City Park Conservancy

The mission of City Park Conservancy is to preserve and improve Park spaces for recreational, educational, cultural and beautification purposes. The Conservancy works year-round to care for the Park’s historic oaks, beautiful gardens, family-friendly playgrounds, nature trails, and cultural and recreational amenities. For over 170 years, New Orleans City Park has provided access to abundant natural and cultural resources, connecting Southeast Louisiana residents and visitors to the region’s most-iconic park – with something for everyone. The Park is home to the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Couturie Forest and Arboretum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, and the largest grove of mature live oaks in the world, some of which are nearly 800 years old. The Park’s 1,300 acres make it one of the largest urban parks in the United States, and a popular place to fish on the bayou, picnic, experience safe outdoor play, or engage in athletic pursuits – as evidence by more than 16 million visits each year. In addition to offering an array of recreation and cultural amenities, City Park is committed to preserving natural habitats and biodiversity in the Park. The Botanical Garden is home to more than 2,000 varieties of plants, the 30-acre Couturie Forest has eight distinct ecosystems, Birder’s World Magazine named City Park the best birding spot in New Orleans as 280 bird species have been sighted in the Park, and 819 species have been documented through the volunteer efforts of citizen scientists. City Park continuously improves quality of life in the region by promoting inclusivity, protecting natural resources and offering diverse park programming. As the stewards of the Park, the Conservancy is committed to serving the public’s best interests and providing the oversight and expertise necessary to ensure that this world-class greenspace is accessible to all.

At City Park Conservancy, we prioritize preserving natural habitats, native vegetation and the historical elements of City Park. We also understand the crucial role parks play in water management and implement programs and projects that support water management efforts for the region. We are, at all times, stewards of City Park and its environmental welfare. We care for over 1,300 acres of expansive green space and operate numerous cultural, recreational, and educational facilities. Our team maintains landscapes, lagoons, historic trees, benches, buildings, playgrounds, and infrastructure—all enjoyed by over 16 million guests a year. The operations and activities of City Park support a total of 3,708 jobs in the New Orleans area and total visitor spending, both local and out of area visitors, totaled $240 million. The impact of our work reaches far and wide and City Park Conservancy is committed expanding that reach.

The City Park Volunteer Department coordinates volunteer projects focused on the care, maintenance, and improvement of New Orleans City Park.

Volunteer programs and projects include:

1. Urban Forest Support Initiative: Volunteers participate in trail maintenance and forestry projects including invasive species removal, native plantings, and nature trail mulching.

2. Super Saturdays: On the first Saturday of each month, New Orleans City Park hosts a community volunteering event. Individuals, friends, families, service groups, college organizations, and more come together in a day of service to contribute to the revitalization of City Park. Super Saturday locations and projects vary from month to month.

3. Big Lake Native Plant Trail Restoration Project: In partnership with the Native Plant Initiative of Greater New Orleans (NPI) this weekly opportunity is focused on horticulture tasks needed to maintain native garden beds along the Big Lake Native Plant Trail.

4. Clean-up Krewes: Community members help the Grounds and Horticulture Department to maintain the beauty of the Park. Volunteers will support this initiative through cleaning up litter on land and within Park lagoons, graffiti removal, and debris clean-ups!

5. Special Event Support: Volunteers are crucial to the success of our events and annual fundraisers which directly help us keep the Park thriving for all visitors.

To register for upcoming volunteer projects at City Park visit, City Park Volunteer Calendar of Events