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Coleen Perilloux Landry | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Lafreniere Park tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Lafreniere Park

Lafreniere Park is located in Metairie, Louisiana, adjacent to New Orleans. It is situated in the middle of suburbia and nearby is a busy interstate highway. Formerly a horse racetrack known as Jefferson Downs this park offers something for everyone, from soccer fields and running tracks for the athletic to passive areas for viewing wildlife and water. It is a dedicated Bird Sanctuary. The Marsh area has an elevated walkway connecting several areas of the park with a gazebo along the way for quiet reflection. There is a beautiful carousel for the young and the young at heart.
It is a publicly owned park and citizens pay a monthly fee of $1.10 attached to their water bill for its upkeep. It was established in the mid 1970's and dedicated in the early 1980's.
If you click on the small image you will get the larger image. Usually there is a description underneath the picture. Please note there are many pages to this gallery.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the New Orleans metro area and Lafreniere Park suffered some minor tree losses and heavy waterfowl losses. Many of the egrets were hanging dead in the trees where they fled for safety. The Park was closed on August 26 and then used as a dumping ground for trees and tree debris picked up in Jefferson Parish. It was turned to mulch. As of today, January 11, 2006, the Park is still closed to the public. The ducks, swans, and geese that were so accustomed to people must wonder "where did everyone go."
The Park reopened to the public on March 3, 2006.

BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN AND READ THE STORIES UNDER THE PHOTOS, ESPECIALLY THE SHOTS AFTER KATRINA. THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS A PHOTO/JOURNAL.
December 11, 2008
December 11, 2008		 Pavilion at Sunset
Pavilion at Sunset		 Gazebo in Marsh Area
Gazebo in Marsh Area		 More water
More water
Roosters
Roosters		 Honoring fallen heroes on Veterans Day
Honoring fallen heroes on Veterans Day		 Soccer tournament
Soccer tournament		 Bird Sanctuary Sign
Bird Sanctuary Sign
Bright November Day
Bright November Day		 Lafreniere Park Carousel
Lafreniere Park Carousel		 January 2005
January 2005		 Lady Swan grazing
Lady Swan grazing
Nesting Swans
Nesting Swans		 So new so perfect
So new so perfect		 Love Birds
Love Birds		 Parterre Garden Plaque
Parterre Garden Plaque
LP Christmas lights
LP Christmas lights		 Lafreniere Park Christmas Lights
Lafreniere Park Christmas Lights		 Louisiana native irises
Louisiana native irises		 Wood Duck
Wood Duck
Swans in the Rain
Swans in the Rain		 Swans
Swans		 Lunch is Served-Sept. 16
Lunch is Served-Sept. 16		 Bewildered Birds
Bewildered Birds
October 19, 2005
October 19, 2005		 Hurricane Debris Site
Hurricane Debris Site		 We're Still Here October 19
"We're Still Here" October 19		 Damage from Hurricane Katrina
Damage from Hurricane Katrina
First Day of Spring 2006
First Day of Spring 2006		 New Goslings for Two Mammas
New Goslings for Two Mammas		 New Babies
New Babies		 Park at Sunrise
Park at Sunrise
Only Eleven Hours Old
Only Eleven Hours Old		 Lafreniere Park Swans Before Hurricane Katrina
::  Lafreniere Park Swans Before Hurricane Katrina :: 		Lafreniere Park Swans
:: Lafreniere Park Swans :: 		Unsubtle
Unsubtle
Volunteers Help Repair Damages of Katrina
Volunteers Help Repair Damages of Katrina		 Swan Babies and Their Parents of Spring 2007
Swan Babies and Their Parents of Spring 2007		 Where are those swans when I need them?
