Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve Temporarily Closes Visitor Center and Trails for Improvements

Marrero, La. - Beginning on Feb. 2, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve will temporarily close the Visitor Center and most trails at the Barataria Preserve to accommodate demolition and construction for a major trail improvement and future facility enhancement project. The park will relocate visitor services to the Town of Lafitte's Visitor Center, just six miles away. These improvements are designed to increase the resiliency of park infrastructure, enhance visitor experience and reduce closures from flooding and storm impacts.

The Twin Canals parking lot, trail and canoe launch will remain open for visitor access throughout the project.

Hurricane Ida caused extensive damage to boardwalks and trail infrastructure throughout the Preserve in 2021. As a result, the park received two Disaster Supplement (DS-22) awards for the Barataria Trails Improvement Project and the Jones Point Trailer Replacement Project. Tribal consultation began in October 2022, and public meetings were held in October 2022 and September 2023, with substantive feedback incorporated into project planning.

For the Trails Improvement Project, a Value Analysis in May 2023 and a subsequent environmental assessment informed the preferred plan, which includes rebuilding 1.3 miles of elevated boardwalk with durable composite materials and wooden guardrails, and removing 1.1 miles of damaged trail with restoration to natural wetland conditions. A finding of no significant impact was signed in December 2024. These improvements will make the trail network more resilient and accessible year-round.

For the Jones Point Trailer Relocation project, the park has selected a strategy to consolidate administrative functions within the existing Visitor Center building and relocate interpretive services and public operations to the larger, more accessible Education Center, which will become the new Visitor Center. This configuration will improve visitor circulation, create a more engaging experience and separate public-facing spaces from administrative operations.

Timeline:

• Demolition and construction for the trail improvements are scheduled to begin in early February 2026 and will be completed in phases over two years. Trails will reopen to the public as each phase is finished.
• Construction for the Jones Point Relocation Project is expected to begin in spring 2027 and continue for approximately two years.