minor streets within residential areas that have received targeted curb ramp installations. Examples include: o St. Peter Street at Solomon and David Streets o Toulouse Street at Hennessy, Solomon and David Streets o Iberville Street at Scott and Telemachus Streets o Conti Street at Salcedo, Gayoso, Dupre and White Streets

However, streets crossing the corridor are missing curb ramps at many Even in areas with navigable sidewalks, curb ramps are often not present, making street crossings difficult for wheelchair users.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 43 current conditions

Crosswalk Signage Very few crosswalks are signed to alert motorists to the presence of pedestrians. Most of these signs are located on Canal Street and Basin Street, and none were found northwest of Jefferson Davis Parkway, even at the busy, unsignalized intersection at Canal Boulevard and City Park Avenue. Pedestrian signage is an inexpensive way to improve motorist compliance rates at marked crossings.

There are a number of MUTCD-approved signs that could be installed within the study area, especially R1-6, the “Yield to Pedestrians Within Crosswalk” in-street signage. This sign can be situated between lanes on two-lane roads to improve driver compliance at unsignalized crosswalks.

Crosswalk Signals At a number of busy intersections on main roads within the study area, pedestrian crossing signals would improve safety by providing pedestrians with more information. Currently, designated pedestrian signals have been installed only along Canal Street near the CBD. At some Examples of MUTCD-approved signage that could intersections, such as Canal Street and Carrollton Avenue, traffic signals designed for motorists improve pedestrian conditions in study area. have been installed facing the crosswalk, giving pedestrians some minimal information. However, a vehicular traffic signal does not provide enough information for pedestrians to safely travel the street.

Where pedestrian crossing signals currently exist, they should be upgraded to meet MUTCD standards (see Chapter 4E of the 2009 MUTCD). Pedestrian crossings at signalized intersections should also be signalized, with a focus on major roads leading to the Lafitte Corridor.

MUTCD-compliant pedestrian crossing signals have been installed at many intersections across New Orleans, but near the Lafitte Corridor such signals are only found near downtown on Canal Street.

44 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Many signs indicating school zones have been installed across the city. A similar effort could be undertaken to mark crosswalk locations. Currently, very few crosswalks in the assessment area are marked to alert motorists.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 45 current conditions

Crosswalk Paint Quality New Orleans, LA

H V ick G Orleans a n t a

w i e a isi sb o n r th V p e u o u r r Saint Peter r a M Legend n g ym l l e D n O le ia eib z Rosedale Toulouse W Clayton r Saint Loui e s

ZONE 1: le d

i c Lafitte Corridor a xa n t d i vi

g r Conti e o

se t r a t o o i l

R a l A

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P Park C a n r Canal Boulevard to

n t a r

n a k o i

o r n n a

h i Bienville p

s a e a t C

m P e n Waterbody l B

S n

ym y l A Carrollton Avenue t l i n

o n

C O Iberville e

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r 1 Canal r 0 Canal a Paint Quality E C 3 - good Orleans Je n 2 - fair

f d int Peter f Sa i

e o Saint Peter M n

h ce

r d r 1 - poor so o e o

W e s

r i ss R n ce

P Toulouse yo

a D u Toulouse H 0 - no striping

S a D a v G Lafitte s g Saint Loui is a n Saint Louis

d ZONE 2: d

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a o

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r S Carrollton Avenue

o Bienville s

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Broad Street to r g City of New Orleans, and v

l r s

i B P Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)

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n n

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46 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Crosswalk Paint Quality One important facet of street crossings is the style and quality of painted crosswalks. Most legal crossings within the study area are not painted; as a result, compliance by motorists (even at striped crosswalks) is poor, forcing pedestrians to find a gap in traffic before they begin crossing — greatly reducing the incentive for pedestrians to use crosswalks in the first place.

Where crosswalks within the study area are striped, the paint quality is often poor. On Canal Street, for example, the quality of striped crosswalks varies widely. At the busy intersections of City Park Avenue at Canal Boulevard and Canal Street, only some crossings are striped, and those that are striped received “poor” paint quality rankings in our assessment.

Of the crosswalks within the study area that are striped, they are all “standard crosswalks,” which are marked by two parallel lines across the street. Standard crosswalks provide poor visibility to motorists and wear out easily due to tire marks. As an alternative, high-visibility “ladder” crosswalks are recommended, especially on major roads within the study area where faster automobile speeds are common.

