Neighborhood Groups
Oak Park Civic Association
Contact info
Karen Parsons, President
504-615-8782
Classification
Services Offered
Neighborhoods Served:
• Fillmore
Planning District:
6
Ward:
7
Zip Codes:
70122
Boundaries:
Paris Avenue, Mirabeau Avenue, St. Bernard Avenue to Robert E Lee
Council Representative:
Cynthia Morrell
State Representative:
Nicholas Lorusso
Police Precinct:
3
President / Director:
Karen Parsons
Mission:
Oak Park Civic Association was originally formed in the late 1940’s as the neighborhood was being developed. The neighborhood was built out by developers but today is working in the strange and complex world of large scale infill development. This has moved the organization toward being a learning organization as we confront a number of difficult policies and planning issues with private landowners and public agencies.
We have a vibrant organization with a number of initiatives dedicated to restoring the ideal quality of life we enjoyed prior to the storm. Unofficially known as the “Education Destination” due to our focus on providing a good education for all residents, we have three new schools under construction within our boundaries which reflects the high priority we have for education.
Residents are engaged in multiple activities to fight blight, provide social services, organize volunteer work days to help neighbors come home and we have set our sights on being a sustainable community as nearly every major roadway is being resurfaced with the inclusion of bike lanes and shared use lanes. We have sought and been approved for street scaping and residents are working with Hike for KaTreena to replant the tree canopy lot by lot.
This is a diverse neighborhood that has produced many community leaders that have contributed to the rebuilding of not just Oak Park, but Gentilly and New Orleans as well. Blight eradication and reconstruction of homes is a top priority today. Please go to news items for more information about Oak Park activities.
Current Priorities:
- Blight and Code Enforcement
- Economic Development
- Housing
- Infrastructure and Public Transportation
- Parks and Natural Resources
- Quality of Life, Preservation, and Zoning
- Re-population and Membership
- Volunteer Management
- Youth Engagement
Partners:
Dillard CDC, Gentilly Civic Improvement Assoc., NPN
For More Info:
Karen Parsons, President
504-615-8782
December 23rd 2009
Progress - Oak Park Civic Association Ramps Up
Oak Park Civic Association has been busy! We have many great things to report that are helping the neighborhood to rebuild and recover. We have been involved in everything from streets and bike routes to housing and education.
Beacon of Hope
In November 2009 Oak Park became the newest Beacon of Hope affiliate. We now have established committees for blight, crime, surveying, data management, block captains, greenspace and volunteer support as well as others. We are excited about the potential to partner with the Beacon of Hope to further our work and help many more people return. Our monthly Oak Park Civic Association meetings typically have 40 to 50 participants so interest and participation is high.
We’ve conducted condition surveys and used the information to tackle blighted properties and are seeing some real clean up in the neighborhood. A large number of slab on grade homes have been demolished by the State that were over 40% damaged and below Base Flood Elevation. Most were damaged structurally. This makes way for new, environmentally friendly homes that will withstand high winds and street flooding. The City sponsored blight hearings are most needed to support our efforts and we are hopeful the City Council can work to refund this successful tool quickly in the City budget!
NORA properties/Phase II
Oak Park has been working with NORA over the last year and we are in the middle of a Phase II sale of NORA/Road Home properties. A list of Road Home lots can be reviewed at http://www.noraworks.org. Once you are at the website click on NORA programs at the top of the page. Bring up the drop down menu and click on RFP; select “Amended Updated Oak Park Residential RFP/Phase II” to see guidance, the application for purchasing a lot, and addresses of available property with the appraised property price list. The offering period ends January 29, 2010.
Rebuild Oak Park Day
We are sponsoring a Rebuild Oak Park Day modeled after the successful Lakeview Rebuild Day. It is scheduled for Saturday, January 9, 2010 at Edgewater Baptist Church located at 5900 Paris Avenue between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. It will bring to together interested purchasers of NORA properties and Oak Park landowners with an array of banks, builders, landscapers, and other providers of home services.The Oak Park NORA committee will be available to answer any questions you might have. All individuals are welcome to purchase lots with the stipulation they must build on them within 12 months for owner occupancy. If you are an individual wishing to buy a lot in the Phase Two Program/RFP for Single Lot Purchases e-mail or call the Oak Park Civic Association phone line at (504) 569-9694 for more informaiton.