Where are those swans when I need them?		 Lafreniere's First Registered Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
Lafreniere's First Registered Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
Beginning of the Snowstorm of December 11, 2008
Beginning of the Snowstorm of December 11, 2008		 The Snowstorm of December 2008
The Snowstorm of December 2008		 The trees are wondering why they are cold
The trees are wondering why they are cold		 Snowball Fight
Snowball Fight
Poor Visibility
Poor Visibility		 Snowstorm of December 2008
Snowstorm of December 2008		 December 11, 2008
December 11, 2008		 God Bless America - Independence Day
God Bless America - Independence Day
Making Snow
Making Snow		 Mama Swan Cuts a Path Through the Ice for Her Cygnets
Mama Swan Cuts a Path Through the Ice for Her Cygnets		 Swan Makes its Way Through the Ice
Swan Makes its Way Through the Ice		 Beautiful Brown Rabbit
Beautiful Brown Rabbit
Dog Park Dedicated on January 7, 2012
Dog Park Dedicated on January 7, 2012		 Dogs Try out their New Park
Dogs Try out their New Park		 Live Oaks Planted on Marsh Island
Live Oaks Planted on Marsh Island		 Sunset Concert by Amanda Shaw
Sunset Concert by Amanda Shaw
Listening to the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Listening to the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra		 Spray Park Opening July 13, 2012
Spray Park Opening July 13, 2012		 Planting a Floating Island in Recycled Plastic covered With Cocoa matting
Planting a Floating Island in Recycled Plastic covered With Cocoa matting		 Putting the Floating Islands into the Water
Putting the Floating Islands into the Water
Floating islands planted with Vetiver, Louisiana Irises and one cypress tree
Floating islands planted with Vetiver, Louisiana Irises and one cypress tree		 Floating Islands Blooming with Irises
Floating Islands Blooming with Irises		 Peace
Peace

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Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro)05-May-2012 09:30
Extremely beautiful work...Vote
Paolo
Katy 25-Oct-2009 04:33
What a lovely gallery.
As I walked round the park today I was feeling exceedingly grateful that we have this beautiful space to enjoy, and that I live so near it! :)
Thank you to everyone who brought our park back to life after Katrina. Lafreniere is for everyone ...it is an oasis ..a place to re-connect with nature, each other, ourselves. It's a real treasure of our community.
Katelyn Shaw 08-Oct-2009 19:09
i love the parks natural beauty i love the the play area for me its my favorite. lafreniere is the beauty of metairie
Charlie King12-Feb-2009 05:53
Thanks for the beautiful gallery, Coleen. I live in Covington and find your detailed photo journey very interesting. Very good work that took much time; it is appreciated!
Tony 08-Feb-2009 01:09
Coleen, Thank you so much for these photos, and especially for your service to the park. I grew up on York St. in the 60’s and 70’s two blocks from the park. As young boys my brother, our friends, and I had many great adventures in the old abandoned Jefferson Downs Racetrack. As I remember, the racetrack was abandoned after Hurricane Betsy. It only took a few years for nature to claim the grounds with over growth. It was a different time then and we had free range over the neighborhood. We were admonished by my Mom to never go into ”the racetrack”. Being boys yearning for adventure we just couldn’t resist. (I am sorry to say we didn’t deserve her trust but we’ve come clean since). Many of the original buildings remained in place until the late 60’s. All of the buildings were surrounded by deep brush and over growth. Over the years we explored the abandoned stables, camera towers, offices, concession stands and eventually made our way to the old viewing stands. To young boys it was like finding evidence of a lost civilization. Some of the stables still had tack and tools on the walls. We once found reams of movie film strung through the trees and bushes that had images of horse races. Eventually most of the buildings were bulldozed. But the massive cement foundation for the viewing stands existed until the park construction began in the early 70s. It was a wild place, exciting for explorations, and probably not the safest place for young boys. After college I bought a duplex on Wytchwood Dr that backed onto the park, with the prospect of Lafreniere Park as my backyard. But I was transferred in early 80’s before I moved in, and eventually sold the property. I am nostalgic about those times. I am happy to see the park as a friendly and attractive place for the newest generation who live in the old Willowdale subdivision. You’ve done a good job.