The trail in the neutral ground of Jefferson Davis Parkway requires a special mention. This trail offers an appealing environment for walking and bicycling, connects to a larger network (including the Wisner Trail and the future Lafitte Corridor Greenway) and attracts a significant number of users. Few crosswalks within the study area are striped; those However, this important route lacks crosswalks and pedestrian crossing signals at all roadway that are painted are not highly visible to motorists. This intersections. Trail users face significant danger at crossings because of a high volume of vehicle- low visibility leads to lower rates of motorists yielding to pedestrians, resulting in more dangerous conditions for turning movements. If walking and bicycling are expected to be a safe option throughout this those trying to cross the street. interconnected network, signal and crosswalk installation at these locations should be made a priority.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 47 current conditions

Bike Racks, Benches and Picnic Tables New Orleans, LA

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a v Lafitte Corridor e

u Physical Study Area

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48 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative current conditions

Amenities

Bike Racks Bike racks are an important component of encouraging people to make everyday trips by bicycle. However, there are very few bike racks within the study area. Our assessment found only 17 rack locations on public and publicly accessible private property. New Orleans is fortunate to have the Young Leadership Council’s Where Ya Rack? project, where sponsors can pay $300 for a bike rack installation. Targeting installation of new bike racks to businesses and other destinations like schools or churches within the study area can help promote trail use. The combined presence of secure bike parking at destinations near the trail and a safe route on the Lafitte Corridor Green way will signal to residents that making short trips by bike is a feasible option.

Benches & Picnic Tables A bike rack on the Wisner Trail. Sitting spaces are fundamental to a friendly pedestrian environment, especially in commercial corridors. Our inventory found many benches and sitting spaces on major commercial corridors, especially along Carrollton Avenue and Canal Street. Many of these benches are found at streetcar and bus stops. Especially along Carrollton Avenue, many businesses have placed benches and picnic tables on the street, demonstrating a need for more sitting and socialization in public space.

Benches are a key addition to greenways. By providing a place to rest and socialize, benches encourage “eyes on the trail” that can discourage criminal activity and encourage more trail use. These benches are on the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington, D.C.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 49 Community Outreach

IV. Community Outreach

The focus of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s (RTC) outreach work for the Lafitte Corridor project is to ensure that a diverse range of citizens is actively involved in the planning process—particularly low-income communities and communities of color. Our work is imperative given the city’s historically low levels of citizen participation in the planning process (Collins, 2010).

Many local interest groups are involved in the development of the greenway, ranging from economic development and public health, to bicycle/pedestrian advocacy and urban sustainability. As the city began to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, the Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC) was formed in 2006 to make the long-proposed greenway a reality. FOLC’s mission is to “preserve the open space of the Lafitte Corridor…by advocating and facilitating the creation of a greenway with bicycling and pedestrian paths linking neighborhoods, cultural features, historic sites, retail areas and public spaces” (Douglas et al, 2007). The next year, the city council formed Friends of Lafitte Corridor and RTC tour the Lafitte the Lafitte Greenway Steering Advisory Committee (LGSAC), established to provide support to Corridor. the development of the greenway and the goals of involved community groups. The LGSAC is comprised of three representatives from FOLC and members appointed by the mayor and city council members whose districts include portions of the corridor (City of New Orleans, 2010). In addition to FOLC and LGSAC, other local stakeholders include KidsWalk Coalition (a collaborative of the Tulane University School of Public Health that works directly with the city of New Orleans Department of Public Works), the Metro Bicycle Coalition, Trust for Public Land, the New Orleans Chapter of the Sierra Club, and Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center.

As part of its Urban Pathways Initiative (UPI), RTC hired a part-time outreach coordinator for the Lafitte Corridor project. The current coordinator is Ethan Ellestad, a graduate student in the Urban Planning Department at the University of New Orleans. RTC staff members guide and provide support for his work, which has included:

• Conducting an inventory of local businesses along and near the trail, which can be used to help promote local businesses to trail users;

• Producing the Greenway Gazette, an online newsletter distributed quarterly to more than 500 greenway supporters and local businesses. It provides project updates and profiles of local businesses;

50 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Community Outreach

• Building community-based support for the greenway by conducting Urban Pathways Conference outreach at community events, meetings, etc. RTC selected New Orleans as the site for the first-ever conference of In addition to the efforts of the outreach coordinator, RTC’s trail our Urban Pathways Initiative, Urban Pathways to Livable Communities: development staff has been actively involved in the greenway project. Building Partnerships for Healthy Neighborhoods. The conference Following is a brief summary of our activities. convened more than 100 advocates and practitioners of urban pathways, greenways and trails from around the country to discuss best practices that encourage physical activity on shared-use pathways Initial Site Visit in urban neighborhoods. This conference provided an opportunity for In October 2009, three staff members spent a week in New Orleans Lafitte Greenway stakeholders to interact and learn from the experience meeting with local stakeholders. During these meetings, we toured the of other trail leaders. Also, as part of the conference, attendees toured corridor, conducted a preliminary survey of the study area, collected the corridor and attended “Party on the Greenway,” a community additional resources and assessed the challenges and opportunities event held to raise awareness of the greenway project. At this event, associated with this project. Since this initial meeting, we’ve been in 22 New Orleanians completed a brief survey on personal levels of regular contact with these partners in New Orleans, collaborating on a walking and biking, and amenities they would like see along the Lafitte number of tasks, projects and events. Greenway. Ninety-one percent of the respondents said they will use the greenway as soon as it is built. Popular greenway amenities among the respondents included benches, lighting, community garden space, shade structures and playground equipment (see Appendix C for a summary of the survey results).

