National Park Service
A Study of the Park and Recreation Problem of the United States 		NPS Logo

LOUISIANA

NEW ORLEANS, with its 406,000 inhabitants, is the State's principal urban center. Outside this city, the population is fairly evenly distributed, the heaviest concentrations being found in the Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Alexandria, and Monroe regions. The Negro population, which constitutes 37 percent of the total, is distributed approximately the same as that of the white population.

An abundance of water and wildlife, a luxuriant growth of vegetation, particularly in southern and delta regions, and an exceptionally rich historical legacy are the State's outstanding recreational resources. Its lakes, streams, and bayous offer exceptional opportunities for huntting and fishing. Summer is hot and muggy, while autumn, winter, and spring are delightful for outdoor activities.

The State has only recently initiated its park program, having at this time three areas under development. Additional State parks for both whites and Negroes are needed in the Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Monroe, New Orleans, and Bogalusa regions. There is also a great need for local day-use areas for both races. Extensive Federal participation in the conservation of wildlife is warranted. A careful inventory of the State's historic places should be followed by a long-range program of acquisition and preservation participated in by both the State and Federal Governments.

map
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FEDERAL

National historical park:
48. Chalmette29.5

National forest:
9. Kisatchie1491,611

National wildlife areas:
11. Sabine Migratory Waterfowl Refuge139,987.1
12. Lacassine28,778
30. Shell Keys Bird Reservation77
40. East Timbalier Island Bird Reservation337
49. Tern Island1,000
51. Delta Migratory Waterfowl Refuge44,961
52. Brenton25,955
     Total
241,095.1

Soil Conservation Service land development projects:
2. Northwest Louisiana2800
21. Claiborne Parish21,000
     Total
1,800

Proposed national parkway:
36. Mississippi River



STATE

State parks:
16. Chicot5,192
23. Chemin-A-Haut500
33. Longfellow-Evangeline157
44. Tchefuncte1,000
46. Louisiana Purchase Memorial136
     Total
6,985

Recommended State parks:
4. Shreveport region

10. Jefferson Davis or Acadia Parishes

17. Beechwood

20. Ouachita Parish

41. St. Charles or Jefferson Parishes

42. Baton Rouge-New Orleans region


State monuments:
34. Locust Grove Cemetery1

State waysides:
28. Avoyel Indian38.7
43. Bogue Falaya13
     Total
51.7

State forests:
18. State forest7,620
22. Interstate18
     Total
7,638

State wildlife areas:
5. Lake Bistineau Fish and Game Preserve17,280
6. Allen Northwest Fish and Game Preserve14,823
13. Rockefeller Foundation Sanctuary86,000
29. State Wildlife Refuge13,000
31. Russell Sage Sanctuary75,665
45. Knott Tract4,800
50. Pass-A-Loutre Public Shooting Grounds66,000
     Total
277,568


LOCAL

Municipal parks:
3. Minden (2 areas)315
15. Rayne (1 area)110
38. Morgan City (1 area)30
     Total
155

Recommended local parks:
1. Caddo Parish

7. Sabine Parish

8. Vernon Parish

14. Vermilion Parish

19. Ouachita Parish

24. West Carrol Parish

25. Madison Parish

26. Tensas Parish

27. Concordia Parish

32. St. Mary Parish

35. Baton Rouge

37. La Fourche Parish

39. Terrebonne Parish

47. New Orleans

1 Area under Federal administration, June 1938.

2 Portion of project area being developed for recreation.

3 Acreage of 1 park not reported.


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park-recreation-problem/louisiana.htm
Last Updated: 18-May-2016