PARKS AND PARKWAYS CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Department Continues to Restore and Maintain More Than 2,000 Acres of Public Green Space

Mayor C. Ray, Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Brenda G. Hatfield and the City of New Orleans will celebrate the Department of Parks and Parkways' 100th Anniversary as a government entity. Parks and Parkways along with event sponsor French Quarter Festival Inc. will host the celebration at Jackson Square beginning at 6pm. A ceremonial planting of the Parks and Parkways Centennial tree at the St. Ann Street entrance of Jackson Square will conclude the anniversary celebration at 8pm.
Ann Macdonald, director of Parks and Parkways will pay tribute to former directors as a part of the celebration.

The proud history of the department dates back to 1909 as a result of civic efforts who initiated the beautification of their own neighborhoods. These residents formed a group that recognized the need to organize and consolidate these various entities, to expand their efforts and secure a regular source of funding from city government.

These civic-minded citizens organized the first City Commission Council in May of 1909, and introduced and approved an ordinance which formally established the Parking Commission of New Orleans later named Parkway Commission. This commission was granted the power to plant, maintain, protect, and care for trees, shrubs and other plants on all of the public highways of the City.

Parks and Parkway's mission is to manage, develop, beautify and preserve over 2,000 acres of public green space, including neutral grounds, parks, historic sites, playgrounds, two golf courses and over 400,000 public trees. The department is responsible for preservation, maintenance and the protection of the City's Urban Canopy. In addition, the department is responsible for the care and upkeep of Joe Brown Memorial and Bechtel Parks, and various historic green spaces and ornamental planting sites. So far this year, the department has mowed more than 4,000 acres of green space, removed or trimmed 1,000 trees and planted 1,300 trees citywide.

For more information visit www.cityofno.com.