| St. Bernard State Park | |
|---|---|
 Park entrance at Poydras, Louisiana | |
  Map of Louisiana, United States of America | |
| Location | St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, United States |
| Nearest city | Braithwaite or Poydras |
| Coordinates | 29°51′41″N 89°54′03″W / 29.86139°N 89.90083°W[1] |
| Area | 358 acres (1.45 km2; 0.559 sq mi)[2] |
| Established | 1971[1] |
| Visitors | 45,671 (in 2022)[3] |
| Governing body | Louisiana Office of State Parks |
| Official website | |
St. Bernard State Park is a state park located in the American state of Louisiana, on a tract of land in St. Bernard Parish, between the towns of Poydras and Caernarvon. Though located only approximately eighteen miles southeast of New Orleans, attendance had been fledgling at the park for years, ranking among the least visited in the state.
History[edit]
The St. Bernard State Park was created in 1971 when the land that the park sits on was donated to the state by local businessman and former State Senator Lynn Dean and his wife Jackie.[1] The park operated for 34 years as the only state park in the St. Bernard/Plaquemines Parish area until it was severely damaged by storm surge from the levee failures during Hurricane Katrina. The park (along with Fort Pike State Historic Site) remained closed for more than a year due to the severe damage but is now in full operation for camping, birdwatching and day use.
Facilities[edit]
St. Bernard State Park includes the following facilities as compared to that which is available at certain other Louisiana state parks as well as a waterpark and playground for children:
| Boating | Cabins | Dump Stations | Group Tents | Improved Campsites | Lodges | Picnic Areas | Playgrounds | Restrooms | Swimming | Tent Campsites | Trails | Unimproved Campsites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | No | Yes | No | Yes; 51 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes; nature trail | No |
Restoration[edit]
St. Bernard State Park suffered extensive damage as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The park was re-opened with a ceremony Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 4 p.m. with ceremonies by then Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, local dignitaries, local choirs, followed by hayride tours of the site, coffee, hot chocolate and cookies.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "St. Bernard State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ Sternberg, Mary Ann. The Pelican Guide to Louisiana (2 ed.). Pelican Publishing Company Inc. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-88289-901-5.
- ^ "Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget Review Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism" (PDF). Louisiana House of Representatives. March 29, 2023.