One of the many public parks amidst the urban sprawl of the city, Mississippi River Heritage Park is the most prominent feature of the historic warehouse district of New Orleans, Louisiana. While the space was designed to connect audiences with the natural beauty of the region, the installation of “Scrap House” and a memorial maker have proven to be a more powerful and imaginative way to showcase the legacy and history that the space represents to the entire community.
Part of “Rebuild New Orleans Now!”
Created in 2000 as part of the “Rebuild New Orleans Now!” initiative, Mississippi River Heritage Park directly reflects the effort to rebuild New Orleans streets, parks, playgrounds and public buildings. Located directly across the street from the Convention Center, it provides visitors with a natural respite from the city. It is the site of corporate and convention events, concerts, filming and also serves as a wedding venue. The main lawn is surrounded by a brick walkway, a cast iron fence, and numerous benches.
During Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the city of New Orleans in 2005, Mississippi River Heritage Park housed many of victims of the disaster. A memorial marker was installed to honor the people and remember the events that occurred in 2005. It also compelled the installation of the “Scrap House” sculpture in 2008 by Sally Heller. The landmark was built entirely out of found and recycled material to serve as a memorial to the damage inflicted on the city and community during Hurricane Katrina.
The block-sized lawn that defines Mississippi River Heritage Park allows residents and visitors to engage with the space in numerous ways, helping it to become part of the community. However, the imaginative landmarks that commemorate the history of Hurricane Katrina have ensured that audiences across the eras can experience the legacy it represents.
Imagination That Reflects a Legacy
Mississippi River Heritage Park was created to serve as a new hub for community activity but the open space of the park enabled it to provide a very different kind of support for the city during Hurricane Katrina. The landmarks that have been installed in the space are imaginative illustrations of an effort to create engagement on multiple levels, providing the community with multiple means of connection in the present and future.
