About Lafitte Greenway
Lafitte Greenway is a revitalized urban green space, built on a former railroad, offering a unique blend of nature and city life. It provides a long, continuous path for walking and biking across New Orleans, connecting major attractions like the French Quarter and City Park. Families benefit from diverse amenities including playgrounds, sports courts, and public art, making it an excellent free outdoor recreational option.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking active and free outdoor recreation like biking, walking, or playing sports together.Parents looking for diverse play options including playgrounds, sports courts, and scenic paths.Families interested in exploring New Orleans neighborhoods and connecting major city attractions on foot or by bicycle.Relaxing family strolls amidst a blend of nature and urban scenery.Weekend family outings and recreation, as it's used by families with children.
Why families love it
- Continuous bicycle and walking path spanning from Basin Street to Carrollton Avenue, ideal for long excursions.
- Features dedicated playgrounds and a 'kids place', catering specifically to younger children.
- Offers various sports facilities including basketball and tennis courts.
- Equipped with outdoor gyms and fitness equipment for adult and teen exercise.
- Showcases scenic beauty with majestic oak trees and 'beautiful houses' along the path.
- Adorned with vibrant public street art, adding a cultural element to the experience.
Insider tips
- **Plan Restroom Breaks:** Due to limited on-Greenway restrooms, parents should plan ahead for bathroom breaks, utilizing facilities at nearby businesses or before/after their visit, especially with young children.
- **Bring Bikes or Scooters:** The greenway is ideal for cycling, with long, continuous paths and convenient inflation stations, making it perfect for families who enjoy biking.
- **Integrate with Other Attractions:** Leverage the greenway's direct connections to the French Quarter and City Park to create a longer, diverse family outing.
- **Be Prepared for Off-Trail Amenities:** If you plan on purchasing food or drinks, be prepared to step off the greenway momentarily, as cafes and food places are mentioned as being nearby, not directly on the path.
Good to know before you go
- Families whose primary need is frequent, easily accessible public restrooms directly along their activity path.
- Parents should be aware of limited restroom access directly on the greenway itself, requiring planning for breaks.
- Crowds
- The greenway is described as 'bursting with life' and is used for 'recreation with my wife and daughter on the weekends', indicating it's popular and active, but no specific times are highlighted as overly crowded or problematic for families.
- Value
- The Lafitte Greenway and its many amenities (paths, playgrounds, sports courts) are entirely free to use, offering exceptional value for family entertainment and recreation in an urban setting. There are no explicit hidden costs mentioned, though families may incur expenses for food/drinks if they utilize nearby off-Greenway establishments due to limited on-site options.
- Food
- No explicit policy mentioned regarding bringing outside food or drinks onto the greenway.
- Accessibility
- The greenway is described as 'well-designed and very walkable,' suggesting a smooth, even surface suitable for strollers.
- Safety
- **Traffic Control:** A key safety feature is the presence of 'push button to stop traffic' at street crossings, which is highly beneficial for families with children cycling or walking.
What parents say
"Lot of beautiful trees, playgrounds, outdoor gyms, rec center, kids place, basketball courts, tennis courts, walking & biking paths."
6 months ago
"LaFitte Greenway is absolutely great! A continuous bicycle and walking path from Basin street all the way to Carrollton Avenue. The street crossings have a push button to stop traffic and so much more. There are bicycle tire inflation stations, workout and fitness equipment, tennis and basketball courts and more. The street art along the Greenway is great. A really nice way to cross the city."
a year ago
"Well-designed and very walkable urban greenway in New Orleans. The south end is within walking distance from the French quarter and the north end is walking distance from City Park. Connects multiple neighborhood and parks and passes by a couple places where you can step off the trail to a coffee or food place. Not much restroom access on the greenway itself. Lots of color and character along the way — perfect example of nature and urban life coming together."
a year ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
More hiking with kids in New Orleans
Hiking with Kids Fontainebleau State Park
4.6(3,703)4.6 out of 5 stars, 3703 reviews62883 LA-1089, Mandeville
Hiking with Kids Crescent Park
4.6(1,491)4.6 out of 5 stars, 1491 reviewsCrescent Park Trail, 2300 N Peters St, New Orleans
Hiking with Kids Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge
4.5(1,166)4.5 out of 5 stars, 1166 reviews17160 Chef Menteur Hwy, New Orleans
Hiking with Kids Couturie Forest
4.7(551)4.7 out of 5 stars, 551 reviews1009 Harrison Ave, New Orleans