New Orleans City Park After Hurricane Katrina Photo Gallery by Coleen Perilloux Landry at pbase.com

New Orleans City Park After Hurricane Katrina

New Orleans City Park is a vast green space in the middle of New Orleans known for its many live oaks, over 1000 with 249 of them being registered with the Live Oak Society. The Park has a beautiful Botanical Garden and a Storyland for children. It is a haven for waterfowl and wildlife. It is self supporting and receives no money from the city, state or federal government.
Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, did much wind damage to the Park. However, the greater damage was done when a floodwall on a drainage canal broke and poured billions of gallons of water from Lake Pontchartrain into the Park. The water remained for almost 20 days at some levels of six to eight feet and when it subsided it left a muddy residue on everything it touched as well as many dead trees, shrubs, grass and broken streets. I believe that most of the live oaks will survive as the live oak is very resilient. Most of them got a severe pruning from the wind but were already putting on a flush of new leaves.
I was able to get into the City of New Orleans which was on lockdown on September 22 with a special pass and took a friend with me to City Park. It was quite difficult getting around the Park because of felled trees and dangerous areas. We photographed as quickly as we could and got out because of health reasons in the toxic conditions left by the waters. I frantically searched for a pair of white swans and their five cygnets and feel sure that they are in a part of the Park I could not reach where the water is cleaner. We were the only two people in all of the Park and it felt like we were on another planet--a planet we did not like.

The flooding of City Park can be contributed directly to public officials of the past 30 years who refused to heed warnings and improve the levee system.
I WILL ADD TO THIS GALLERY IN THE COMING MONTHS IF YOU WISH TO FOLLOW HISTORY IN THE MAKING.
CLICK ON THE LITTLE PHOTO TO GET A LARGER PHOTO. Most photos have a story written under the title so scroll down and enjoy.

A SCALED DOWN VERSION OF CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS WILL BE IN DECEMBER IN THE BOTANICAL GARDEN WITH A PREVIEW PARTY ON DECEMBER 7 TO BENEFIT THE GARDEN. NEW ORLEANS' MR. BINGLE WILL BE INTRODUCED AS A HOLIDAY FAVORITE.
Dec. 8, 2005-Some 5,000 people attended the Celebration in the Oaks preview party to show their support for City Park.
March 11, 2006-Storyland reopened to the children.

New Orleans City Park Stone-Bridge - September 21, 2005	August 3, 2005 - before Hurricane Katrina	Walking Oak -September 21, 2005	The Walking Oak in December 2004.
Lady-with-Flute	Gondola-far-from its usual moorings	One-Swan	Roosevelt Mall
Boat-Shed	Storyland in City Park	Live-Oaks	Mushroom House
Bayou Metairie	Naked Oaks	We Found One Swan	Botanical Garden
Carousel Gardens	Higher and Greener Area	Storyland-Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe	New Orleans Museum of Art Guardian
Swan Search	Statue of woman and the live oaks October 3	Walking Oak-October 3, 2005	Dueling Oak took a beating
Roosevelt Mall-October 3	Stone Bridge Ready for Company- October 4, 2005	Christian Brothers School in the Park	Anseman Entrance Blocked with Barbed Wire
Crashed Rescue Helicopter	A Few of the Swans Were Found in Audubon Park in Uptown New Orleans	Anything But Green Greenhouse	October 18 Botanical Garden
Paul Soniat removing dead shrubber. View From Pavilion of Two Sisters towards the Conservatory in Botanical Garden	The Louisiana Purchase Garden-October 21	Antique Carousel or Flying Horses-October 21	Specimen Gardens in Botanical Garden
Gardens and Conservatory October 21	Cactus Greenhouse	Au revoir, Victor.	Little Children's Wading Pool
Starving Raccoon Eating Cat Food	Botanical Garden and Pavilion on October 18	Botanical Garden and Pavilion of the Two Sisters-Nov. 8	Mr. Bingle Visits the Live Oaks in City Park
Pointsettias in Staghorn Fern baskets	Singer	Celebration in the Oaks_lighted walkway	The Sound of Silence
Pavilion of the Two Sisters	Paul Soniat in Concert	The Colonnade	Volunteers Replant Park's Waterways
Popp Fountain Sits Idle and Overgrown	Delicate Blooms in the Ruins of Popp Fountain	LSU Agricultural Extension Office in City Park	The Golf Club House
The sides of a bridge in City Park	An Art Student Studies the Live Oaks	Spanish Moss in Live Oaks	The Junior League from Annapolis Helps City Park
Popp Fountain Working for First Time Since Hurricane Katrina	Swans Arrive at the Park	Nineteen Months After Hurricane Katrina	Four Years After Hurricane Katrina
City Park's Great Lawn Dedication Attended by Thousands