Physical Assessment In April 2010, RTC staff returned to New Orleans to collect data for the physical assessment included in this report. Our partners helped us solicit volunteers to help in the effort and to continue to build community involvement in the project. With the help of more than 30 volunteers, we spent three days documenting the walking and bicycling conditions.

UPI conference participants from New Orleans and communities across the country learn about the future greenway on the Lafitte Corridor.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 51 Community Outreach

Support for Greenway Planning Process Louisiana Walk & Roll Summit The city of New Orleans selected Design Workshop, an Austin, Texas- In November 2010, the KidsWalk Coalition hosted Walk & Roll based landscape architecture, urban design and land planning firm, Louisiana, a free one-day summit on walking and biking — the first of to design the greenway and plan revitalization of the Lafitte Corridor. its kind in Louisiana. The event included bicycle safety trainings for kids, In September, RTC staff organized a teleconference with Design as well as panel discussions on ways to improve community streets for Workshop and the city’s project manager to discuss how RTC and our all users. The keynote speech was delivered by Rear Admiral Epifanio local partners can contribute to the design process and supplement Elizondo, PhD PA-C, the senior federal public health official for the efforts to engage local community members. Following this call, we region. RTC supported this event by participating in the initial planning worked with our partners to develop a memo for Design Workshop meetings and providing children’s bicycle helmets to give away as outlining our proposed contributions and outreach resources available part of the safety trainings. At the event, RTC presented preliminary to the firm. results of the community volunteer walk/bike audit conducted for this assessment and co-led a tour of the Lafitte Corridor with the FOLC president.

Future Activities Several outreach activities took place in 2010 and 2011. In fall 2010, RTC co-sponsored the efforts of a local design firm to create structures to be placed on the greenway that provide information about the project. The design firm’s final concept involves 16 installations — referred to as Green Rooms and made from reclaimed materials — along the length of the corridor. This public art will provide informational space and help elevate the project in the minds of local residents. During the next few months, our staff will help coordinate installing the Green Rooms, which will serve as opportunities to raise awareness and get local residents involved in the project. Another focus for 2011 is to help FOLC cultivate its members and supporters into more active advocates for the trail. This group of knowledgeable “Greenway Ambassadors” will provide project updates and other information to local residents and business owners by representing FOLC at community meetings and events. Also, we will develop outreach materials for the part-time coordinator and provide support for the spring Lafitte Corridor Hike, an Friends of Lafitte Corridor and RTC leading a group tour during Walk & Roll. annual event hosted by FOLC.

52 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Recommendations

V. Recommendations and Action Plan

ACTION ITEMS TO COMPLETE DURING DESIGN/BUILD PHASE

DESIGN AND INFRASTRUCTURE Access Points/Gateways — Connecting on-street routes to the trail could be enhanced to establish visibly appealing connections and entrances to the trail. Clearly defined access points are necessary for residents in adjacent neighborhoods to locate the trail and recognize its potential as a recreation and transportation corridor. Enhancing the quality of connections to the trail could include public art installations, detailed maps, historical plaques or easy-to-understand signage. Well-lit and designed access areas can also act as outdoor community centers.

Action: Greenway supporters ensure that access points are numerous, well-designed and safely connected to neighborhood streets.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure — Recommendations for improving pedestrian and bicycling conditions on and around the corridor are presented in the “Current Physical Conditions and A gateway structure on the Glacial River Trail in Recommendations” section of this study. By evaluating the current conditions of intersections, Wisconsin. sidewalks, crosswalks, curb ramps and amenities, this report can serve as a useful tool for planners and greenway advocates.

Action: Community members and advocates can use this report and other resources to support the need for infrastructure improvements that will create a safer, more pleasant environment for pedestrians and bicyclists along the Lafitte Corridor and in adjoining neighborhoods.

• NolaCycle Bike Map Project: A project spearheaded by Metro Bicycle Coalition (MBC), this comprehensive map evaluates conditions for bicycling on most streets in New Orleans. The map can be used to determine which streets should be prioritized for improvements and how to determine preferred routes for traveling to and from the Lafitte Corridor to other neighborhood destinations. (www.nolacycle.blogspot.com)

• KidsWalk Coalition: Working directly with the city of New Orleans Department of Public

Both stairs and a ramp provide neighborhood access to Works, KidsWalk Coalition is a collective of local and national advocacy organizations that the Capital City Trail in Madison, Wis. works to improve the pedestrian and bicycling environment in New Orleans. Their three

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 53 Recommendations

initiatives — Safe Routes to School, School Audits and ADA Transition Plan — provide resources to local residents and decision-makers for improving walking and biking conditions, including neighborhoods adjacent to the Lafitte Corridor. (www.prc.tulane.edu/kidswalk)

Include Sustainable Water Design as Element of Greenway Planning — In 2010, Waggonner & Ball Architects produced Lafitte Greenway Sustainable Water Design, a study funded by the Greater New Orleans Foundation Environmental Fund and initiated by Friends of Lafitte Corridor. The study provides a foundation for understanding how “managing storm water, balancing groundwater and introducing and celebrating surface water will result in a more resilient and viable city, leading to economic and social value through the creation of a vibrant, ecologically sensitive Lafitte Greenway.” It describes distinct hydrological identities within four discreet zones

FutureProof presents Green Room plans at Friends of of the corridor and provides recommendations for integrating water-sensitive design in the Lafitte Lafitte Corridor meeting. (Photo courtesy of Bart Everson) Corridor planning process, including a suggested demonstration project.

