Gyde
Open prototypeProto
Back to all New Orleans places

New Orleans, Orleans Parish / Parks and outdoors

Coliseum Square Park

A historic public park in the Lower Garden District, featuring expansive green space, mature live oak trees, and a legacy of urban planning from the early 1800s.

Open prototype Official site Get directions

What is Coliseum Square Park known for?

It is a historic public park in the Lower Garden District known for its mature live oak trees and expansive green space.

Where is the park located?

The park is located in the historic Lower Garden District between St. Charles Avenue and the Mississippi River.

Why is it called Coliseum Square?

The name derives from a Roman-style coliseum that was planned for the site but never actually constructed.

What are the park's main features?

The park features a water basin with a fountain, green "fingers" extending in three directions, and is surrounded by mid- to late-19th-century houses.

Can I hold an event at the park?

Yes, but a city permit is required to use public parks for events in the City of New Orleans.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

Coliseum Square Park is a historic public park located in the Lower Garden District, a neighborhood that served as one of the earliest expansion areas from the French Quarter. The park was envisioned by French architect Barthélémy Lafon in 1806, who designed the surrounding neighborhood as a classical-style grid of city blocks with this roughly triangular-shaped, three-acre park at its center. To manage the swampy terrain, Lafon originally designed two tree-lined canals that emptied into a semi-circular basin at the Melpomene Street end. The park's name is a curious remnant of a planned but never-built Roman-style coliseum, or Collesée, which was intended to be the focal point of the area. Despite the absence of the monument, the name persisted. The square is now surrounded by fine mid- to late-19th-century houses that reflect the area's historic architectural urban fabric. In the mid-1970s, the park underwent a major restoration by the landscape architecture firm Charles Caplinger and Associates. This renovation was tied to the efforts of the Coliseum Square Association, formed in 1972, which fought against a proposed Mississippi River bridge ramp that would have destroyed the neighborhood. The restoration added new walks, lighting, benches, and water features, including a fountain that remains a favorite neighborhood gathering place. Today, the park is managed by the City of New Orleans Department of Parks and Parkways. It remains a serene green space within the National Register of Historic Places' Lower Garden District, listed in 1972.

Visitor tips

  • Bring a book or a camera to enjoy the expansive green space and mature live oak trees.
  • Walk around the perimeter to admire the mid- to late-19th-century houses surrounding the square.
  • Allow time to visit the neighborhood fountain, a popular gathering place for locals.

Nearby context

Coliseum Square Park is situated in the heart of the Lower Garden District, positioned between St. Charles Avenue and the Mississippi River, and near Jackson Avenue.

Sources

Evidence and links