There's no denying that Audubon Park, City Park, and Armstrong Park are quite the spectacles of beauty, but today we're going to turn the spotlight on some of the city's parks and green spaces that don't receive the same level of fanfare as the big three. From neighborhood parks to the 135-acre Joe Brown Memorial Park in New Orleans East to a few waterfront destinations, we've mapped out 18 places around town. Have a favorite park that didn't make this list? Don't hesitate to tell us all about it on the tipline or after the jump.
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Mapping 18 of New Orleans' Public Parks
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Markey Park
Once fenced off in its days as Bywater's unofficial dog park, Markey Park was spruced up last year (in a move that didn't thrill everyone) with new landscaping, benches, and a playground. [photo: Thor Carlson]
Coliseum Square
In the middle of the Lower Garden District, Coliseum Square has winding paths through green space, sweeping live oaks, and a fountain. The neighborhood park isn't an official dog park but off-leash pooches are a common sight here. [photo: infrogmation]
Palmer Park
This park in the Carrollton neighborhood, home to the monthly Palmer Park Arts Market, is right on the streetcar line and has a mini-rock climbing wall, a playground for the kiddies, and 5.6-acres of greenery. [photo: infrogmation]
Annunciation Square Park
A less popular option than its neighbor, Coliseum Square, this Lower Garden District park located across from the Saulet apartment complex still has plenty of green space, plus basketball courts and the occasional soccer match. [photo: infrogmation
Lafayette Square
The second-oldest park in New Orleans (it was designed in 1788), this 2.5-acre CBD spot is home to the Wednesdays at the Square and Harvest the Music concert series. [photo: wikimedia]
The Clouet Gardens
A vacant HANO-owned lot for over 15 years, neighbors stepped in and signed a 10-year lease on the green space in 2011. The charming Bywater plot of land is now a volunteer/donation-run spot with occasional fundraisers and art markets. [photo: Clouet Gardens]
Washington Square Park
Right on Frenchmen Street and stretching over to Elysian Fields Avenue, this 2.5-acre Marigny park has a playground, benches, green space, and it sometimes hosts music and special events. [photo: nola.gov]
Brechtel Park
A 110-acre urban oasis in Algiers, Brechtel Park is known as a bird-watching hot spot. Hours are limited, though, with a 6 p.m. closing time during Daylight Savings time and it costs a buck to get inside ($2 for those who aren't residents of Orleans Parish). [photo: nola.gov]
Alcee Fortier Park
Dating back to the 1926, this hidden gem at Esplanade Avenue and Mystery Street was named after the prolific author/Romance languages Tulane professor Alcee Fortier, who once owned a chunk of land in this Mid-City area. [photo: infrogmation/flickr]
Breakwater Park
A peninsula park that juts out into Lake Pontchartrain. Perfect for star-gazing. [photo: Andrew Madden]
St. Patrick Park
This Mid-City park is home to kickball leagues and has a softball field and playground.[photo: Matthew Ginger]
Taylor Park
This space got quite the makeover and is now the site of city-sponsored Fit NOLA and family events, plus movie nights through the New Orleans Recreation Department.[photo: NORD/fb]
Behrman Park
Holy Cross Levee
Okay, so it's not technically a park, but the levee in the Holy Cross neighborhood of the Lower Ninth Ward has spectacular views of the city, a walking path/bike trail lined with benches, and plenty of grass. [photo: infrogmation/flickr]
Joe Brown Memorial Park
This 135-acre park in New Orleans East has a rec center, ball fields, picnic shelters and when an $8.4M facelift wraps up, the 86-acre nature center will re-open (it's been closed since Katrina) with a planetarium, nature trails, and amphitheater.
Cabrini Park
This isn't a city-officiated dog park, but for those not cool with the canines probably want to skip over this French Quarter space. [photo: infrogmation/flickr
Woldenberg Riverfront Park
For a break from the Quarter madness, this park has river views, public art, and it's a good place to lounge in the grass and people watch. [photo: sporst/flickr]
The Fly
The Fly, located behind Audubon Zoo along the Mississippi River, is popular with the college sect and is an Uptown hot spot for crawfish boils, picnics, frisbee throwing, soccer matches, and catching the rays. [photo: Bart Everson/flickr]
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