Action: Copies of the Waggonner & Ball study should be disseminated and available to community members interested in the planning process. Greenway advocates should support and promote water-sensitive design elements in the corridor planning process. (www.folc-nola. org/2010/08/lafitte-greenway-sustainable-water-design)

GREENWAY ATTRACTIONS Informational Kiosks and Wayfinding Stations — As part of the public outreach process in the first phase of UPI in New Orleans, local partners expressed a need for physical installations on the corridor that identify the future route of the greenway and provide information about planning and construction progress. The installations have been referred to as “Green Rooms” and are intended to attract attention from passers-by. RTC and Massey’s Professional Outfitters (a local business and greenway supporter) funded a local design firm, FutureProof, to create a conceptual plan and construction documents for a series of Green Rooms. The structures will be built primarily with reused materials and will be constructed and installed by volunteers from the community. They will help create awareness of the Lafitte Corridor revitalization project and encourage local residents to participate in planning, development and sustained stewardship of the greenway and corridor.

Action Taken: FutureProof submitted final design documents in March 2011, and RTC is A community garden along the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington, D.C. working with local partners to plan and execute installation events throughout 2011.

54 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Recommendations

Community Gardens — Not only do community gardens add to the abundance of healthy food options in a community, but when placed next to trails they provide a beautiful amenity, attracting community members to the trail. A number of trails across the country have adjacent public gardens that are very successful. Examples include the Capital City Trail in Madison, Wis., and the Met Branch Trail in Washington, D.C. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy hosted a webinar, titled “The Secrets to Gardens on Urban Pathways,” in August 2010. Listen and watch the webinar to learn more: www.tinyurl.com/gardens-on- urban-pathways.

Action: Create a committee to explore potential for garden plantings on and along the corridor. Research should include availability of water, funding sources and potential partnerships with local schools and farmers’ markets. Contact Parkway Partners for more information about starting a community garden in New Orleans. Garden along the Capital City Trail in Madison, Wis. (www.parkwaypartnersnola.org/communitygardens.html)

Public Art — Art on the greenway provides a great opportunity for engaging the community, creating a sense of ownership for the greenway, and showcasing the unique cultural heritage of each neighborhood. Examples include:

• Medical Mile — Little Rock, Ark.: Area physicians contributed to a major fundraising effort that spawned the development of the nation’s first “outdoor linear health museum,” an innovative method of combining trails, public art and health. The creative installations are thematically arranged to educate trail users about common causes of chronic disease and promote preventative measures, like exercise, for healthy lifestyles. (www.heartclinicarkansas. com/medical_mile.htm) Two examples of the colorful murals on old industrial buildings • Murals on the Met Branch Trail — Washington, D.C.: Two years on the Met Branch before the newest section of the Met Branch Trail was complete, Trail in Washington, D.C. (above), and the the DC Commission for Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) and local Morgana Run Trail in neighborhood advisory councils realized a unique opportunity to Cleveland, Ohio (below).

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 55 Recommendations

combat illegal graffiti, begin beautifying the trail (before it was CREATING INTEREST & COALITION BUILDING constructed!) and involve local youth. DCCAH worked with profes- Community Outreach and Promotion — As part of UPI, RTC funds sional artists to develop a summer youth program and to create a part-time greenway outreach coordinator for the Lafitte Corridor. and install the city’s largest mural. To date, four other murals have This position was created to supplement existing outreach efforts by been installed along the trail, creating a walking and biking gallery FOLC and others, and was tasked with: building a database of local that showcases work of D.C.’s professional artists and youth artists- businesses and organizations that support the development of the in-training. For more information: http://muralsdc.wordpress.com/ Lafitte Corridor as a greenway, providing outreach to these businesses, and www.albuscav.us/edgewood.html. organizations and to other local residents, and organizing community • Trails as venues — Minneapolis, Minn.: Trails are venues for cultural events on the corridor. In 2009 and 2010, the outreach coordinator: events that incorporate local art in festival parades. (www.mid- • Created a local business inventory — This inventory includes a loca- towngreenway.org/publicart) tion map and contact directory for more than 100 local businesses Action: Develop a public art plan for the Lafitte Corridor by along the trail. Used as an economic revitalization tool, the inven- identifying potential locations for murals and installations. Include tory can help create maps and brochures that “steer” greenway an inventory of adjacent properties and willing landowners for future users to patronize nearby local businesses. reference. Explore funding opportunities through the Arts Council of • Produced online newsletter — The outreach coordinator prepared New Orleans. (www.artscouncilofneworleans.org/index.php) several e-newsletters, called the Greenway Gazette, to keep local

Louisiana Green Corps youth participate in a day of service on the Lafitte Corridor. (Photo Tree planting along the Met Branch Trail in Washington, D.C., was made possible courtesy of Gregory Aycock) through a partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation and Casey Trees, a local nonprofit.