John 27-Nov-2008 04:18
Thank you for these beautiful pictures. While I'm a LaFreniere, I'm originally from Marquette, Michigan. I hope to take my family to the park from here in TN some day. Thanks also to Katie Bowen LeCluyse & anyone else who helped landscape the park.isor at the park.
ken 22-May-2008 03:01
Thanks for the pictures..I too lived in the area in the early 60 s and would ride my bike fron akron avenue to the racetrack area. What a lovely transformation in present times even after Katrina.
Katie Bowen LeCluyse 13-Jan-2008 16:13
I've just spent an hour viewing your incredible photos. This page is so meaningful because I was the original Landscape Supervisor at the park. along with my small crew, we planted the original group of 350 trees in addition to grass and shrubs. I moved to Kansas 13 years ago and return to New Orleans 1-2 times a year to visit family. After Katrina, I drove by the park, saw the huge mounds of trash, kept going and cried. After seeing your beautiful pictures, I am going to go back and spend some time there. Thank you for sharing all of this.
krystal 03-Jul-2007 22:47
Beautiful Pictures!!!! My kids love to go to this park. Love the play area and feeding the ducks. Actually we are all going there tonight for the Uncle Sam firework display! Keep up the good work. Krystal B. (Destrehan,La.)
Ron Asp27-Aug-2006 16:15
Coleen, Its a pleasure comming and spending time in your gallery..so many interesting shots, they are all so good. Seems like every day there is a photo challenge out there...Its pretty rare when my camera is not with me or I am planning a photo outing. Thanks for sharing your photos. Ron
Sharon Gibson 10-May-2006 21:44
This is truly the best place for fun, relaxation and serenity. I miss this park so much. I have since moved to Texas and I have not found another place that compares. I am glad that it has reopened and I hope that other people can find what I found in this place. Keep up the good work. You are number 1 in my book. I can't wait until I visit home and return to the magical place where you can find peace. Thanks a million
nicole 29-Jan-2006 17:21
I live right near there s a kid i played everyday other there, i cant wait until im able to gte back in the park from after the hurrican.anyone knows when it'll open again
mike 27-Jan-2006 22:09
Hello Coleen:

Thank you for the great pictures. I lived in Metairie in the early 1960's and used to play in this area as a boy. It was a block from my house. At that time the race track was still there. The area surrounding the track was undeveloped and kind of wild. We called it "The Swamp". As a eight year old boy it was the perfect adventure playground but could be a bit dangerous. I cannot believe the transformation! I have lived in completely different part of the country for over 35 years and could have never made a virtual trip back to this place without your pictures. Thanks again.
Guest 20-Oct-2005 02:38
Fantastic gallery. The latest additions, showing the return of the area, are very lifting. There is never a short time perusing your galleries. Very nicely done. I will look forward to further updates.
Nunes BEIRAO - PHOTO02-Apr-2005 01:20
Hi, Coleen
I really enjoyed my time passing through this gallery, where I found some shots that are simply superb and wonderful. Just excellent!!!
Cheers from Portugal.
Rosi Blaurock27-Feb-2005 13:50
Beautiful gallery.
Guest 25-Feb-2005 18:35
EXCELLANT PARK PHOTOS, ESPECIALLY BIRD PHOTOS
Sheena Woodhead22-Jan-2005 15:15
An excellent gallery and a very beautiful park which certainly has a lot of opportunities for photographs.
J.Landry 19-Jan-2005 01:55
Very nice ... :-)
Tommy Junger14-Jan-2005 13:06
Wonderful place and beautiful photos
Dennis Steinauer22-Dec-2004 04:57
What a beautiful gallery -- what a beautiful park!
rosalie edwards 29-Nov-2004 00:35
I love park at dawn. How peaceful
Elaine (etfitz)19-Nov-2004 23:27
Beautiful gallery!
petesie19-Nov-2004 05:02
Wonderful gallery.
Gayle P. Clement18-Nov-2004 23:06
Quite a nice gallery!
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