West End Lake Shore Park and Wildlife Habitat

05/20/2026

Big win for West End Lake Shore Park!
SB-198 just passed, requiring new construction in Historic Districts to be reviewed for "appropriateness."

Now it's our turn: help us get the park on the National Historic Register! • Community support is key
Sign the petition now and make your voice heard:
https://www.change.org/p/nominate-west-end-lake-shore-park-for-the-national-historic-register

05/19/2026

On Monday SB-198 by Senator Beth Mizell passed the legislature by a vote of 90-2.
This Act requires review that new construction in Historic Districts must be reviewed for "Appropriateness."

In 2025, an application for West End Lake Shore Park to be on the National Historic Register (NHR) was filed. The New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC) reported that the Park "Merits" being on the NHR. However, Mayor Moreno wrote a letter opposing the nomination and requesting the review committee not allow public comment on the application.

In April 2026, Rep Stephanie Hilferty, Deputy Mayor Joe Giarrusso, and Council Member Aimee McCarron proposed at the legislature to develop the park with up to 65' high buildings and a 20% increase in sales tax (from 10% to 12%) without public vote.

We seek to have public input in both of these matters. Please sign and share the petition. We currently have 276 signatures.
https://www.change.org/p/nominate-west-end-lake-shore-park-for-the-national-historic-register

05/10/2026

Floating Platforms for the West End Lake Shore Park Pelicans.

05/10/2026

The idea has been "Floated" to turn the unused pilings of the former restaurant sites into floating platforms for the Louisiana Brown and White Pelican.

This idea is opposed by the New Orleans City Council and Jefferson Parish Council as they favor commercial development of West End Lake Shore Park.

Artificial floating platforms are specialized conservation tools designed to provide secure, flood-resistant nesting and roosting habitats for pelicans, particularly the near-threatened Dalmatian pelican. These structures mimic natural islands and are often used in wetlands where natural nesting sites have been lost to human activity, storms, or fluctuating water levels.

05/10/2026

After being reviewed by the Historic District Landmarks Commission, they reported that West End Lake Shore Park merited being on the National Historic Register.

This was opposed by the 2025 New Orleans City Council.

https://sites.google.com/view/no-cmm-110525/clg-review-of-5-s-roadway-st

05/09/2026

https://sites.google.com/view/no-cmm-110525/clg-review-of-5-s-roadway-st

The summary below is excerpted from the National Register of Historic Places Registration form. The entire form may be found at the bottom page. West End Lake Shore Park is a 22-acre rectilinear public park that is located along the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain in the West End

05/05/2026

AWE News has produced two documentaries on West End Lake Shore Park and is working on a third. Please consider a donation on Annual Giving Day to help them.
https://www.givenola.org/organization/AWENews

05/02/2026

While King Charles was touring national parks and holding eagles. Rep. Stephanie Hilferty and Council Member Aimee McCarron were in Baton Rouge passing legislation to convert West End Lake Shore Park and its wildlife habitat of Eagles and Pelicans into a commercial district with a 20% hike in Sales Tax to 12% per HB-892.

Metro New Orleans Bald Eagles and Osprey often has photos posted of the nesting eagles that feed in the waters that will now be part of Economic Development District.

In New Orleans some have the preference to bring back Augie's with its banana eating and wet t-shirt contests over wildlife education and environmental preservation.

04/29/2026

This an interesting development as HB-892 proposes increasing sales tax from 10% to 12% in West End Lake Shore Park with no vote of the people to support the commercial development of the park and fund the staff and infrastructure needed for private developers to build 65' high buildings and parking structures in the park. EBRIS East Baton Rouge Infrastructure Solutions

RePost. "Attorney William Most, who represents Darrell Glasper Sr. in his lawsuit challenging the legality of a taxing district established to finance a proposed $500M arena on the campus, told the Press Club today that the basic principle of the lawsuit is as old as the United States — NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. The lawsuit alleges 2 recently created economic development districts (EDDs) BROKE THE LAW when they RAISED TAXES on local businesses without taxpayer approval. The lawsuit is not intended to stop anyone from building the arena, he said. If a private arena is going to be built, it should not be SECRETLY FUNDED with non-voter-approved TAX INCREASES The lawsuit was filed in Dec 2025. Most said he has yet to receive a response from the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General."

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