User:Amberzsimmo/sandbox



= Lafayette Square =

History
Originally called "Place Publique" or Place Gravier, Lafayette Square was renamed after Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, after his visit to New Orleans in 1825. The park is now the second largest public park in the city of New Orleans, located in the heart of the Central Business District, and it is also a part of the Warehouse/Art District.

Charles Laveau Trudeau, or Don Carlos Trudeau, designed the park in 1788 while the city was under Spanish Government. The park was originally surrounded by an iron fence but due to the Second World War, the fence was scrapped and used during an iron shortage.

Lafayette Square Conservancy
After Hurricane Katrina the park was unsafe due to the damage. There was broken glass and debris from the buildings, and broken trees. After this, the Lafayette Square Conservancy was formed by a group some neighborhood residents and a few downtown workers. It is a non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve the park, as they partner with the City's Department of Parks and Parkways. The organization takes donations to keep with the park's upkeep. The Conservancy is sponsored by AT&T, Downtown Development District of New Orleans, and more.

Recent Events
Surrounding the park are museums, art galleries, and a growing residential area. As well as the former City Hall of New Orleans, Gallier Hall on St. Charles Avenue. The park is stilled used for inaugurations and civic events.

The park also hosts Wednesday at the Square, a free event held in the spring from March to June every year that is sponsored by the Young Leadership Council of New Orleans. The festival features local New Orleans talent, every week between the times of 5PM to 8PM. The event is open to the public, and locals can bring their own chairs and blankets. There are food and beverages provided to the people that help keep the festival going, so there's no outside food and drinks allowed to the concert.


 * 1) ^ "Wednesday at the Square | New Orleans". www.neworleans.com. Retrieved 2021-03-02.