The New Orleans historically Black subdivision broke ground in the Jim Crow south and is still a top destination for the arts, sports, and ecotourism.
In 1956 , hundreds of BlackNew Orleansfamilies moved to a fresh , safe , masterfully designed Black section near Lake Pontchartrain , Pontchartrain Park . It was the first of its kind in New Orleans and is even now on theNational Register of Historic Placesbecause of it . There , while Jim Crow segregation was still very existent — specially in an area flanked by whites - only neighborhoods — Pontchartrain Park residents found a Shangri - atomic number 57 . These day , many original residents have pass on but several family remain . family today are starting a Renascence there , keeping the wholeness of yorewhile improve for today .
An oasis for Black middle class
In June 2020 , New Orleans’Pontchartrain Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places . The physical marker , erected in June 2022 due to delays link up with the coronavirus pandemic , yell Pontchartrain Park “ one of the first African - American subdivisions of its kind with modern homes and recreational amenities built in the South .. once considered the safe provenance for Black hope and prosperity . " ThePontchartrain Park Neighborhood AssociationandNew Orleans ’ Preservation Resource Centernominated the neighborhood in 2019 , working together to evidence why the first Black subdivision in New Orleans was desirable of such appellation .
plant in 1952 , built in 1955 , and first populate in 1956 , the neighbourhood was created after the 1954 Brown vs. Board conclusion to terminate school day segregation turn over the 1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson decision to let separate but equal facilities . curiously enough , thePlessy vs. Fergusoncase start in New Orleans . Since there was no timeline to move into conformation following the Brown vs. Board conclusion , New Orleans was still heavily segregate through the mid-1960 ’s , via Jim Crow separatism . Pontchartrain Park was an oasis for shameful middle class New Orleans families , a literal safe haven apart from straight adjacent White only neighborhoods .
A new concept for Black families
A 1955 Pontchartrain Park ad order , “ Quality is the keynote in Pontchartrain Park . ” For decades , blackened sept were offer the scraps . Pontchartrain Park declaration in the newspaper publisher promised the home plate would n’t “ carry any sign of cheapness ” and that developers had " taken into account increase and increasing earning power of Negro citizens . "
Families purchased homes in Pontchartrain Park before they were in reality reconstruct , and in just 10 days at a business district saleroom 67 of the 1,000 houses were sold . The National Association of Home Builders called the pre - selling a “ noted experimentation ” in theirCorrelator powder store . Many used FHA and GI financing , with zero down payment for veterinarian . According toThe Louisiana Weekly , a Black New Orleans newspaper , in January 1956 Mr. and Mrs. Clim McClendon were the first to bribe a Modern home in Pontchartrain Park .
Mid-century modern design with the latest technology
The country where the subdivision was built was all cypress tree swampland antecedently . There were 35 expressive style and seven floorplans of the two- and three - chamber homes , which were all California - vogue ranch houses , with brick , cedar shakes , asbestos shingles , or perpendicular wood sidetrack , as well as carports , blanket overhang , screened in porches , and optional line conditioning . There were also concrete streets and sidewalks , secret sewerage and fervency hydrant . This was all novel and exciting to New Orleans , as well as the curvilinear street design and figure - eight layout .
It was opposed at first
A November 1953 clause inThe Times - Picayunereports that residents of Gentilly Woods , a neighboring whites - only subdivision , fight development of Pontchartrain Park . In a residential area meeting with Pontchartrain Park developer , United States President of the Gentilly Woods Improvement Association Ralph Lichtlus had a petion of 1,000 Gentilly Woods resident physician who were against “ any such planned Negro development . ” He said that most of the immigrants who bought in Gentilly Woods “ were not informed when they purchased their belongings of any proposed Negro developing at once northward of Gentilly Woods ” and feel they would be “ face up with the devaluation of [ their ] property ” and “ passing of an equity which constitutes their only deliverance . ”
Demographics changed following Hurricane Katrina
What begin in the mid-1950 ’s as a subdivision for middle - family smutty families has , of class , changed over the long time — peculiarly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 . But that ’s not a bad thing , and a renaissance looks like on the celestial horizon .
Before the flood well-nigh wipe out the neighbourhood , most of its occupier were old individuals who possess their homes . Hurricane Katrina forced many elder out of their home , and most did n’t render . Many of their nestling , mostly in their 50 ’s and 60 ’s at the time with families of their own , found it easier to sell the home . Many of those homes have since been rebuilt and change by reversal into rentals , but many are being completely refurbished and novel families , for the most part millennials and Gen Xers , are move in . One thing that has n’t changed drastically , which is surprising when we consider the gentrification across New Orleans , is the racial make-up of the community . Pontchartrain Park , accord to the New Orleans Data Center , isstill a Black New Orleans subdivision .
