Wow. Look at these majestic live oaks. Some are almost 800 years old. They stand in Ney Rey Park a small part of the much larger New Orleans City Park. Did you know this incredible park started with just 100 acres? John McDonogh willed that land to the city in 1854. It was once the Allard Plantation. Imagine enslaved people working those very fields. The land officially became Ney Rey Park part of City Park much later.
New Orleans City Park itself is massive. It’s over 170 years old a mile wide and three miles long. It’s one of the largest urban parks in the entire country. It boasts the world’s largest collection of mature live oaks. They survived hurricanes floods and the Great Depression. The Works Progress Administration invested millions. It employed thousands creating roads fountains and even Tad Gormley Stadium. Much of the park’s art dates from that era.
Hurricane Katrina devastated City Park in 2005. Ninety-five percent of it was underwater for weeks. The damage cost millions to repair. But the community rallied. Volunteers poured in to restore this beloved green space. They replanted trees and rebuilt infrastructure. Ney Rey Park along with the rest of the park is a testament to community resilience.
Today Ney Rey Park offers a place to relax escape the city and connect with nature. You can easily spend a relaxing afternoon under the shade of ancient oaks. You can admire the park’s beauty and the amazing resilience of the people who kept it alive. Think about the history contained in these trees. Think about all the people who have enjoyed Ney Rey Park through the decades. That’s the legacy of this very special place. Enjoy your time in Ney Rey Park. Remember its past as you appreciate its present.