Woldenberg Riverfront Park

Woldenberg Riverfront Park Review

This stretch of green from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue overlooks the Mississippi River as it curves around New Orleans, which inspired the Crescent City moniker. The wooden promenade section in front of Jackson Square is called Moon Walk, named for Mayor Moon Landrieu (father of current mayor Mitch Landrieu), under whose administration in the 1970s the riverfront beyond the flood wall was first opened to public view. Today, the French Quarter Festival main stages are located here every April. It's a great place for a rest (or a muffuletta sandwich or café au lait and beignet picnic) after touring the Quarter, and you'll often be serenaded by musicians and amused by street performers. The park is also home to art pieces including the modest Holocaust Memorial, with its spiral walkway clad in Jerusalem stone. At the center of the spiral are nine sculptural panels by Jewish artist Yaacov Agam. A statue of local businessman Malcolm Woldenberg, the park's benefactor, is located near Ocean Song, a large kinetic sculpture whose wind-powered movements are intended to evoke the patterns of New Orleans music. Ocean Song was created by recently deceased and much mourned local artist John T. Scott.