Fast Facts
- In its first full year of use, more than 272,000 people walked or rode a bicycle on the Lafitte Greenway.
- In a recent survey, 80% of people cycling on the trail on a weekday were using the Greenway for transportation.
- The Greenway is designed to handle 100% of rainfall on-site from a 10-year storm, reducing the stress on the city’s drainage system of pumps and pipes.
A small investment in the Lafitte Greenway created a means of transportation for local residents, catalyzed development in the area, and increased environmental and economic development.
After Hurricane Katrina hit, community members in New Orleans re-envisioned the old Lafitte industrial corridor as a linear park that could function as a transportation route for local citizens but also manage stormwater, get people exercising, and provide space for community events and gatherings. The Greenway was built with multimodel transportation in mind. It is located within walking distance to schools, grocery stores, theatres, museums and other amenities. Improved pedestrian crossings, a streetcar stop, and access to other transit along the trail make the greenway an important part of New Orleans’ transportation network. The greenway also features bioswales and rain gardens to help manage stormwater in a city with an overburdened drainage system.
