RTC TrailBlog : lafitte

RTC Works to Engage Supporters of New Orleans Greenway

Jake Lynch — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:46:00 GMT

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has been closely involved with the efforts of New Orleans residents to incorporate rail-trail projects into the rebuilding of their city in the years after Hurricane Katrina.

The latest initiative is a "Greenway Ambassadors" program for the Lafitte Corridor, a 3.1-mile section of inactive railroad line and former portage canal that will soon be rejuvenated as a commuter and recreational rail-trail and linear park. Greenway Ambassadors work to engage interested citizens in the creation and management of the Lafitte Corridor, which would provide a crucial link downtown and, organizers hope, help revitalize neighborhoods along the greenway.

Kelly Pack, manager of trail development for RTC, proposed the Greenway Ambassadors program to Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC) earlier this year as a means of empowering and educating those who were interested in the corridor's development and wanted to stay involved.

RTC and FOLC prepared a Greenway Ambassadors training program and packet containing information about the corridor's history and the greenway planning process.

"The Ambassadors program provides a stronger voice for the greenway," Pack says. "Even with all the communication tools available to advocacy groups today, conversations between neighbors and friends can still be one of the most powerful ways to capture people's interest."

This coming Saturday, April 16, Greenway Ambassadors will lead tours of the corridor at "Hike the Lafitte Corridor," an annual event organized by FOLC (register now if you'd like to take part in the hike).

RTC has also worked with FOLC to create fun activity stations along the corridor on Saturday. Visitors doing the hike can stop and play volleyball or other group sports, and speak with the team designing plans for this exciting new greenway. Pack hopes that after the hike the Greenway Ambassadors program can be expanded to engage residents and local businesses with the greenway design process.

Learn more about the Greenway Ambassadors program, including how to sign up and get involved.

Photo: RTC and FOLC members along the Lafitte Corridor, by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Trail Voices: Edgar Chase

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:44:00 GMT

Edgar Chase is always moving. "I used to be a runner," says the New Orleans native and former Marine Corps captain. Now 62, he and his wife Alva are looking to keep active as they get older. "I can't run like I used to," he says, so instead he and Alva "walk every day, and we don't miss a day. And when my knee acts up too much, I ride the bike." But for Chase, walking and biking are about more than staying healthy. It's a way to get around town.

After raising children in suburban New Orleans East, the Chases were drawn closer to the city's heart by family connections and a desire to have daily necessities within easy reach. Chase's parents live in the city's Tremé neighborhood, and his family's business, Dooky Chase restaurant, is in Lafitte. The couple settled in nearby Mid-City. "We have small retail shopping districts--neighborhood grocery stores, neighborhood pharmacy stores, neighborhood churches," Chase says. There's no need "to use an interstate highway to go to shop. We could walk, we could bicycle."

Chase began bicycling in 2005, before Hurricane Katrina hit the city. After the storm, he began riding more--to community meetings, to festivals. Spurred on by his wife, Chase became involved with Friends of Lafitte Corridor, a group advocating for a rail-trail through Chase's neighborhood that would connect the French Quarter to City Park. He eventually joined the group's board of directors. "The whole point of the greenway," he explains, "is to encourage people...to use bicycling and walking to go to shops, to go to restaurants, to do everyday living." Chase sees the greenway not only as a way to revitalize local businesses, but to bring more families to the area, who, like him, "would like to have safe spots for our grandkids to bicycle, for us to walk every day."

Chase has passed bicycling on to his twin sons, as well. Now 35, they both commute to work by bike. "They have cars," Chase says, "but they like to bike because they don't have time to get in the exercise they normally would." It's an excellent way to make time to stay fit," he says, especially if, like his sons, "you're a busy person and you're raising young kids."

But Chase says his sons will bike the city's streets even when he won't. "They're a little braver than I am. Sometimes they work late into the evening, but they'll ride their bikes." That's where Chase draws the line. "I don't ride my bike at dark, because I'm afraid of getting hit by a truck. There's a little bit of danger so you have to be careful."

