New Orleans City Park

What New Orleans City Park does

New Orleans City Park is a 1,300-acre public urban park in Mid-City New Orleans operated since 2022 by the City Park Conservancy, a Louisiana-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax I.D. 88-1187560), under a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the City Park Improvement Association (NOCPIA), a state agency that has overseen the Park since 1891. Originally established in 1854 from 100 acres bequeathed by John McDonough, the Park now spans 1 mile wide by 3 miles long and hosts the world's largest grove of mature live oaks (trees nearly 800 years old), 280+ documented bird species (named best birding spot in New Orleans by Birder's World Magazine), 819 documented species via iNaturalist citizen science, and over 2,000 plant varieties in the 10-acre Works Progress Administration-era Botanical Garden. It drew 16 million+ annual visitors pre-Katrina baseline and supports 3,708 area jobs and $240 million in visitor spending.

The Park operates a diversified portfolio of core attractions — Carousel Gardens Amusement Park (17 rides including the historic 'Flying Horses' carousel), Storyland (18 fairy-tale sculptures), City Putt (36-hole, two-course mini-golf), NOLA City Bark (4.6-acre permit-only dog park), Bayou Oaks Golf (36-hole public golf complex), Tennis Center (20+ courts + 4 pickleball), Equest Farm (13-acre equestrian center), 24 miles of trails, and 11 lagoons for fishing — supplemented by on-site nonprofit partners (Louisiana Children's Museum, New Orleans Museum of Art's Besthoff Sculpture Garden, Grow Dat Youth Farm, LOOP NOLA). Event programming covers 25+ rentable venues (Peristyle, Pavilion of the Two Sisters, Tad Gormley Stadium) plus annual fundraisers (Celebration in the Oaks, Magic in the Moonlight, Ghosts in the Oaks, Heart of the Park Hat Luncheon) and seasonal events (Glow in the Oaks, Happy 3rd of July, Big Bass Fishing Rodeo, City Putt Summer League). Dining options include Café Noma, Café Du Monde, Café Noma, Acorn Café, Parkers Pizza, and others.

Revenue is generated across six streams — attraction admissions (Botanical Garden $15 LA / $25 non-LA, Carousel Gardens season passes $85 individual / $265 family, City Putt $12/adult), facility rentals for 25+ venues, on-site in-house catering since 1985, donations (including Oak Tree Giving Circle $1,000+), Friends of City Park membership, and corporate sponsorships (Clean Up Krewe $5,000 minimum, AmazonSmile affiliate). The Park operates cashlessly. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the official website, Instagram, email newsletter, on-site visitor centers, CourtReserve tennis booking, OuterSpatial/iNaturalist app integrations, and ticket sales for major events. Strategic direction is set by the City Park 2050 master plan, approved August 2025 and designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates with Concordia as community engagement consultant; the plan is funded in part by a $2M Samuel Barton Stewart III Memorial Foundation donation (March 2026) targeting fall 2027 completion of the S. Barton Stewart III Center.

Name

New Orleans City Park

Legal name

City Park Conservancy

Website

https://neworleanscitypark.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1854

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

New Orleans City Park is a 1,300-acre public urban park operated by the 501(c)(3) City Park Conservancy, serving 16 million+ annual residents and tourists with paid attractions, free green space, events, education programs, and venue rentals across New Orleans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Park and Recreation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amusement Parks (Regional/Local Ride Parks & Funfairs) (THAJAEAD), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development) (THAAAAAO), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Public urban park
• Recreational attractions
• Event venue rentals
• Botanical garden
• Outdoor recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Attraction Admissions & Recreation Fees: Revenue generated from paid attractions including Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, Storyland, City Putt mini-golf, Botanical Garden admissions, and recreational facilities such as golf, tennis, equestrian lessons, and dog park permits. These represent the Park's primary earned income sources.
2. Facility & Venue Rentals: Revenue from renting park venues for weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, picnics, sporting events, and photography/film shoots. The Park offers 25+ venues including the Peristyle, Pavilion of the Two Sisters, Rose Garden, Tad Gormley Stadium, and others.
3. On-Site Catering Services: City Park's in-house catering operation, established in 1985, specializing in New Orleans cuisine for events held within rented Park venues. Catering revenue is bundled with venue rental bookings.
4. Donations & Philanthropic Gifts: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations supporting Park preservation, beautification, and capital projects. Includes the Oak Tree Giving Circle ($1,000+ annual donors), planned giving, tribute gifts, and major donations such as the $2M Samuel Barton Stewart III Memorial Foundation gift.
5. Friends of City Park Membership: Annual membership program offering free/discounted admissions, exclusive benefits, and event access in exchange for recurring membership fees.
6. Corporate Sponsorships: Event and program sponsorships, stadium/athletic field advertising, corporate volunteer programs (Clean Up Krewe), and cause marketing partnerships such as AmazonSmile.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

