NEW ORLEANS - On Aug. 17, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve will host an open house and public information session on proposed repairs to the Preserve’s trail system.
“Hurricane Ida caused extensive damage to Barataria Preserve’s trails and boardwalks at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve," said Rebecca Lasell, deputy superintendent. “Public input is important to us in planning for the best, most sustainable ways to restore visitor services to these areas."
The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to improve the trail system in the Barataria Preserve as funding allows by:
* Repairing hurricane-related damage to specific boardwalks and trails.
* Rebuilding damaged boardwalks at a higher elevation with rails with sustainable construction materials for greater resilience to flooding, sea level rise and land subsidence.
* Removing trail segments that are often flooded, allowing these to naturally revegetate and return to a natural state.
The meetings will occur on Aug. 17, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Preserve’s Education Center, located across Highway 45 from the Barataria Visitor Center. Look for signs pointing the way. The public is invited to attend any time during the open house informational meeting, where NPS staff will be present to answer questions.
Barataria Education Center
Across the street from the Barataria Visitor Center (see signs)
6588 Barataria Blvd.
Marrero, LA 70072
No final decisions have been made regarding what trails will be rebuilt. Given the enormous challenges from increasing storm frequencies and intensities and rising sea levels to maintain the existing boardwalks, the park would like to have a smaller proportion of the trail system on boardwalks and, over time, transition to more of the trails being located on the higher grounds of the natural levees. The Architectural and Engineering Design phase of the project has begun. Construction is expected to start in May 2024 and will be phased, meaning that not all boardwalks will be closed to the public at the same time. As an update to our previous newsletter, the rebuild of Ring Levee Trail and Christmas Road is almost complete and is expected to reopen in fall 2023.
For more information and to submit comments, please visit our Preserve's trail project page.
Written comments may also be mailed to:
Superintendent
Attn: Barataria Trails Update
419 Decatur Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
About Barataria Preserve: The Barataria Preserve is comprised of over 26,000 acres of Louisiana wetlands, that include bottomland hardwood forest, cypress swamp, freshwater and intermediate (between freshwater and brackish) marshes, bayous, and canals. The network of boardwalks and walking trails allows visitors to access the wild places of Barataria Preserve to observe alligators, snakes, native plants, and over 200 species of birds. Each year, over 450,000 visitors enjoy the Preserve’s trails, canoe waterways and programs that inspire stewardship of the natural and cultural resources of southern Louisiana and the many challenges they face.
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 425 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more online at www.nps.gov.
Tags: jean lafitte national historical park and preserve barataria preserve trails hurricane ida louisiana hurricane improvement project jean lafitte
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service