"I like to ride in a safe area," he says. "It's hard to find streets with bike paths." Chase enjoys riding on Gentilly Boulevard because of its bike lane. "We don't have that on Broad Street, we don't have that on Carrollton Avenue, we don't have that on Tulane Avenue, we don't have that on Nashville Avenue. We have to cross bridges," which, Chase notes, can be difficult to traverse on a bike. "There's no bike path over the Broad Street overpass. Then I turn on Nashville; there's no bike path there. There's no bike path on Tchoupitoulas. We need it on all those streets," he says. And once you arrive at your destination, Chase says, "There aren't enough bike racks for you to safely park your bike. I think that's something we can improve on."

As the city rebuilds its streets, he says, "We're building back better." Some now include dedicated bike lanes. Despite the city's progress, there is still a long road to achieving the vision Edgar Chase shares with many of his fellow New Orleanians. "We could get back and forth to those essential neighborhood services by bicycling or walking if we had some secure bicycling or walking paths. It's a beautiful city here in New Orleans, and the people are very friendly. We just need to develop the infrastructure."

Photo courtesy Edgar Chase

Join RTC at Walk & Roll Louisiana 2010

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:31:00 GMT

Join Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) for Walk & Roll Louisiana 2010, a free, one-day summit on walking and biking sponsored by the KidsWalk Coalition.

REGISTER TODAY - IT'S FREE!

The summit-the first of its kind in Louisiana-will feature free helmets and bicycle safety trainings for kids, keynote speakers, workshops on ways to improve community streets, and panels on recent progress at the local and state levels on making our streets safer for all users.

In addition, RTC staff will be presenting the results of the community volunteer walk/bike audit of neighborhoods surrounding the planned Lafitte Corridor Greenway in New Orleans.

Register today to join the movement for safer streets, enjoy a free lunch, and get a chance to win a bicycle and other prizes by visiting the summit website or calling 504.988.7778.

Louisiana Green Corps Youth Help Plan Lafitte Corridor

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:41:00 GMT

By Ethan Ellestad

As a teenager, it is often hard enough to get your voice heard, let alone be taken seriously. Yet, on a hot day in late June, more than 30 young people from the Louisiana Green Corps set out on a tour of the Lafitte Greenway to prove that their opinions and ideas were just as valid as anyone’s twice their age.

Every summer, the Louisiana Green Corps, a non-profit dedicated to providing green job skills training to unemployed, underemployed or otherwise disadvantaged New Orleans youth, host an intensive six week summer program for 14 and 15 year old students.

As a part of this program, members of the Green Corps set their sights on creating a more youth-friendly Lafitte Greenway. On a sun-drenched June day, the group began with some basic maintenance, picking up bits of trash and cutting back the most overgrown areas.

Soon, however, they moved into the bulk of the day’s work. Walking down a stretch of the Greenway, the students took note of the existing assets and imagined the possibilities. One noted that a pair of abandoned tennis courts could be turned into basketball courts. Another suggested that a well-placed snoball stand would be a great way for residents to beat the summer heat. Many of the young people, pointing out the lack of infrastructure along the way, thought several rest stops would provide both shade and a place for people to gather along the path.

Throughout the day, a common refrain was the lack of recreational activities youth currently have in the city. It was agreed that the Greenway, if designed with the needs of young people in mind, could help fill that gap. After a day visiting the actual site of the Greenway, the participating youth then spent the following few days in the classroom, discussing how, if given the chance, they would design the space. Conversations jumped from topic to topic, including such issues as public safety, environmental sustainability, and, of course, recreation. On the final day of the exercise, groups of students presented their ideas, two of which—Lafitte Going Green and Lafitte Corridor Rest Stop—are available online.

Many thanks are due to the Louisiana Green Corps for helping facilitate this effort, and also all the youth who participated. It remains important that young people have their voices heard in the design process, as they are the ones who can best articulate their own needs. If you have a youth group that may want to participate in similar efforts, please e-mail Lafitte Greenway Community Outreach Coordinator Ethan Ellestad at lafittegreenway@gmail.com.

This post is a modified version of theoriginal, posted at the website of RTC partner Friends of Lafitte Corridor. Photo by Gregory Aycock/Louisiana Green Corps.