New Orleans City Park is a 1,300-acre public urban park operated by the City Park Conservancy (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) that provides free public green space access alongside a portfolio of paid recreational, cultural, and educational attractions. Core paid offerings include the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, Storyland, City Putt mini-golf, NOLA City Bark dog park, Bayou Oaks Golf complex, Tennis Center, and Equest Farm. The Park also generates revenue from venue rentals (weddings, corporate events, birthday parties), on-site catering, memberships, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

New Orleans City Park is a 1,300-acre urban park operated by City Park Conservancy offering a diverse portfolio of recreational, cultural, and educational attractions. The park features core attractions including the New Orleans Botanical Garden (10-acre WPA-funded garden with 2,000+ plant varieties), Carousel Gardens Amusement Park (17 attractions including historic carousel), Storyland (fairy-tale playground with 18 sculptures), City Putt (36-hole mini-golf complex), NOLA City Bark (permit-only dog park), and Bayou Oaks Golf (36-hole public golf complex). Additional offerings include Tennis Center (20+ courts), Equest Farm (13-acre equestrian center), Grow Dat Youth Farm (2-acre sustainable farm), and extensive trails (24 miles). The park hosts annual fundraisers including Celebration in the Oaks, Ghosts in the Oaks, and Magic in the Moonlight. Dining options include Café Noma, Café Du Monde, and various casual eateries. Membership program Friends of City Park provides free admission to major attractions with exclusive discounts. The park is guided by the City Park 2050 Plan approved in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Orleans Botanical Garden Ten-acre botanical garden open year-round with over 2,000 plant varieties from around the world; offers adult, child, and senior admission pricing with free Wednesday admission for Louisiana residents funded by The Helis Foundation.
• Carousel Gardens Amusement Park
• Storyland Enchanted outdoor fairy-tale playground featuring 18 larger-than-life storybook sculptures with classic characters from Grimm, Mother Goose, and world folktales; offers storytime and family programming during summer.
• City Putt Mini-Golf 36-hole, two-course mini-golf complex featuring New Orleans and Louisiana cultural landmarks; ADA accessible, with adult, child, second-round, and 8-week summer league pricing.
• NOLA City Bark Dog Park 4.6-acre permit-only dog park with keycard access and separate play areas for small and big dogs; offers annual, 2-dog, 3-dog, 2-week temporary, and foster permit pricing.
• Bayou Oaks Golf Complex 36-hole public golf complex with North and South courses and a driving range, designed by Rees Jones; the only public 36-hole golf complex in New Orleans.
• Tennis Center Tennis complex with 20+ lighted hard and clay courts, a practice court with backboards, 4 pickleball courts, lockers and showers, hosted by USPTA/PTR-certified teaching pros.
• Equest Farm Equestrian Center 13-acre equestrian center offering horseback riding lessons (private, group, beginner package), boarding, summer camps, and family rides; open Tuesday-Friday 9am-7pm and weekends 8:30am-2pm.
• Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden Twelve-acre free sculpture garden with over 90 sculptures among 200-year-old live oaks, managed by the New Orleans Museum of Art.
• Friends of City Park Membership Annual membership program offering free admission to Storyland and Botanical Garden, exclusive member benefits, and discounts across Park attractions.
• Wedding Venue Rentals Wedding venue services offering distinctive indoor and outdoor settings including the Peristyle, Pavilion of the Two Sisters, and Arbor Room with optional on-site catering.
• Birthday Party Packages Customizable party packages at Carousel Gardens, Storyland, and other venues with staffing, food, and activities.
• On-Site Catering Services Full-service catering operation established in 1985, specializing in New Orleans cuisine, bundled with Park venue rental bookings.
• Annual Fundraising Events Major annual fundraisers and community events including Celebration in the Oaks (holiday light festival), Magic in the Moonlight (October gala), Ghosts in the Oaks (Halloween family fundraiser), and Heart of the Park Hat Luncheon.
• Educational Field Trips Educational tours for school groups at attractions including Carousel Gardens, Storyland, City Putt, Grow Dat, and LOOP NOLA.
• Self-Guided Tours Virtual and self-guided tours including the Historic Live Oak Tree Tour, City Park Bridges Tour, and Sculpture Garden Tour.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 million+ annual visitors, supporting 3,708 jobs and $240 million in total visitor spending in the Greater New Orleans area
