Parisite Skatepark

In 2010, New Orleans was a city of over 350,000 people with no official skateparks and few places for kids to exercise outside of team sports leagues. Unstructured recreation areas such as skateparks allow youth to build self-confidence as they creatively interact with their environment as well as with one another. With that in mind, a group of skaters got together and started a Do-It-Yourself skatepark at the intersection of Interstate 610 and Paris Avenue (hence the name ‘Paris Site’). Through time, strategic partnerships, and a series of state and local approvals, the grassroots public park has become New Orleans’s first official skatepark.

This landscape and concrete design+build project creates an entryway to activate the under-utilized space beneath the I-610 overpass with areas for seating and skating. 2,500 square feet of rain gardens capture and filter stormwater runoff from the interstate. Custom benches and bike racks were fabricated and installed and artists and volunteers painted the interstate columns and beams to provide amenities and a create a vibrant, inviting place.

The skatepark opened with a ribbon cutting on February 28, 2015. Mayor Landrieu noted “By working together we have created a unique place that can inspire our young people and give them an opportunity to stay physically active and out of trouble.”

Awards
Ruby Bruner Award for Urban Excellence, Silver Medal - 2019
SEED Award-2016

Project Leads
Doug Harmon, Matt Decotii, Emilie Taylor Welty, John Coyle
Design
Carly Epler,Tarah Jean, Colleen Loughlin, Tatyana Moraczewski, Matt Ngo, Caitlin Parker, Ian Rosenfield, Sanaa Shaikh, Alfia White, Grant Whittaker, Emily Youngblood
Build
Sara Conner, Lee Cooper, Ruben Contreras, Elizabeth Himmel,Tatyana Moraczewski, Paul Morin, Matt Ngo, Ali Rex, Ashley Ricketson, Jonathan Sharp
Sign Art
Heidi Tullman