Sankofa Wetland Park
& Nature Trail
a long-term recovery project to improve protection
from hurricanes and flooding
in the Lower Ninth Ward.
In 2014, Sankofa Community Development Corporation (CDC) identified an opportunity to develop 40 acres of wetlands in the Lower Ninth Ward to help with flood protection, as well as environmental education, community revitalization, economic development, and recreation for all to enjoy.
Through a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (“CEA”) with the City of New Orleans, Sankofa gained rights to the site and has worked to transform it from an area of blight and illegal dumping to a vast ecological wonder with Louisiana native wildlife, flora, and fauna returning in droves to the area.
Early in the project, Sankofa CDC held a series of public meetings with Caufield Consulting and National Parks Service’s Rivers Trails and Conservation Program to collaborate with community members on the planning and design of the Wetland Park. The project was planned with community members giving input on the amenities that would be included. Sankofa compiled reports on the community planning and engagement process. Meetings were held with community members at Christopher Homes – Villa at St. Maurice Senior Housing, Caffin Avenue International Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the New Orleans Recreation Department’s Sanchez Center. Additionally, Sankofa CDC shared plans with neighborhood groups, including: A Community Voice, Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood Association, Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development, and Holy Cross Neighborhood Association.
Project plans for the Wetland Park & Nature Trail have been reviewed and approved by the City of New Orleans’ City Planning and Design Review Committee, Department of Public Works, Property Management, Mosquito and Termite Board, Parks and Parkways, Office of Sustainability, City Attorney, City Council District E, Sewerage and Water Board and the Department of Infrastructure.
The Wetland Park & Nature Trail: A Collaborative Effort
Download the Sankofa Wetland Park – Engagement Meeting Summary.
Sankofa and its contractors are working together with the Coastal Protection Restoration Authority, Levee Board, Sewerage and Water Board, Department of Public Works, Senator Joseph Bouie, City of New Orleans Department of Infrastructure, Councilman Oliver Thomas and the Army Corps of Engineers Silver Jackets Program on infrastructure developments at the site.
Sankofa is working in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, and LA Green Corps to bring environmental justice resources to the project in the form of education, advocacy, and workforce development. Additionally, Sankofa is a member of the Climate Action Equity Project Advisory Group with Deep South Center for Environmental Justice and other partners.
Sankofa has received approval from Norfolk Southern Railroad to develop the area with plans to remain off the railroad’s right-of-way and create a barrier between public access and the railroad.
Sankofa is proud to plan for full Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility throughout the entire design for equitable public access.
The project is included in the City of New Orleans and FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Sankofa Wetland Park Monitoring Reports
Download the Sankofa Wetland Park 2024 Q2 Monitoring Report
Download the Sankofa Wetland Park 2024 Q1 Monitoring Report
Download the Sankofa Wetland Park 2023 Monitoring Report
Download the Sankofa Wetland Park 2023 Q4 Monitoring Report
Download the Sankofa Wetland Park 2023 Q3 Monitoring Report
Download the Sankofa Wetland Park 2023 Q2 Monitoring Report
Download the Sankofa Wetland Park 2023 Q1 Monitoring Report
Download the Sankofa Wetland Park 2022 Monitoring Report
This document was created by Robert R. Lane, PhD at Comite Resources and outlines sampling design, water quality measurements, avian survey, and more.
You can sponsor a Tree at the Sankofa Wetland Park & Nature Trail!
By sponsoring a tree, you will help restore the spirit of “sankofa” to the Lower Ninth Ward community and help create sustainability for multiple generations of residents and visitors to enjoy the Sankofa Wetland Park and Nature Trail.
View and download The Wetland Park: A Community Resilience Project.
You can read more information on the health, education, and economic impact of the Sankofa Wetland Park and Nature Trail.
Outdoor Recreation
Wetland
Education
Wildlife
& Birdwatching
Meditation
& Relaxation
Native Trees
& Plantlife
Wetland Park Education
The Wetland Park offers outdoor recreation, STEM education, and green infrastructure job training with hiking, biking, natural play, fishing, birding, and canoeing. The Wetland Park also hosts workforce development programs with green infrastructure skills training and career development.
Green Infrastructure
The Sankofa Wetland Park & Nature Trail project is restoring 40 acres of a deteriorated natural area adjacent to the Bayou Bienvenue Triangle into a bald cypress-water tupelo wetland habitat.
By improving the green infrastructure, we ensure that the community is resilient and competitive for sustainable future growth. It establishes a fundamental building block of a prosperous and innovation-centric economy in the Lower Ninth Ward and secures a platform for further business growth in the area.
Check out the Sankofa Wetland Park and Nature Trail Master Plan for this project.
For decades, this section of Florida Avenue was an eyesore in the Lower 9th Ward. It was an area of blight and illegal dumping. Through Sankofa’s leadership, the area is being developed. As a resident of the Lower 9th Ward, I am thankful for the work Sankofa has completed in the transformation of area of neglect into an area of beauty. I am excited about the positive impact it will have on our community.
Wetlands create a habitat for plants and provide shelter and food for butterflies, birds and other wildlife. Trees cool the environment, clean the air and absorb rainwater. The trees, plants and wetland features in this park function together to slow and clean stormwater runoff.
The groundwater is then recharged, which reduces the effects of land subsidence, which occurs when the clay soils typically found in New Orleans become dry and shrink. The Baldcypress and Water Tupelo trees planted on this wetland park stand strong during hurricanes and protect neighborhoods.
This wetland park also offers an opportunity for stress release and relaxation in a nature setting. Studies have shown that green spaces improve the mental health of those who use them regularly. Built within a community affected by stressors and blight, this wetland park creates a vital outlet for community members. Visitors will enjoy taking short, leisurely visits to spend time in nature. The park offers nature walk tours to call forth to people a sense of joy, grandeur, and humility. Visitors to the space will be in the presence of nature, notice their senses, and develop an awareness of their surroundings.