56 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Recommendations

supporters and interested community members updated on the and future greenway. With the assistance of an outreach coordinator progress of the corridor and to highlight local businesses along the or FOLC board members, ensure the committee is informed of future corridor. More than 500 people receive the newsletters. developments and policies that could enhance or threaten use of the corridor among local residents. Create a public calendar that allows Building community-based support — By visiting with dozens of • LGSAC members and interested individuals to know about upcoming local organizations and churches, the outreach coordinator has events, meetings and other opportunities to influence corridor design started a dialogue with important stakeholders who will help in- and ensure that the future greenway is safe and accessible. form and shape the planning process. These groups and individuals are kept up to date on the progress of the greenway. The outreach Naming the Greenway — Although the corridor has been referred to as coordinator has also hosted community events such as corridor the Lafitte Corridor and the future Lafitte Greenway, there could be an clean-ups that help bring local residents together and build a base opportunity to create public interest in the project by offering a contest of supporters and future stewards of the greenway. to name the greenway and/or corridor.

Action: Support a volunteer or paid employee that fulfills the role • Columbus Consolidated Government (Georgia) sponsored a nam- of an outreach coordinator. Create a team of volunteers that function ing contest for a newly completed walking and biking trail. The as “Greenway Ambassadors.” This group could be a committee within winner received a new bicycle and helmet and a $500 cash prize. an organization that regularly attends local meetings (neighborhood The contest created media buzz and positive attention for the new associations, public meetings for property development, etc.) and facility. For more information, visit www.columbusga.org/planning. tables at events to provide information to the community, collect input Action: With the city’s permission, a local group or agency and respond to concerns. RTC worked with FOLC to train the first could sponsor a naming contest, or provide opportunities to dedicate group of Greenway Ambassadors who acted as tour guides during the portions of the greenway. 2011 Lafitte Corridor Hike.

Foster Public/Private Partnerships — Created by a city ordinance in 2007, the Lafitte Greenway Steering Advisory Committee (LGSAC) already functions as a body of public and private groups interested in the design and development of the Lafitte Corridor. LGSAC meetings serve as a venue for information sharing, encouraging communication between different local government agencies and a wide variety of nonprofit organizations and local interest groups. The group reports on matters of interest to the corridor and stays abreast of city planning issues and developments that will affect the corridor and surrounding neighborhoods.

Action: Use LGSAC as a regular opportunity to communicate among groups and inform the public about issues affecting the corridor

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 57 Recommendations

ACTION ITEMS TO COMPLETE AFTER TRAIL COMPLETION

EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING Events and Activities — Planning events and regular activities creates a perfect opportunity to attract people to the trail and promote its use — especially for people who are unfamiliar with trails, do not understand their potential use, or are unsure what they might look like. These activities can incorporate personal and community health messages to encourage healthy lifestyles. Examples include:

• Walking groups: Individuals who are new to greenways may be more likely to engage in physical activity in a group setting that meets on a regular basis. Coordinating a regular Compton, Calif., residents enjoy a Run/Walk 5k on the walking group is a great way to capture new users and can be coordinated with local Compton Creek Bike Path schools, recreation/community centers or existing neighborhood groups.

o American On the Move provides resources to communities interested in forming walking groups. (http://aom3.americaonthemove.org/programs/tools.aspx)

o Walking school buses can get kids to school safely. (www.walkingschoolbus.org)

o Training for a walking event is a way to combine regular physical activity with a celebra- tory social event. The African American Health Program in Montgomery County, Md., sponsors walking clubs and trains leaders that organize small walking groups, provides health and wellness information, and teaches participants about the history of the Under ground Railroad. The program culminates in a walking event that retraces portions of the Underground Railroad in Maryland. (www.onehealthylife.org/press-room/aahp-news/ aahp-seeks-community-members-lead-walking-groups)

• Outdoor Classroom and Trail as Community Venue: Where space is available, greenways can serve as outdoor community centers for public gardens, outdoor classrooms and performance venues.

o The Compton Creek Bike Path Outdoor Classroom (Compton, Calif.) — Compton High School developed an outdoor classroom that is directly connected to their community trail. Students use the small amphitheater for club meetings and to access the bike path.

