New Orleans Recreation Department records

Collection

Identifier: CA-LRN

Staff Only

New Orleans Recreation Department photographs

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of program flyers and brochures, annual reports, newsletters, and general subject files of the New Orleans Recreation Department. Additional annual repports can be found in the library's catalog under call number LRN200.

Also included in this collection is an annual report from the New Orleans Playgroudn Commission, the precursor to the New Orleans Recreation Department. While department files from the playground commission have not survived, additional annual reports are available in the library's catalog under call number LR200.

Dates

Creation: 1912-2001

Creator

New Orleans Recreation Department (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Available to registered researchers by appointment.

Requesting Materials

Materials Request Guidelines

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction or use of materials is prohibited without the permission of the City Archives & Special Collections. Please review the Archives' Permission to Publish note.

Biographical / Historical

The City Council created the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) passing ordinance 16,630 in September of 1946 replacing the existing Playground Commission. A huge proponent and supportor of NORD, Mayor Morrison continued an interest in the organization throughout his term. Media outlets praised NORD as "the most progressive in the US;" however, the first 20 years of the organization was marked by strict segregation, with separate facilities for white and black residents of the City. Within the first year and a half of its creation, NORD constructed 58 new playgrounds and 8 new swimming pools across the city. Of the total NORD facilities available to the New Orleans community, 19 were for black residents while over 100 were available to white residents. NORD facilities were integrated in 1964, following the passage of the Civil Rights Act and the removal of NORD director Lester Lautenschlaeger.

NORD experienced a steep decline in the years following as racism in local government caused several NORD facilities and swimming pools to close rather than integrate. Public funding was cut, and the organization continued to decline. Hurricane Katrina damaged a number of NORD facilities in 2005, and many remained in a state of disrepair until 2010, when Mayor Mitch Landrieu began efforts to revitalize NORD. The NORD Commission was established to oversee activities and maintenance of NORD facilities and the NORD Foundation to support funding.

More inforamtion about current NORD facilities and operations is available on the NORD website.