Nothing raises my spirit more than seeing a beautiful tree blossom in the spring and, without fail it happens in New York City every year. This is one reason why I decided to write about the green spaces in New Orleans - all of which are located near Rathbone Mansions.

After considerable digging (no pun intended) I came up with seven spots that look special: five parks (one with a zoo) and two well-known squares. Let’s take a look.

City Park at One Palm Drive

Since it’s been in New Orleans for more than 150 years, this park stands as one of the oldest and most beautiful urban parks in the entire country. It covers 1,300 acres or said differently: it’s three miles long and one mile wide. City Park can also make this claim – it’s bigger than Central Park in New York. CLICK HERE to read more details about City Park and our description of the “Flying Horses” on the Carousel.

Your family or friends will love the live oaks, Spanish moss, waterways and bridges that reflect a slightly tamed version of the Louisiana wetlands (Bayou Metairie runs through the grounds).

Woldenberg Park at One Canal St.

This is a famous landmark that allows you to ride a bike, walk, jog or just sit back and take it easy. There’s lots of grass for picnicking and you’ll also find a number of benches that make perfect spots for a quick rest after a jaunt around town. Or, as one happy visitor relates, “It’s in an amazing location: the Mississippi River on one side and the French Quarter on another!

The Audubon Park at 6500 Audubon Park Trail

The Audubon Zoo is inside the Audubon Park, a great riverside park with 1.8 miles of a multi-use paved trail that winds beneath a shady canopy of live oaks. The zoo itself has wildlife from around the world, but the main attraction is the exhibit of local critters in a replica of a Louisiana swamp. Behind the zoo is The Fly, a waterfront section where folks toss Frisbees and chill out. Kids love this place.

Louis Armstrong Park at 701 N Rampart St.

This is a historic 32-acre public park a short distance from the French Quarter that sports a dramatic arched entrance you can’t miss. Inside there’s a 12 ft. statue of jazz great Louis Armstrong (the name sake for one of our beautiful suites at Rathbone Mansions) as well as the original Congo Square where slaves and free blacks gathered in the 19th century. It was a place where they could be Africans – if only for one afternoon a week.  

Alcee Fortier Park at 3100 Esplanade Ave.

This is a small, but nicely landscaped park on lovely Esplanade Avenue. The park sports lights, lanterns and funky furniture. One fan suggests, “Just grab a container of coffee from Fair Grinds or wine from Swirl and head over to this park to chill out.”

Jackson Square at 701 Decatur St.

This square is named after the Battle of New Orleans hero Andrew Jackson and is surrounded by historic buildings, including the St. Louis Cathedral and the Upper Pontalba Apartments, the oldest building of this type in the U.S. This is a favorite site for visitors, locals and artists who display their work on the Square’s iron fence. Directly in front you’ll find mule-drawn carriages with drivers who will ask if you’d like to ride around the French Quarter. At $40 a person for one hour I’ll walk – sorry.

Lafayette Square at 602 Camp St.

Guess what? Here’s another historic square that’s been around forever: 195 years to be exact. (I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing ever gets thrown out or torn down in New Orleans – it all gets patched up to “hang on” by hook or by crook.) Lafayette is right in the heart of the Central Business District (CBD). It’s a great place to relax and face the next God Knows How Many Years. Tip: Just patch up and keep trucking.

Shaun Nelson-Henrick