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• ConcordiacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2024Concordia, a New Orleans-based firm with over 40 years of experience in architecture, planning, and community engagement, was selected in August 2024 through a public RFP process to serve as the lead Community Engagement consultant for the City Park 2050 planning effort, strengthening the community engagement process.
• Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. (MVVA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMVVA was selected unanimously by CPC and CPIA boards in 2023 to lead the City Park 2050 planning effort. MVVA is one of the world's most highly regarded landscape architecture firms, having designed hundreds of public spaces since 1982. They led the planning process alongside local experts and community members to deliver a community-centered vision for the future of City Park.
• Google Arts & CulturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoogle Arts & Culture partnered with the New Orleans Museum of Art to produce a virtual tour of the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, expanding global digital access to this major Park attraction.
• OuterSpatial / Trailhead LabssupportingTechnology or IntegrationOuterSpatial (developed by Trailhead Labs) provides the digital trail mapping platform used by City Park. The app works offline on trails and is available for Apple and Android. It provides maps, routes, and wellness/recreation information to Park visitors.
• Arts Council New OrleanssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Arts Council New Orleans co-presents the Arts Market New Orleans event held at City Park, a cultural programming initiative that brings arts and culture to the Park's visitor community.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Prospect Park Alliance: Nonprofit that operates and fundraises for Brooklyn's 526-acre Prospect Park. Same public-private governance template, comparable attractions (lake, zoo, ice rinks), membership/donation program, and event rental business.
• Balboa Park Conservancy: San Diego nonprofit conservancy supporting a 1,200-acre urban cultural park with botanical gardens, museums, the San Diego Zoo, and the Prado. Closely mirrors City Park's mix of gardens, attractions, cultural institutions, and event programming.
• Fairmount Park Conservancy: 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservancy supporting Philadelphia's Fairmount Park system with similar park-preservation, programming, and donor-development mandate. Comparable in mission and public-private governance model.
• Audubon Nature Institute: Major New Orleans-based nonprofit operating a portfolio of attractions (Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Park). Direct geographic peer with overlapping tourism, education, and conservation mission; competes for the same regional visitor and donor dollars.
• SF Parks Alliance: San Francisco nonprofit that mobilizes private support and volunteers for Golden Gate Park and the city's park system. Directly analogous role: private fundraising, programming, and stewardship for a large urban park in a major tourism market.
• Hermann Park Conservancy: Houston nonprofit conservancy stewarding Hermann Park, combining gardens, golf, trails, and cultural venues under a fundraising nonprofit. Highly comparable operating model and revenue mix (memberships, events, donations, paid attractions).
• Central Park Conservancy: Nonprofit conservancy model that operates and raises private philanthropy for a major urban park (843 acres). Closely comparable governance structure (501(c)(3) conservancy stewarding public parkland), and similar blend of paid attractions, event rentals, memberships, and donor cultivation.
• Piedmont Park Conservancy: Atlanta-based 501(c)(3) that operates and fundraises for the 189-acre Piedmont Park. Comparable mix of green space, festivals, paid rentals, and donor-driven capital projects in a Southern U.S. urban setting.

Others

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on creating and protecting parks and green space. Not a direct operator but a key partner/funding channel for urban park acquisition and conservation across the U.S., including New Orleans.

Emerging players

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Adjacent institutional operator focused on a botanical garden with membership, paid admission, and educational programming. Overlaps with City Park's Botanical Garden and Couturie Forest in audience and operating model, though narrower in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/neworleanscitypark
• Xx.com/nolacitypark
• Facebookfacebook.com/NewOrleansCityPark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-orleans-city-park

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Orleans City Park