Outdoor classroom along the Compton Creek Bike Path. Contact RTC’s Western Regional Office for more information. ([email protected])

58 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Recommendations

o Railroad Park (Birmingham, Ala.) — Described as “Birmingham’s Safety Considerations — Potential greenway users may be discouraged Living Room,” Railroad Park is a green space in downtown from using the facility because of actual or perceived safety concerns. Birmingham that is promoted and used as an event space and To address personal safety issues, numerous trail groups and managers community venue. The nonprofit group that manages the park have coordinated volunteer trail patrols or worked with local police provides exercise classes and concerts, and they rent the park departments to ensure that officers on foot and bicycle regularly patrol and facilities for family and community gatherings. the trail. Encouraging frequent use of the greenway by keeping it clean (www.railroadpark.org) and well maintained will also create an environment that discourages illicit behavior. • Annual events: An annual event might include promoting the greenway as a way to get to and from events along or near the trail. o The Midtown Greenway Coalition in Minneapolis, Minn., de- New Orleans can use local events like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest to veloped an excellent trail patrol model. Volunteers commit to promote and program greenway activities. Some national exam- two-hour shifts of patrolling the Midtown Greenway by bicycle, ples include: and some participate in a program that pairs volunteers with other commuters to decrease the number of bicyclists riding o Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January) solo at night. For more information: www.midtowngreenway. o Bike to Work Day and Bike Month (May) org/trailusers/Trail%20Watch/TrailWatch.html

o Earth Day (April) Action: Work with the New Orleans Police Department, local youth programs and neighborhood groups to develop a greenway o National Trails Day (first Saturday in June) patrol. Connect with and learn from other successful trail patrol programs like the Midtown Greenway Coalition. For other examples, o National Walk to School Week (October) visit RTC’s Trail-Building Toolbox (www.railstotrails.org/ourWork/ Action: Plan regular or one-time events along the corridor/ trailBuilding/toolbox/informationSummaries/police_safety.html) greenway, marketing it aggressively and focusing on educating people on the location of the trail, access points, permitted activities and other opportunities along the corridor. Build on success of annual Lafitte Corridor Hike, growing the number of neighborhood participants and offering a variety of activities.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 59 Recommendations

MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS Wheeling Walks’ brief and direct messages permeated the airwaves and newspapers to reach a large part of the population. The program One of the simplest ways to get people interested in the greenway is significantly increased physical activity in sedentary residents and to tell them about it and show them where it is. Marketing and utilized a local rail-trail and adjacent amphitheater as a kick-off communications techniques could include: the creation and distribution and closing celebration location. For more information, visit www. of maps, a media campaign or well-advertised programmatic efforts wheelingwalks.org/index.asp or read more about the campaign that combine trail awareness with physical activity and community in the RTC report, Creating Active Communities: Ten Case Studies of events. Targeting media with an interest in community news, trails, Programs and Partnerships. personal health, environmental health and transportation can help highlight the role of the greenway as a catalyst of personal and • The Take Our Trail Campaign in Missouri used informational community health. Use the planning process and official greenway community outreach events to enhance access to public places opening(s) to seek media coverage and communicate with nearby for physical activity. Using a variety of media outlets, campaign residents. coordinators organized community-wide walking events to promote the use of local trails for exercise. The initiative is high Action Taken: FOLC hosts a website with information about lighted in the 2002 Centers for Disease Control report, Physical Lafitte Corridor and greenway development. They also use social Activity for Everyone: Physical Activity Evaluation Handbook (www. media tools, including Facebook, to communicate about upcoming cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/handbook). meetings and events. A brochure and map was created by FOLC to inform community members. RTC’s community outreach coordinator distributes the Greenway Gazette to hundreds of Lafitte Corridor supporters, attends neighborhood meetings and disseminates information about the project at community events. RTC will continue to support FOLC’s communication efforts through UPI, assisting with presentations and dissemination of information via the Web and other community outlets.

Action: Implement a mass-media campaign to encourage physical activity; use the greenway as a venue for events; or include information about the greenway in media messages. Two examples of successful media campaigns that utilized trails and encouraged healthy lifestyle changes include:

• Wheeling Walks, a program in Wheeling, W.Va., encouraged residents to walk for 30 minutes a day in order to meet recommended daily levels of physical activity. By using a combination of frequently aired television, radio and print announcements,

60 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Conclusion

VI. Conclusion

RTC will continue to engage partners in New Orleans through the Urban Pathways Initiative, supporting local efforts to improve the Lafitte Corridor through the planning and design process and ensuring equitable neighborhood access to the future greenway.

First as the Carondelet Canal and later as a railroad right-of-way, the Lafitte Corridor was once a part of New Orleans’ transportation fabric, vital to business and commerce while also serving as one of the earliest recreational open spaces in the city. Although the corridor was later underused and neglected for the second half of the 20th century, community residents and city leaders have begun to envision the site as a viable space for recreation and non-motorized transportation, restoring its important place in the city’s life.

The corridor will soon be transformed into a community space, becoming a new route for foot and bicycle travel, recreational use and community gatherings. However, its success and integration into the neighborhoods it connects is not guaranteed. It depends on the corridor’s design for public use and how local groups adopt and support it as a community asset. We hope that this report can serve as a tool to local advocacy groups, neighborhood residents and decision-makers who are involved in the planning process and eventual management and maintenance of the greenway.

Hundreds of community members enjoyed the 2011 Hike the Lafitte Corridor, an event hosted by Friends of Lafitte Corridor and supported by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. (Photo courtesy of Bart Everson.)

