Here at Breakwater Park, can you feel the gentle breeze? This waterfront park sits on a peninsula. It is located on Lake Pontchartrain’s shore in New Orleans’ West End. Breakwater Park offers grassy areas. A pathway and benches dot the landscape.
Breakwater Park provides amazing views of the lake. Many say it is one of the most perfect places to watch the sunset. The sounds of waves crashing against the rocks add to the experience.
Originally, the West End began as a resort location in 1835. Jetties extended into the lake from the New Basin Canal’s mouth. That’s near Robert E. Lee and West End Boulevard today. Seafood restaurants on stilts were original attractions. Fishing thrived in marshy swamplands and cypress groves.
Between 1871 and 1880, the city drained much of the marshy land. This allowed further development. In 1880, the neighborhood’s name changed to West End. Before that, it was called New Lake End. Vernacular lakefront architecture gradually disappeared. New recreational, residential, and institutional structures replaced it.
The city undertook an ambitious land reclamation project in 1921. A seawall was built 500 feet out from the shoreline. Sediment pumped from the lake bottom filled the area. This created the 30-acre West End Park. Breakwater Park is part of this area.
West End is rectilinear in plan. The 17th Street Canal borders it to the west. Veterans Boulevard is to the south. Pontchartrain Boulevard is to the east. Lake Pontchartrain is to the north.
The southernmost two-thirds of West End are residential. Gridded streets feature single-family detached homes. Notable public spaces include Fleur de Lis Park and New Basin Canal Park.
The northern third consists of marinas and green space. This is for recreation, including West End Park and Breakwater Park. Storms, especially Hurricane Katrina, have damaged lakefront structures. Abandoned stilts mark where restaurants and recreational facilities once stood. The New Canal Lighthouse marks the entrance to the remaining fragment of the New Basin Canal. It was relocated to its current site in 1910.
One can enjoy views of the Causeway from Breakwater Park. The Causeway is the world’s longest continuous bridge. It stretches from one side of the lake to the other.
Remember Breakwater Park. It is more than just a park. It is a place where the city meets the lake. It’s a testament to New Orleans’ history and resilience. It’s where you can relax and enjoy the sunset.