Watch: The Story of a Local Trail Effort in New Orleans

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:48:00 GMT

As part of the Urban Pathways to Livable Communities conference in New Orleans, a walk of the Lafitte Corridor introduced attendees to the Crescent City's own urban pathway project. The first stop on the walk was hosted by Bart Everson of Friends of Lafitte Corridor and Daniel Samuels of the Lafitte Greenway Steering Advisory Committee. In this audio slideshow, they provide some background on the history of the corridor itself and the effort to convert it to a multi-use greenway.

Join Us in New Orleans for Urban Pathways to Livable Communities

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:11:00 GMT

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is proud to present a unique opportunity to meet other professionals working to encourage trail use and livable neighborhoods. RTC is one of the hosts of Urban Pathways to Livable Communities, a two-part conference in New Orleans, February 25-26, 2010. Day 1 is an invitation-only forum for professionals working to encourage use of shared-use pathways in low-income urban neighborhoods. We will discuss trail amenities and programming, engaging diverse constituencies, reducing crime and improving traffic safety. Day 2 takes a broader look at the issues of livability across the nation and on the federal level. The latest conference information and pre-registration can be found at www.railstotrails.org/conference.

Day 1, hosted by RTC's Urban Pathways Initiative, includes a walking workshop along the Lafitte Corridor, a greenway project in New Orleans. For a preview of the corridor, the promise it holds and the challenges it faces - issues common to urban pathways across the nation - listen to this piece which is airing today on WWOZ, posted by Friends of Lafitte Corridor:

New Orleans Success Story Smells Opportunity with Nearby Trail

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:36:00 GMT

By Ethan Ellestad

Located at 2401 St. Ann Street, just two blocks off the path of the Lafitte Greenway, Willie Mae's Scotch House has been a culinary institution for more than 50 years. Willie Mae Seaton, the restaurant's namesake and proprietress for most of its long history, originally opened the famous business in 1956. By 2005, Willie Mae's was locally and nationally famous for its exquisite fried chicken, smothered pork chops, butter beans and other southern specialties. In May of the same year, the small, family-owned restaurant achieved what most other eateries can only dream about - it was honored by the James Beard Foundation, dubbed the "Oscars of the Food World" by Time magazine. Willie Mae Seaton was also honored at City Hall for her contributions to the city of New Orleans. Yet, only three months later, Hurricane Katrina flooded the restaurant, kitchen and bar with four feet of water, throwing the institution's future into doubt. With assistance from the Southern Foodways Alliance, the Seaton family reopened Willie Mae's Scotch House in April of 2007.

Upon reopening, Ms. Seaton turned over the daily operation of the restaurant to the able hands of her granddaughter, Kerry Seaton. Since that time, the accolades have continued, and Willie Mae's has been featured by the Food Network, which bestowed the honor of "America's Best Fried Chicken," the Travel Channel and Bon Appetit magazine. This increase in national attention has led to an increasing number of tourists stopping in for the famous fried chicken, though New Orleans natives still make up a large portion of the daily clientele. Celebrities, too, have made the pilgrimage to Willie Mae's, including Spike Lee, Magic Johnson, sports analyst Tony Kornheiser, R&B singers Genuine and Drake, and numerous actors and actresses.

The younger Ms. Seaton sees a bright future for Willie Mae's Scotch House, but she would love to see more traffic in the area. She envisions the section of the Treme and the Seventh Ward surrounding the restaurant transformed into a culinary and entertainment district, "where people come out in the evening and enjoy themselves, just like they do Uptown or in Mid-City." An increase of interest in the area, due in no small part to the Willie Mae's acclaimed cuisine, as well as the impending construction of the Lafitte Greenway, may soon make this vision a reality.

This post is a shortened version of the original, posted at the website of RTC partner StayLocal! New Orleans. Photo by Ethan Ellestad.

Presentation Provides Introduction to the Lafitte Corridor

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:45:00 GMT

Friends of Lafitte Corridor

View more presentations from Bart Everson.

Our partners in New Orleans, Friends of Lafitte Corridor, recently posted the latest version of their standard presentation about the corridor. It also explains the benefits of greenways and provides some great examples of urban pathways across North America.

Trail Group Looks Beyond the Trail in Quest to Encourage Neighborhood Revitalization

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:12:00 GMT

While trails bring many benefits to the neighborhoods they traverse, they do not act in isolation. Neighborhood revitalization requires allied groups working on a variety of different projects. RTC partner Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC) understands this connection. It recently issued two letters of support for redevelopment projects adjacent to the Lafitte Corridor, a three-mile project rail-trail through the Mid-City, Treme and Lafitte neighborhoods of New Orleans.