comment |

elizabeth		26-Apr-2011 16:56
my great uncle donated this park to new orleans

Lillian Rodriguez		24-Aug-2009 23:29
Your photographic record of the overwhelming damage caused by nature and the S-L-O-W recovery, caused by uncaring government and insurance officials is outstanding! Your dedications shows your sadness as well as your love for the city and its people. Excellent! BRAVO!

Kathleen		08-Aug-2009 20:12
Your excellent photos are important for all to see, Coleen. Thank you for sharing your images and your caring with us.

Sandra Cormier		09-Dec-2008 19:39
My husband and I toured the park with Phil Nugent a few weeks BEFORE Hurricane Katrina and haven't been back yet. Glad to see photos of restoration. Thanks to all volunteers who helped bring life back into the carousel and storyland. Sandra Cormier, Broussard City Hall, Broussard, Louisiana

Mary D		09-Jan-2008 00:23
Hurray!! Swannie has a friend!! May they be fruitful and multiply. Thanks for the GREAT work and beautiful photos.

BAW		01-Sep-2007 12:11
Karen, Thanks for the great photo work you have shared with others who love New Orleans. You go girl.

BAW		01-Sep-2007 12:10
Karen, Thanks for your valuable and sensitive record not only of the destruction within City Park, but also it's wonderful and ongoing rebirth.

vizzini		18-Aug-2007 01:53
wonderful montage i am saddened to look at the destruction, but on the same token it's so lovely to see the rebirth

guest		12-Jul-2007 01:15
has anybody seen the black swan? His habitat is around Carrollton/City Park Ave. area of lagoon. I have not seen him since July 6.

Guest		17-Jun-2007 20:08
Wonderful collection of pictures and comments. Sadly the park has been recently dealt a devastating blow. Most of the giant oak trees along the drive leading up to the front of the art museum have recently been cut down. They were said to have been diseased resulting from the flood. It's hard to look at, very different than what we've all grown up seeing. Barren to say the least.

guest		27-Feb-2007 00:21
Thanks for keeping the pictorial record of this park's rebirth going. Thanks to all the folks from across the country who have helped to bring back this corner of NO! I would love to see future shots of the Dueling Oaks, as an ancestor died from wounds sustained there in 1843. Thank you.

MICHIGAN GUEST		07-Feb-2007 00:07
I visited New Orleans City Park less than a month before the hurricane. I LOVED IT! I was surprised not to see any people there. This park is just as or more beautiful than Central Park in NY and it should be appreciated . It' a gem! Thank you for your photographs. Your photos are beautiful!

Karen Leaf		04-Oct-2006 04:07
It's been a while since I've browsed thru here, and I'm thrilled to see the progress made-not fast enough, certainly, but that there is life after Katrina is heartwarming. This has to be the most important collection and history of NO on Pbase, or anywhere.

John Beck		22-Sep-2006 23:44
I'm going to have to find the time to go through this gallery. Your narratives are very captivating.

