The National Park Service is proposing to make some trail repairs in the Barataria Preserve at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve/NPS file
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve will host an open house and public information session on proposed repairs to the preserve’s trail system on August 17.
“Hurricane Ida caused extensive damage to Barataria Preserve’s trails and boardwalks at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve,” said Rebecca Lasell, deputy superintendent. “Public input is important to us in planning for the best, most sustainable ways to restore visitor services to these areas.”
The National Park Service proposes to improve the trail system in the Barataria Preserve as funding allows by:
- Repairing hurricane-related damage to specific boardwalks and trails.
- Rebuilding damaged boardwalks at a higher elevation with rails with sustainable construction materials for greater resilience to flooding, sea level rise and land subsidence.
- Removing trail segments that are often flooded, allowing these to naturally revegetate and return to a natural state.
The meetings will occur on August 17 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the preserve’s Education Center, located across Highway 45 from the Barataria Visitor Center in Marrero, Louisisana.
No final decisions have been made regarding what trails will be rebuilt. Given the enormous challenges from increasing storm frequencies and intensities and rising sea levels to maintain the existing boardwalks, the park would like to have a smaller proportion of the trail system on boardwalks and, over time, transition to more of the trails being located on the higher grounds of the natural levees.
The Architectural and Engineering Design phase of the project has begun. Construction is expected to start in May 2024 and will be phased, meaning that not all boardwalks will be closed to the public at the same time.
For more information and to submit comments, please visit our Preserve's trail project page.