Local nonprofit St. Margaret's is looking to convert the former Mercy Hospital site into a senior living facility; FOLC notes in its letter of support that "the addition of senior living facilities in this site will add value to the corridor and provide opportunities to serve constituents that are sometimes left out of public open space and recreation projects." The other project receiving a letter of support from FOLC is a proposal from Broad Community Connections to redevelop an abandoned supermarket near the corridor as a grocery, urban farm and commercial food service kitchen.

The impact of a trail - and of a trail group - extends beyond the borders of the trail corridor. FOLC's letters of support set an example for trail groups across the country: when the goals of related projects align with those of a trail project, it's worthwhile to work together and support each other's efforts.

In other news, Friends of Lafitte Corridor is having a fundraiser this Sunday. If you are in New Orleans, sign up and support this great organization.

Chain links: Back to school time

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:10:00 GMT

It's that time of year; vacation is over and the books are waiting to be cracked. The Onion's Twin Cities edition - no joke - encourages its readers to go back to school car-free and carefree along the Midtown Greenway.
Trails spur small businesses in urban areas: The Dallas Morning News reports on a new cafe slated to open next month along the Katy Trail, serving "snacks and drinks, including wine and beer. Games, such as checkers and chess, will be free to use." The business owner was enticed to set up shop after using the trail and seeing how many people on the trail could become potential customers. Friends of the Katy Trail is in full support.
The Trust for Public land has partnered with the City of New Orleans to purchase an 18-acre parcel along the Lafitte Greenway. Blogroll member Friends of Lafitte Corridor links to the Times-Picayune article and the TPL press release about the purchase.
Plans are moving forward for replacement of the Betzwood Bridge, which connected Valley Forge National Park and the Schuylkill River Trail. The bridge was closed in 1993.
Portland, Oregon's Metro regional government has submitted four major bicycle infrastructure projects for U.S. DOT stimulus funds, including a proposal to construct the Cazadero Trail between the Springwater Corridor and Mt. Hood, allowing a continuous nonmotorized route for city residents to access nearby wilderness. Support for improved trails are strong in this area; the town of Boring, which will be the connection point between the two trails, recently hosted a fundraiser for construction of a trailhead park there.

Photo: The race is on along the Katy Trail in Dallas to capitalize on the economic potential of this urban trail. Photo by snowboard9 on Flickr.

Community members envision the Lafitte Greenway - before the planning process has even begun

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:51:00 GMT

The Lafitte Greenway in New Orleans is one of the trails receiving in-depth assistance from RTC as part of the Urban Pathways Initiative. Progress on the trail continues apace - after hosting a successful corridor hike on National Trails Day, more recent advances are summed up in a recent article from the Greater New Orleans Foundation:

The city has selected Design Workshop of Austin, Texas, to plan and design the project, which will—everyone hopes—break ground next year, and the state has committed $2.6 million from federal Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery funds and $398,000 of state funds for the project.

Also, Bart Everson, president of Friends of Lafitte Corridor, was interviewed by youth in a local job-training program - and they had a few suggestions for trail amenities they wanted included along the greenway:

Playgrounds along the pathway
Guardrails along the canal for safety reasons
Information signs about ecology, solar energy, energy conservation placed alongside the trail
Water fountains
Food stands/beverage machines along the trail
Trash cans, recycling containers placed along the trail to avoid litter
Plastic bag dispensers to avoid dog “bombs” along the trail
Benches, picnic tables, social areas located along the trail

Some of those suggestions - especially the ones involving benches, social areas, food and beverage - might receive a warm reception from Billy Wright, a local restaurant owner who is already anticipating the improved business and community spirit that will accompany the completed trail. He was interviewed by WGNO-TV, which found him bubbling over with ideas and enthusiasm:

Meet the Lafitte Greenway

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:16:00 GMT

The Lafitte Greenway is one of seven projects receiving in-depth assistance as part of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Urban Pathways Initiative. This video by Charlie London provides a brief introduction, featuring video of the successful National Trails Day event held by Friends of Lafitte Corridor.