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 61 Appendix A

Appendix A: Works Cited

Associated Press. August 18, 2005. “New Orleans murder rate on the rise again: Homicide rate nowhere near ’94 peak but still 10 times national average.” Accessed November 2010. www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8999837.

Brannon, K. 2010. “Making Inroads in Fight Against Childhood Obesity.” Tulane University New Wave. Accessed November 2010. http://cmsprod1.tcs.tulane.edu/news/newwave/012710_prevention_re- search.cfm.

City of New Orleans. 2010. “Council Reauthorizes Lafitte Greenway Advisory Committee Moving Green Space Project Forward and Contributing to Neighborhood Revitalization.” Accessed November 2010. www.nolacitycouncil.com/content/display.asp?id=54&nid={75A74CBA-86B2-4996-B18A- 26C00C90A07A}.

City of New Orleans. 2010. “Plan for the 21st Century, New Orleans 2030, Vol.2, January 2010.” Accessed October 2010. www.nolamasterplan.org/documentsandrresources.asp.

Collins, R. A. 2010. “No More Surprises: Land Use Planning in the City of New Orleans.” The New Orleans Index at Five. Accessed November 2010. http://gnocdc.s3.amazonaws.com/NOIat5/LandUse- PlanningEssay.pdf.

Douglas, L., Ruley, J., Samuels, D., Wagner, J., Brown+Danoslanddesign, inc. 2007. Lafitte Greenway Master Plan. The Lafitte Greenway: A Vision for the Lafitte Corridor. Accessed October 2010.

Gobster, P.H. 2005. “Recreation and Leisure Research from an Active Living Perspective: Taking a Second Look at Urban Trail Use Data.” Leisure Science, 27:367-383.

Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. 2010. “Hurricane Katrina Recovery.” Accessed November 2010. www.gnocdc.org/Factsforfeatures/HurricaneKatrinaRecovery/index.html.

Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. 2010. “Neighborhood Recovery Rates: Resiliency of New Orleanians Shown in Neighborhood Repopulation Numbers.” Accessed November 2010. www.gnocdc.org/RecoveryByNeighborhood/index.html.

Henderson, K. 2005. “Parks and Physical Activity.” Parks and Recreation, August: 20–26.

Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, The. 2007. “Health Challenges for the People of New Orleans: The Kaiser Post-Katrina Baseline Survey.” Accessed December 2010. www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/up- load/7659.pdf.

62 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Appendix A

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. 2002. “Chronic Disease and Leading Causes of Death: Orleans Parish Health Profile.” Accessed December 2010. www.dhh.louisiana.gov/OPH/PHP%202005/Data/Orleans/ Chronic%20Orleans.htm.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health. 2009. “2009 Louisiana Health Report Card.” Accessed November 2010. www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/publications/pubs-275/DHHHlthCreRprt- Crd_2009.pdf.

McCarthy, B. 2010. “New Orleans murder rate remains highest in the nation.” New Orleans Times-Picayune, May 24. Accessed November 2010. www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2010/05/new_orleans_murder_rate_remain.html.

Matevich, J., Johns, M., Arnberger, R., Olteanu, A. “Prevalence of Childhood Obesity in the Greater New Orleans Area.” Paper presented at American Federation for Medical Research Southern Regional Meeting. February 2011.

New Orleans City Planning Commission. 2002. “New Century New Orleans Master Plan.”

Rosenfeld, K., Morris, H., Goodrich, B., Yourish, B., Bickert, K. 2004. Creating Active Communities: Ten Case Studies of Programs and Partnerships. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Saelens, B.E., Sallis, J. F., Frank, L.D. 2003. “Environmental Correlates of Walking and Cycling: Findings from the Transportation, Urban Design, and Planning Literature.” Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 25(2): 80–91.

Samuels, D. “Remembering North Claiborne: Community and Place in Downtown New Orleans.” 2000. MURP Thesis, University of New Orleans.

Troped, P.J., Saunders, R.P., Pate, R.R. 2005. “Comparisons Between Rail-Trail Users and Nonusers and Men and Women’s Patterns of Use in a Suburban Community.” Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2: 169–180.

U.S. Census Bureau. 2005–2009 American Community Survey Estimates. Data Profile: Orleans Parish, Louisi- ana. Accessed March 2011. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=05000US22071&- context=adp&-ds_name=ACS_2009_5YR_G00_&-tree_id=5309&-_lang=en&-_caller=geoselect&-format=.

Wilson, D.K., Kirtland, K.A., Ainsworth, B.E., Addy, C.E. 2004. “Socioeconomic Status and Perceptions of Access and Safety for Physical Activity.” Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 28(1): 20–28.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 63 Appendix B

Appendix B: Technical Appendix

This Technical Appendix includes a sample of some of the materials Community Mapping Meetup Flyer used to conduct the physical assessment. These materials are: o A flyer soliciting volunteers to conduct the assessment o The handout given to all volunteers to assist them in identifying and classifying conditions to be assessed o A map used by a volunteer to assess sidewalk quality o A map used by a volunteer to mark sidewalk width and locations of amenities o A sheet used by a volunteer to indicate details about those amenities o A map used by a volunteer to indicate crosswalk and curb ramp locations o A sheet used by a volunteer to assess crosswalk and curb ramp quality o A sheet used by a volunteer to mark intersection treatments

64 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Appendix B

Examples and Instructions

Sidewalk Quality: Examples ON THE MAP: How to record sidewalk quality on the map

Mark each side of the street with one number per block.

