On Monday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell signed a cooperative agreement establishing an interagency coordinating group between New Orleans City Park, New Orleans Recreation Development Commission, New Orleans Parks & Parkways, and the Audubon Commission. This interagency group is intended to create greater collaboration between the management agencies of New Orleans’ most important parks.

The City Council approved the establishment of the group at their meeting last week.

In addition, the city is holding more meetings to discuss the citywide parks millage proposal, which voters will decide on in May of this year.

There will be no increase in taxes under the proposal but would adjust the millage rates for NORDC, Parks & Parkways, and the Audubon Commission to provide dedicated funding to City Park. Each partner would also receive a benefit:

• City Park will receive dedicated funding for the first time would have the begin providing 24/7 security patrols, repair infrastructure, improve storm drainage and more.
• NORDC would receive increased funding to expand programming, including working with outside entities to provide more services.
• Parks & Parkways would use increased funding to hire additional ground maintenance crews, an additional forestry crew, and conduct more beautification efforts across the city’s green spaces, neutral grounds, and corridors.
• Audubon Commission would make capital improvements, provide expanded programming at the nature center and at the wilderness park, continue to expand access for the community in the form of additional discount days, a library partnership, and more.

Jenn Bentley’s writing has been featured in publications such as The Examiner, The High Tech Society, FansShare, Yahoo News, and others. When she’s not writing or editing, Jenn spends her time raising money for Extra Life and advocating for autism awareness.