If you are a vendor wishing to participate in Rebuild Oak Park Day on January 9 at Edgewater Baptist Church please e-mail the Oak Park NORA committee at . Tables are available for $100 and the cost is tax deductible.
NORA RFP for Developers
Under an MOU with NORA, an RFP was issued for developers and three were selected to build homes on remaining NORA lots after the Phase II is complete. They are Promethean Structures, Insight Builders and the St. Bernard Project. We are thankful to have the support and assistance of NORA staff in our endeavors to eradicate blight and repopulate the neighborhood.
Greenspace
In October 2009 the Oak Park Greenspace Committee worked with NORA and Parks and Parkways to allow us to plant an orchard, Oak Park Citrus Grove Garden, on a Road Home lot in north Oak Park. With the help of 20 Loyola students one Saturday morning and generous donation of trees and expertise from the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, an international organization, 21 fruit trees were planted. We now have lemon, lime, fig, grapefruit, orange trees – fresh fruit available in the neighborhood! There is still room for a community garden area too so we are all looking forward to getting our hands dirty this spring.
Bike Lanes and Street Resurfacing
Oak Park Civic Association has been active in ensuring that on-street bicycle facilities and sidewalks are included in street resurfacing projects under the Submerged Roads Program and other Federal-Aid projects in our area. By the end of 2010 Filmore, Mirabeau, St. Bernard and Paris Avenues will have bike lanes! Robert E Lee and Leon C Simon will have shared use lanes. Sidewalks will be repaired or replaced along these roadways too, paid for under the Stimulus funding. These projects were pursued so that we could offer an alternate transportation choice for residents and make the community sustainable. We have been working with the new high schools in the area to be sure they include secure bicycle rack locations on school property to encourage students, faculty and staff to commute by bicycle to work and school.
Wisner Bike Path is also a welcome addition to the neighborhood providing one of the most scenic routes in the region along Bayou St. John. Wisner Bridge is also scheduled for reconstruction by 2013 and Oak Park was active in making sure that it will include a 9 foot bicycle and walking path on the east side to improve non-motorized connections to mid-city. With all the great enhancements Oak Park will soon be one the best places to live and commute from in the City.
Schools
From the outset one of the highest priorities of Oak Park Civic Association was to bring back schools in the neighborhood. Without schools, families would be hard pressed to return. As a result of our efforts we have secured the future of Oak Park as the “Education Destination.”
Oak Park is truly blessed to be the new home of Holy Cross Boys School, grades 5 to 12. It is located on the old Cabrini Church and School and Redeemer School sites. The multi-million dollar investment in a new campus has been a huge lift for the neighborhood. A 92,000 square foot building is under construction now. Holy Cross is in its second year of operation in Oak Park and we are establishing good ties with the Board and staff. Holy Cross has generously donated $500 toward neighborhood signs. New cypress signs are under construction now and will help delineate the neighborhood boundaries.
The handsome new Gentilly High Tech High School is opening in January 2010. Up to 500 students will eventually be housed there. Each year one more grade is added to enrollment. This is an open access enrollment school. Landscaping is being planted now as the RSD works to finalize construction and beautification of the site.
Finally, the RSD is in design for Bienville Elementary School (K-8) located in South Oak Park next to the association’s namesake community park, Oak Park between Gardena and Seveille Streets. The school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2012. A new KaBoom playground is planned in the park for the enjoyment of neighborhood children and school kids. The park is a hidden gem in our neighborhood. It is filled with beautiful Oak Trees, planted over 60 years ago.
Conclusion
Oak Park is a single family residential neighborhood with a long history of supporting families. It is a top choice for university students, faculty and staff. We think our close proximity to the Lakefront, City Park and four major universities (UNO, SUNO, Dillard and the Baptist Seminary) make it a delightful location for anyone choosing to live in New Orleans. We are working to bring back commercial development, replant the tree canopy and provide the opportunity for a solid education within walking or bicycling distance of home. We are only 10 minute drive from the CBD and French Quarter and 25-30 minutes by bike making it one of the best places to live in New Orleans .
NPN is funded with help from CPSC
