Collaborators: Jack Ballard, Harrison Boru, CC Chapman, Clay Moody, Mikala Noonan

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Jean Lafitte National Park is a hidden gem near the town of Jean Lafitte, LA. Once a thriving fishing and shrimping town, Jean Lafitte has seen a steady decrease in its economy over the years and is now turning towards alternative industries to boost its economy. One of these options is the ecotourism industry, which utilizes the neighboring national park and wildlife preserve to attract visitors to the town. However, duee to factors such as land loss, lack of amenities, and damaged infrastructure, JLNP has struggled to attract enough visitors. 

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Our goal is to reimagine the national park masterplan and incorporate resilient yet engaging features that would attract visitors so they could enjoy the park, bring money into the town, and return for future visits. This project was completed alongside a team of undergraduate and graduate architecture and landscape architecture students.

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JLNP is a 26,530 acre site, but  only 10% is currently used for programming due to swamp and marsh conditions. Taking this into consideration, we implemented a new trail system with raised boardwalks and multiple boat routes, anticipating the different user groups that would be frequenting the park. Multiple types of lodging from platform camping to cabins were proposed to suit any need, and a new visitor's center was designed to be used for events, ecological education, purchasing hunting and fishing gear, and as flex spaces for larger gatherings. We are also proposing restoration events such as volunteer tree plantings to help preserve the park and our coasts.