A Great Place for Ecological Exploration
Pontchartrain Park is a slap-up place for birdwatching , with plentiful egret and herons that you ’ll almost only see near water ; disconsolate jays , cardinals , woodpecker , mockingbirds , and crows found all over the metropolis ; a singular Thelonious Sphere Monk paraquet universe and the occasional hawk and pelicans . occupier , golf class groundskeepers , and the neck of the woods affiliation take pride in the residential area and there are also several beautiful tree and works to remark , peculiarly on a Monday when the golf course of instruction is close to golfers but receptive to pedestrians and bicyclist .
It ’s always been a beautiful surface area , but to prepare for the arm the cypress tree swampland had to be dredged . The developers also plant 5,500 pounds of Italian ryegrass and added 5,500 BlueGills from the Beachwood Fish Hatchery in Alexandria , Lousiana to two lagoons .
Today , Pontchartrain Park is also an ecotourism goal , withAirboat Swamp Tours of New OrleansandBig Easy Swamp Adventuressetting canvass from the canal bordering Pontchartrain Park .
The Munch Factory
A wide range of famous residents live in the neighborhood
plausibly the most famous resident of Pontchartrain Park is actorWendell Piercefromthe WireandTreme . Other notable residents include the president and CEO of the National Urban League and former New Orleans mayor , Marc H. Morial ; his founder , former mayor , Dutch Morial ; Louisiana district 93 state representative , Royce Duplessis ; musician and Black Masking Indian of the Wild Tchoupitoulas , Flagboy Giz ; Obama ’s former EPA administrator , Lisa Jackson ; former Supreme Court Chief Justice , Bernette Joshua Johnson ; singer Irma Thomas ; instrumentalist Terence Blanchard ; and medicine producer and composer Dave Bartholomew .
A Golfer’s paradise in New Orleans
The Joseph M. Bartholomew golf game course offer traditional golf , five - week clinics , and next-to-last golf game withFirst Tee Greater New Orleans . Club and cart rentals more low-cost here than at any other path in the metropolis . The form has its own restaurant and bar , The Munch Factory , with floor to ceiling glass panels and outdoor seating with select view of the green .
ThePontchartrain Park courseis cite in honor of Joseph M. Bartholomew , America ’s first inglorious golf game course architect and designer . He was once also the course ’s golf pro , and the Pontchartrain Park golf course was the first golf game course that he plan on which he could actually play . Bartholmew jump as a caddy at seven years honest-to-god all across the with child New Orleans area , then as a greenskeeper , and was eventually send off to New York to acquire about golf game course architecture . He designed golf game course across the urban center , and became the first fateful man inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame .
Visit Pontchartrain Park’s HBCU, SUNO
Southern University at New Orleans ( SUNO)is a fun spot to watch hoops , enjoy play and musicals , and admire dark art . Thanks to Duncan James Corrow Grant and donations , it ’s even a place for the community to getsmall clientele adviceandgrief and hurt therapy . ArtistTed Ellis was late namedthe first director of the Southern University at New Orleans Museum of Art ( SUNOMA ) , and at 6 pm on Thursday , October 27 , 2022 there will be an opening response .
Where to stay in Pontchartrain Park
At the edge of Pontchartrain Park is theNew Orleans RV Resort and Marina , which is big enough to almost be its own locality . away from being an RV inner circle and a storage facility for gravy boat and RVs , there are six type of waterfront villa and holiday letting , with three units that are actually floating on the water . There ’s also a eating house and stripe open to the public , Lighthouse Bar and Grill .
Where to eat, drink, and shop in Pontchartrain Park
As mentioned above , Pontchartrain Park was founded as a Blacks - only oasis , surround by White River - only neighborhoods . One of which , Gentilly Woods , faces a route with several shops , restaurants , and at one time a miniskirt - plaza ( now a Wal - Mart ) . Since White Flight and since Katrina , most of what was , “ ai n’t dere no atomic number 42 , ” as we say .
The two persist restaurants in Pontchartrain Park are Munch Factory and Lighthouse Bar and Grill . But nearby in Gentilly Woods , away from the many chain restaurants and run - of - the - mill “ urban ” community stores , there ’s Pastor Mel ’s Bethel Colony businesses . That includesPontilly Coffee , Pontilly Sno , God is in effect All the Time Car Wash , Bethel Colony Thrift Store , and a succus and smoothie shop open before long . All proceeds benefit the gist contumely retrieval program Pastor Mel offer , and all his businesses are Black - own .
Swamp Tours New Orleans
Friends of Joe Bartholomew Golf Course
Southern University at New Orleans
Megan Braden-Perry | Pontilly Sno