See other side of sheet for guide to sidewalk quality numbers.

0 – No sidewalk or path If the quality of the sidewalk varies greatly on the same block,

choose a number that best describes its overall condition.

ON THE SPREADSHEET: Intersection Treatment: Examples 1 – Sidewalk or path, poorly maintained

2 – Sidewalk, fair condition

Stopsign types: Stoplight types: Other:

All way Timed Yield

Partial By request Roundabout

Non-traditional lights

3 – Sidewalk, good condition

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 65 Appendix B

Examples and Instructions

HOW TO MARK What is a CURB RAMP QUALITY: CROSSWALKS & CURB CROSSWALK QUALITY pedestrian signal? RAMPS ON MAP:

0 – no curb ramp

0 – not marked EXAMPLES OF SIGNS:

CROSSWALK TYPE 1 – curb ramp, poor condition

1 – faded paint A: Two parallel lines of paint (most common in New Orleans) 2 – curb ramp, good condition, but without textured area for blind users

2 – worn but not faded B: “Ladder” crosswalk

3 – curb ramp, good condition, with textured area for blind users

C: Other, including solid paint, 3 – solid, bright paint textured surface or raised crosswalk

66 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Appendix B

Examples and Instructions Sidewalk Quality — Map

TYPES OF EXAMPLES OF WAYFINDING SIGNS: BIKE RACKS:

1  BOLLARD

2  GRID

3  U-RACK or STAPLE

4  WAVE

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 67 Appendix B

Sidewalk Width and Amenities — Map Amenities — Sheet

68 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Appendix B

Crosswalks and Curb Ramps — Map Crosswalks and Curb Ramps — Sheet

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 69 Appendix B

Intersection Treatment — Sheet

70 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative Appendix C

Appendix C: Party on the Greenway Survey Summary

Figure 1: Walking Statistics Urban Pathways to Liveable Communities 100% Conference — Party on the Greenway Survey

80% Summary Twenty-two local attendees completed a survey at the Party on the 60% Greenway, a community event on the Lafitte Corridor held in conjunc- tion with the Urban Pathways Conference. Participants were asked to 40% report on their walking and biking behaviors and share their prefer-

20% ences for amenities they would like to have on the greenway.

The age of respondents ranged from 23 to 65. Forty-five percent of 0% ExerciseRelaxation/ Get to Public Get to School Run Errands participants had children in their household under the age of 18. Most Leisure Transportation or Work people found out about the event through word of mouth (41 per-

Daily Weekly Monthly Few Times/Year Never Did Not Answer cent), while a few others found out through media advertisements such as newspaper, radio, website and e-mail notifications (18 percent).

Figure 2: Biking Statistics People were asked to identify how often they walk and bike to exercise, relax/leisure, get to public transportation, get to school or work and 100% run errands (Figure 1 and 2). According to responses, most people walk 80% daily for relaxation or leisure (41 percent), exercise (36 percent) and running errands (27 percent). Many rarely, as in less than a few times 60% per year, walk to public transportation (55 percent) or to get to school or work (50 percent). People who bike on a daily basis choose to do so 40% for exercise (18 percent) or relaxation/leisure (14 percent), but more tend to bike on a weekly basis for exercise (27 percent), relaxation/ 20% leisure (32 percent) and running errands (27 percent). The survey also

0% indicated that people rarely (less than a few times per year) bike to get ExerciseRelaxation/ Get to Public Get to School Run Errands to public transportation (64 percent), get to school or work (50 per- Leisure Transportation or Work cent) or run errands (45 percent). None of the participants reported Daily Weekly Monthly Few Times/Year Never Did Not Answer biking on a daily basis to get to public transportation.

The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative • 71 Appendix C

Ninety-one percent said they will use the Lafitte Greenway once it is Figure 3: Amenities preferences built, but only 55 percent were interested in receiving updates on the 18 project. 16 14 Respondents were asked to choose from a list of amenities they’d like 12 to have on the greenway (Figure 3). The most popular responses were: 10 benches (73 percent), lighting (73 percent), shade structures (68 per- 8 cent), community garden space (64 percent) and a playground (59 6 percent). Respondents also suggested other amenities, including volley- 4 ball courts, dog bags and bike racks. 2 0 t s g es en ur ound Space nche ct Kiosks pm gh tin ru Be Li Vendors ui aygr St Eq Food/Drink Pl Community Garden Space Informational ade ess Sh itn F Stage/Performance Yes

72 • The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative

National Headquarters / 2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor / Washington, DC 20037 tel 202.331.9696 / fax 202.223.9257 / www.railstotrails.org