Audubon Park

Historic Origins

Nestled in the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans, Audubon Park spreads across 350 acres of lush greenery - a peaceful escape from the city's energetic streets. What's now a cherished park was actually a plantation back in the 18th and early 19th centuries, until the city purchased the land in 1871 and transformed it into a public space for everyone to enjoy.

In 1886, the park was named after John James Audubon, the famous naturalist who called New Orleans home during the 1820s. Pretty cool to think about walking the same grounds as such a legendary figure, right?

Looking south from the bridge across the lagoon

Photo: Ron Shafrir (CC BY 2.0)

Landscape Design

The park's beautiful layout didn't happen by accident. The Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm - kind of like the rock stars of park design in their day - influenced its development, with John Charles Olmsted creating a master plan in 1898. While not everything from his vision made it to reality, you can still see much of his original concept in the lagoons and central meadow that define the park today.

What truly makes Audubon Park special are its magnificent live oak trees. Some of these giants have been standing for over 250 years, creating gorgeous tree-lined paths around the park. With Spanish moss hanging from their branches, these trees give the park that quintessential Southern charm. If you're looking for a moment of peace, head to the Tree of Life, an especially impressive oak near the river that has become something of a natural sanctuary.

Large trees provide shade

Photo: Scarlet Sappho (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Recreation and Wildlife

The 1.7-mile paved jogging path that loops around the park works well for both fitness enthusiasts and those who prefer a leisurely stroll. The one-way design keeps everyone moving safely in the same direction - a thoughtful touch for all who use it. If you'd rather avoid the crowd, a 2.2-mile unpaved dirt path runs around the park's outer perimeter and tends to be considerably quieter.

The park's lagoons aren't just pretty to look at - they're teeming with life. Ochsner Island, regarded as one of the top birding destinations in the greater New Orleans area, draws large numbers of wading birds during nesting season, including great egrets, snowy egrets, cattle egrets, ibis, little blue herons, and night herons. Diving birds like double-crested cormorants and anhingas also frequent the lagoon, and black-bellied whistling ducks are a regular sight during winter migration. Keep your eyes peeled for ducks, swans, and turtles as you wander through the park.

A flock of ducks gathers around a bench by the water's edge

Photo: 123 Chroma Pixels (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Evolution and Attractions

Audubon Park has reinvented itself many times over the years. It was even the site of the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition back in 1884-1885, and in the early 1900s, a zoo was established within its grounds. One tangible link to that 1884 fair still survives in the park today: a large iron ore rock that originally formed part of the Alabama State exhibit, and is thought to be the only known surviving physical artifact from the event. Local legend has long - and incorrectly - identified it as a meteorite.

Today, the Audubon Zoo remains one of the park's biggest attractions. But there's so much more to do here - from playing a round on the golf course to letting the kids loose on several playgrounds, or enjoying a match on the tennis courts or soccer fields. If you're into fitness, you'll appreciate the outdoor workout stations scattered along the paths.

One of the park's sports fields carries a name with a somber history. David Berger - Avenger Field was renamed by the New Orleans city council in 2002 to honor David Mark Berger, a Tulane University graduate and athlete who was killed during the 1972 Munich Olympic Games hostage crisis.

Visitors feed white ibis right across from Bird Island

Photo: Rudi Riet (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Riverside Experience

Don't miss what locals affectionately call "The Fly" - a section of the park along the Mississippi River offering views of the water. The nickname has an interesting origin: in the 1960s, a modernist viewing shelter with a distinctive butterfly shape was built along the riverfront here, but it was badly damaged when a river vessel struck it on a foggy morning and was eventually demolished in the 1980s. The name, however, has outlasted the structure by decades.

It's a great spot to catch a sunset, watch massive ships navigate the river, or simply enjoy a picnic while the mighty Mississippi flows by. There's something incredibly calming about sitting by the water as the day winds down.

The Audobon Park Lagoon is adjacent to the golf course

Photo: 123 Chroma Pixels (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Community Space

The park's location near Tulane and Loyola universities brings a youthful energy to the space, with students and professors often seen reading under trees or jogging along the paths.

From spreading out a blanket beneath the shade of century-old oaks to kicking a soccer ball around, Audubon Park offers something for everyone. Dog lovers will be happy to know their leashed four-legged friends are welcome too. Several covered pavilions and picnic areas with tables make it easy to plan anything from a solo lunch break to a full family reunion.

With clean restrooms, convenient water stations, and plenty of parking, Audubon Park is one of New Orleans' most treasured green spaces - a place where the city's rich history and natural beauty come together.