Lincoln Park, located in the historic neighborhood of Central City in New Orleans, was once a vibrant community gathering place with a rich history dating back to the late 1800s. However, in recent years, the park has fallen into disrepair and has become an abandoned, neglected space. In this blog post, we will explore the history of Lincoln Park, its decline, and the efforts to revive this important public space.
History of Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park was originally established in the late 1800s as an important gathering place for the African American community in New Orleans. The park was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln and served as a venue for picnics, concerts, and other community events. In the early 1900s, the park underwent a major renovation, including constructing a large pavilion that hosted concerts and other events.
Over the years, Lincoln Park continued to serve as an important cultural hub for the Central City neighborhood. It was a gathering place for jazz musicians, who would often perform at the pavilion, and it also served as a venue for political rallies and civil rights demonstrations.
Decline of Lincoln Park
Unfortunately, in the 1970s, Lincoln Park began to fall into disrepair. The pavilion was damaged in a fire and was never rebuilt, and the park became neglected and overgrown. In the decades that followed, the park became a site of illegal dumping, drug use, and other criminal activity. The park was closed to the public in the 1990s, and it has remained closed ever since.
Revitalization Efforts
Despite its long period of neglect, there are efforts underway to revive Lincoln Park and restore it to its former glory. In 2014, a group of local activists formed the Friends of Lincoln Park, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and improving the park. Since then, the organization has been working to raise awareness of the park’s history and to advocate for its restoration.
In 2019, the Friends of Lincoln Park partnered with the Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit organization that works to create and protect public parks and other natural spaces. Together, the two organizations developed a plan to restore Lincoln Park and make it a safe and welcoming space for the community.
The plan includes a number of improvements to the park, such as the installation of new playground equipment, the construction of a new pavilion, and the creation of a walking path and community garden. The project is still in the planning and fundraising stage, but the hope is that the park will be fully restored and reopened to the public in the near future.
Conclusion
Lincoln Park has a rich history and cultural significance for the Central City neighborhood in New Orleans. Although it has suffered from decades of neglect, there are efforts underway to revive and restore this important public space. With the help of dedicated activists and nonprofit organizations, it is hoped that Lincoln Park will once again be a vibrant community gathering place and a source of pride for the residents of New Orleans.
abandoned new orleans 