About City Park: At 1,300 acres, City Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country. Located in the heart of New Orleans, it holds a special place in the hearts of generations of New Orleanians and is a must see for visitors to the city – hosting 11 million each year. In 2005, City Park sustained $43 million dollars in damages from Hurricane Katrina. However, its staffing level shrunk from 260 to just over 65. Volunteers are essential for the recovery of the Park and for the Park to take its place in the cultural and recreational rebirth of New Orleans.
Vital to Wetland Restoration Across the State
City Park is also vital to the restoration of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands. Many small-scale wetland plantings in City Park serve as mini-habitats for biologists and scientists to learn how new species will react to coastal environments. The park is home to Wetland Plant Center - a greenhouse that nurtures and incubates wetland plants that are used to restore Louisiana’s precious coast.
The Unique Opportunity
On Saturday, November 1, 2008 – volunteers from around the state will help at the Wetland Plant Center by planting wetland plants that will be used in later restoration projects, organizing the growing space and greenhouse, and planting wetland plants around the park.
In the wakes of hurricanes Ike and Gustav, much of Louisiana’s coast is inaccessible. But once volunteers can get back to the coast, the plants grown at the Wetland Plant Center will be a vital resource for restoration activities. This activity will happen rain or shine, so please instruct volunteers dress for inclement weather and to wear clothes that can get dirty.
We can accommodate up to 20 volunteers. We believe this activity would be an ideal for formal announcement of the partnership between Allstate Green and America’s WETLAND Conservation Corps. New Orleans is the largest media market in Louisiana, and the America’s WETLAND Foundation has a proven track record of successful media engagement.
Hope You Can Come and Help Us Out at City Park:
Contact AWCC Members: Gary Decossas or Lindsay Bordelon if you have any questions
Gary Decossas
gdecos1@lsu.edu
(225) 317-3009
Lindsay Bordelon
lborde6@lsu.edu
(985) 707-6058