Earlier this month National Urban League president & CEO and former New Orleans mayor, Marc H. Morial visited the local Wetland Park and Nature Trail, which is operated by the Sankofa Community Development Corporation
The tour highlighted a 40-acre space that is being revitalized from blight and illegal dumping to provide coastal protection, stormwater management, green infrastructure, environmental education, and recreation to the residents and community of the Lower Ninth Ward.
While serving as Mayor of New Orleans, Morial made significant strides in cleaning up areas within the Lower Ninth Ward directly connected to the Wetland Park and Nature Trail. After receiving reports of illegal dumping, Morial led efforts to stop unauthorized dumping on the North side of Florida Ave. between Fats Domino Avenue and Tupelo Street, addressing specific locations that were turned into makeshift landfills and facilitating the cleanup of all trash and debris throughout the New Orleans.
Later in 2014, Sankofa identified the same area as an opportunity to develop, which would not have been possible without previous efforts of Morial to clean and restore the area.
“I am excited to visit an effort for urban revitalization through restorative economic and environmental justice,” said Morial. “Sankofa is to be complimented on the creativity and progress in working to restore the Lower Ninth Ward of my beloved New Orleans.”
Morial was joined on his recent tour by representatives from the City of New Orleans, Urban League of Louisiana, and other community leaders, including Deep South Center for Environmental Justice founder & executive director, Dr. Beverly Wright, along with New Orleans City Councilmembers Oliver Thomas and Eugene Green.
