BAYOU METAIRIE PARK

BAYOU METAIRIE PARK

Dana Brown & Associates’ design of Bayou Metairie Park addresses localized flooding in a quickly developing commercial area of Metairie Road. The park is situated between Metairie Lawn and Labarre Drive — an area known to experience frequent flooding. Preserving this open green space and installing permeable pavement and bioretention areas with water-loving native plants will further increase the site’s stormwater storage capacity. The park will be a precedent for natural, multi-benefit stormwater management as well as an educational opportunity for the community. The park can store more than 32,000 gallons of stormwater, or about 640 bathtubs.

Additionally, the park serves as a gathering hub and functions as a traditional passive recreation space. This design creates a sense of place for the community and improves everyday and special event usability.

New lighted entry signs greet visitors to the park, which is in a highly trafficked area. An entertainment pavilion, event lawn, seatwalls, additional shade trees, boardwalks over bioretention areas, parking spaces, and educational signage complete the space. Since its implementation, the Old Metairie Garden Club has hosted music and movie nights along with several farmers’ markets.