New Orleans has added a new destination to its growing collection of outdoor spaces with the opening of the newest phase of Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park. The six-acre expansion officially opened to the public on April 16, 2026, transforming what was once a working warehouse site at Governor Nicholls Street Wharf into a vibrant green space along the Mississippi River.
The new park provides New Orleans residents and visitors with riverfront access at Governor Nicholls for the first time in generations. The latest addition features lush landscaping, shade trees, open gathering areas and a marsh-themed playground designed to give children a place to explore and play while reflecting the natural environment of southeast Louisiana.
A New Connection to the Mississippi River
One of the most significant aspects of the new park is its role in connecting the New Orleans riverfront. With the latest expansion, visitors can now enjoy continuous public access along the Mississippi River from Spanish Plaza to Crescent Park.
The 2.25-mile stretch is one of the longest contiguous riverfront parks in the country, offering a unique way to experience New Orleans from the water’s edge. The park also helps connect multiple neighborhoods while creating new opportunities for visitors to walk, relax and spend time outdoors.
The transformation is especially meaningful given the site’s history. The riverfront has long played a central role in New Orleans, serving as the backbone of the city’s economy and shaping its development over generations. The new park gives visitors the opportunity to experience that history while enjoying a modern public space.
“Experiencing the river here offers a glimpse into the city’s earliest days when it served as the backbone of the local economy,” said Michael J. Sawaya, CEO of Audubon Nature Institute and L. Ronald Forman Chair in Conservation Leadership. “Transforming former working warehouses into a vibrant, accessible green space will make a meaningful impact on our community.”
The NOLA Front Porch
One of the park’s signature features is the “NOLA Front Porch,” an open-air meeting and gathering space inspired by the city’s origins along the riverfront.
The concept evokes the traditional front porch as a place where people gather, connect and spend time together. At the new riverfront park, the space provides an area for community events, meetings and casual gatherings with the Mississippi River as a backdrop.
The park also includes a marsh-themed playground, bringing elements of Louisiana’s distinctive wetlands into the design and giving younger visitors an interactive way to connect with the region’s natural environment.
A Collaborative Vision for the Riverfront
The new six-acre park was developed after extensive research and planning focused on how the riverfront could best serve the New Orleans community. Audubon Nature Institute worked with nationally recognized designers EskewDumezRipple and Hargreaves Jones to create the new space.
The park is named Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park in honor of the Goldring Family and the Woldenberg Foundations, whose support has played an important role in transforming the downtown New Orleans riverfront into a destination filled with public green spaces and cultural attractions.
The latest opening represents the second of three planned expansions for the park. Planning for the final phase is scheduled to begin later this year and will include the demolition of part of the warehouse at the Esplanade Street Wharf.
Plan Your Visit
Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park is open Sunday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, the park remains open until midnight.
With its combination of shaded green spaces, river views, playgrounds and gathering areas, the new park offers another way for visitors to experience New Orleans beyond the city’s famous restaurants, music venues and historic neighborhoods.
For travelers, the new park provides a peaceful place to take a break while exploring downtown. For local residents, it creates a new public space along a stretch of the Mississippi River that has been inaccessible for generations.
As New Orleans continues to reconnect with its riverfront, Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park is helping transform the water’s edge into a place where history, nature and community come together.