Guest		10-Aug-2006 04:14
Thank you so much for your wonderful collection of photos. I have really enjoyed looking at them. They bring back so many memories. I was born in New Orleans and lived there all my life until 1 year ago (a month before Katrina), when my husband was transferred to Dallas. I get very homesick sometimes and go online and look up different websites to see pictures of the French Quarter, City Park, etc. New Orleans is the kind of place you never really leave if you grew up there - it's in your soul - at least it is in mine. Thanks again!

Cindi Smith		22-Jul-2006 02:55
The devistation was horrific but life springs forth among the debri. Very well done gallery, Coleen. I teared up when I went through it. Vote

Guest		20-Jun-2006 05:14
This is a great album Coleen!

linda newcomb artist in exile		15-Mar-2006 03:18
i just stumbled into your site and i want to thank you for posting these pictures. you are very talented as a photographer and your love for the city is there to see... i am living in st. petersburg florida. paradise ...perfect weather the people are nice theres a huge appreciation of the arts...beaches..i live in the woods in the hills near downtown and my life ought to be as perfect as this place is but this place as wonderful as it is is not home. i lived in mid city on bernadotte street and had to leave. i cant return. my jobs are gone my apartment isnt available rents have gone up so much that i cant go home. these pictures have made me cry for my beautiful city and our people scattered all over the land. political greed and what i suspect is a massive land grab is disgraceful and as harmful as katrina ever was. thank you for loving new orleans and for the pictures ...

Mary Thompson Allen		29-Jan-2006 03:36
Thank you for such a touching album of photos! It reassures those of us who grew up in New Orleans, but moved away, that some of our fondest childhood memories have survived for our children to experience. It's also wonderful to see the locals celebrate Christmas with Mr. Bingle reminding us that the city's traditions and heritage will not be lost. I can't wait to bring my children for Jazz Fest to visit the park

Bettina Lovell		23-Jan-2006 03:18
Hi I liked the pictures but the one thing I was looking for was the flower clock at the entrance of City Park. My father is one of the guys that helped build the clock at City Park.

Offer Goldfarb		25-Dec-2005 09:04
beautiful work ! if you want to see a little diferent approach please visit my trees http://www.pbase.com/offerg/trees take care Offer

David		23-Dec-2005 15:52
Thank you for posting your photos. I've linked them from my blog. I wondered about Mr. Bingle yesterday. Dave Oliver, ex-pat in the UAE

Paul Dovie Jr		21-Dec-2005 03:12
Coleen: I am so sorry that people post comments and are not brave enough to put their name. There were just as many white that needed rescuing but did not loot their neighbors. Most people whether black or white did heed the evacuation notice and got out. What this person did not take in to account is the the city is run by blacks and not whites. I am so sorry that we still see color, I did not bring my sons up that way. I just hope that my grand children will not have to hear this kind of garbage.

Guest		18-Dec-2005 23:04
THE FLOODING IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE HORRIBLE GREED AND INHUMANE BIGOTRY OF YOUR GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS. THE WHOLE WORLD WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SEE HOW AMERICAN WHITES IN POWER TREAT THE POOR AMERICAN BLACKS. NATURAL DISASTERS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE. HOW MUCH OF THE DEBACKLE OF STRANDED AND DESPERATE HUMAN BEINGS LEFT TO ROT in Louisiana WAS NATURAL? NOT MUCH! BY THE WAY I AM NOT BLACK, NOR 'ETHNIC', NOR ISLAMIC, NOR AM I A TERRORIST. IT DOESN'T TAKE A PHD TO FIGURE OUT THAT IN THE US, FOR ALL ITS' SELF-RIGHTEOUS RIGHT WING PROTECTIONISM, MONEY AND CLASS SEGREGATION ARE LINKED today, JUST AS THEY WERE IN THE 1960s. But i digress, and now i have just started my sentence with 'but', a no-no. However, all this to say that i am proud to of English- Danish Canadian heritage, and that a black person here in Canada is just that, a person. We would not have waited a week to determine if the people needing rescuing were worth the effort because they were black!

