User:Jerrial/Lakeshore Drive (New Orleans)

Lakeshore Drive, also known as the West End or the Lakefront, is located in the northern Lakeview area of New Orleans. Lakeshore Drive was originally marshy swampland, but it eventually became one of New Orleans's favorite hangout spots. Although many people go to Lakeshore Drive to relax or hangout with their peers, they can also dine at the restaurants along the street. Lakeshore Drive is intersected by many streets, but the main streets that intersect it are Canal Blvd, Paris Ave, Elysian Fields Ave, Franklin Ave, and Leroy Johnson Drive.

History
Like most of Louisiana, Lakeshore Drive began as marsh and swamp. The area consisted of a few fishing camps, it was very unhealthy, and it had very little flood protection. Innovation to the area began in the early 20th century. In 1924, Colonel Marcel Garsaud was named Chief Engineer of the Orleans Levee Board, and he was in charge of planning the development of the Lakefront. The pumping and draining of swamps and the construction of a seawall began a few years later in 1926. Garsaud's plan consisted of a waterfront resort, a beachfront, an amusement park, and artificial lakes. Garsaud was not able to go through with plan because of financial issues so he had to adopt a compromise plan from a Missouri engineering firm in 1928. This compromise plan included building a public park area, recreational features, and a residential development. The construction began in 1930, and once completed, Lakeshore Drive consisted of a stepped concrete seawall built 3000 feet out from the shore with a filled area raised 5-10 feet.

Surrounding Residency
Once the seawall was built, the construction of the nearby neighborhoods began. The neighborhoods include Lakeshore/Lake Vista and Lake Terrace/Lake Oaks. Lakeshore is divided into two neighborhoods, East and West Lakeshore, by Canal Blvd. East Lakeshore opened first in 1951 followed by West Lakeshore in 1955. Both Lakeshore neighborhoods are located to the west of Lake Vista. New Basin Canal, Lake Pontchartrain, the Orleans Canal, and Robert E. Lee Blvd border Lake Vista and Lakeshore. These neighborhoods have transformed from swampland into some of the most valuable properties in New Orleans.

Hangout Spot
In the early 20th century, entertainment destinations developed. These entertainment destinations included West End Park, Spanish Fort, Pontchartrain Bach, and Lincoln Beach. This entertainment would attract people to the lake on summer evenings to catch a breeze and enjoy the entertainment. These entertainment destinations no longer exist, but there are still public parks, picnic shelters, and parking spaces available for those seeking to enjoy the lake. Today, New Orleanians go to Lakeshore Drive to run, to ride bikes, to picnic, to swim, or to simply just relax and watch the water. Lakeshore Drive is also a place for tourists to go for a peaceful escape from the crowded parts of New Orleans.

Along Lakeshore Drive
Although Lakeshore Drive is a familiar hangout spot, if you're looking for local seafood favorites, such as crawfish pies, shrimp and grits, and crab poboys, Lakeshore Drive is the place to be. Restaurants along Lakeshore Drive that offer these seafood favorites are Landry's Seafood, Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, and The Blue Crab Restaurant and Oyster Bar.

Aside from dining, Lakeshore Drive also consists of UNO's campus. While driving along the street, you can see Privateer Place, off-campus apartment housing for UNO students. Less than a mile away from Lakeshore Drive is the UNO Lakefront Arena, which gets its name from being so close to UNO and the lakefront. Lakeshore Drive also has a few historical landmarks along the street such as the New Canal Lighthouse and the Mardi Gras Fountain.