Dennis Steinauer		19-Oct-2005 16:23
Coleen, I had no idea there were so many kinds of oak tree -- or have you just given a pet name to each one? In any event, I hope they survive. Thanks for these galleries.

Toney Smith		13-Oct-2005 00:11
Coleen ... I'm deeply saddened by the mess that this storm left on us in the Deep South. Looking forward to any photo updates you post. Your neighbor and storm survivor too. Toney Smith

Al Chesworth		05-Oct-2005 17:24
An excellent documetary, it will be of great significance when all is back to normal. In 20 years time only the adults will remember.

J. Scott Coile		04-Oct-2005 13:49
You are doing such an incredible job (both documenting and assisting) the damage and recovery. These images are both sad and hopeful. The beauty of this majestic park will one day return! I know it will require some protection to make sure some don't drag the recovery in the wrong direction.

ginnie duffy		29-Sep-2005 11:20
Thank you for sending me the pictures Coleen. Here I am still not at home and longing to be there. I would under normal circumstances, be giving tours to our children of the Botanical Gardens.

Pascale Guittonneau		27-Sep-2005 19:02
I'm sad to see that ! I hope that is all right for you and your family. Thanks for your comment. Regards, Pascale.

Buz Kiefer		25-Sep-2005 17:36
After seeing photos of how badly damaged the live oaks along Canal Blvd. and St. Charles Ave. were, I have been wondering how the oaks in City Park fared. Not very well I see. I did no know their exact count but I have read in several places that City Park had the greatest concentration of large live oaks in the world. My instincts tell me the water won't harm them. They grow just yards from swamps and do very well. The damage to their limbs is another thing. Apart from the cosmetic damage, they need to be treated before insects and disease invade. Thanks for this wonderful photo account of your day and the great photos you took. Naturally I voted.

JW		25-Sep-2005 17:14
Thank you for this important reportage, Coleen. Nature will always win through in the end. Our thoughts are with all those affected on the Gulf Coast

Karen Stuebing		25-Sep-2005 11:35
Thank you for braving the emotional distress this must have caused to photograph this. And to point the finger where it should be pointed. I still believe the swans will survive. They are probably somewhere safer. Voted.

Al Chesworth		23-Sep-2005 21:50
Voted.

petesie		23-Sep-2005 18:57
Such a sad group of images, but hope at the end. GMV

Guest		23-Sep-2005 17:56
My vote has been cast, Coleen

laine82		23-Sep-2005 16:51
It will one day return to beauty. In the meantime here is my vote.

J. Scott Coile		23-Sep-2005 15:50
For those of us who have enjoyed seeing this beautiful place through your eyes, this is quite painful. I hope you keep updating this gallery also. Others should see this instead of the loops the media runs. Quite personal. VOTE!

Guest		23-Sep-2005 15:49
Very sad about the swans. Indeed.

ewa toll		23-Sep-2005 05:55
yes indeed very sad

Dennis Hoyne		23-Sep-2005 04:27
A sad commentary, The imageswill help the healing.

Karen Leaf		23-Sep-2005 03:24
Thanks for these, Coleen. We had such a wonderful day there, and was worried about your beautiful oaks. They'll come back. They will.

Gayle P. Clement		23-Sep-2005 02:59
Very nice shots. It must have been very sad to see this. I am so glad the Pirate's Ship is okay. My children and grandchildren love it so much. I look forward to when we can all visit again.

Gayle Jenkins		23-Sep-2005 02:48
Coleen, thank you for sharing these. It is so sad. I hope that the oaks will survive and I pray that the swans are still there somewhere. When will this nightmare end?

Paul Dovie Jr		23-Sep-2005 00:14
so sad to see this, I hope and pray that the oak trees make it through being underwater for so long.

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