List of Louisiana state parks
Map of areas maintained by the Office of State Parks
(Each dot is linked to the corresponding park article)

The state of Louisiana has 22 state parks, which are governed by the Office of State Parks, a division of Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.[1] Louisiana's state park system began in 1934 when the state passed legislation that created the State Parks Commission of Louisiana.[2] In 1952, legislation broadened the role of the commission to include the development of outdoor recreation programs and resources. The commission was renamed Louisiana State Parks and Recreation Commission.[2] In 1977, the Office of State Parks was created in the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism.[2]

Contents

Current parks

Park Name   Parish   Area   Date
Founded  		 Remarks[a]   Photo  
Bayou Segnette State Park Jefferson Parish &10000000000000676000000676 acres (274 ha)[3] 01987 1987 Bayou Segnette State Park features a wavepool with a capacity of 100 people.
Bogue Chitto State Park Washington Parish &100000000000017860000001,786 acres (723 ha)[4] 02010 2010[5] Bogue Chitto State Park, pronounced bo-guh chit-uh,[6] contains 14 miles (23 km) of equestrian trails with the trailhead located near Fricke's Cave.
Chemin-A-Haut State Park Morehouse Parish &10000000000000503000000503 acres (204 ha)[7] 01935 1935[8] The park was designed with children in mind and has two playgrounds at the day use area
Chicot State Park Evangeline Parish &100000000000064000000006,400 acres (2,590 ha)[9][10] 01939 1939[8] Chicot State Park contains the Louisiana State Arboretum, which has a mature beech-magnolia forest.
Cypremort Point State Park St. Mary Parish &10000000000000185000000185 acres (75 ha)[9][11] 02004 2004 Most of the park is situated on a half-mile stretch of a man-made beach
Fairview-Riverside State Park St. Tammany Parish &1000000000000009800000098 acres (40 ha)[12] 01963 1963 The Otis house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located in the park.
Fontainebleau State Park St. Tammany Parish &100000000000028000000002,800 acres (1,133 ha)[13] 01938 1938[14] The park was once the site of a sugar plantation and brick yard operated by Bernard de Marigny.
Grand Isle State Park Jefferson Parish &10000000000000140000000140 acres (57 ha)[15] 01968 1968 Grand Isle State Park is the only state-owned and operated beach on the Louisiana gulf coast.[16]
Hodges Gardens State Park Sabine Parish &10000000000000700000000700 acres (283 ha)[17] 01956 1956[17] Originally a private area of A. J. Hodges, the park features a 225-acre man-made lake that was built in 1954.
Jimmie Davis State Park Jackson Parish &10000000000000294000000294 acres (119 ha)[18] 01996 1996[19] Many of the largest bass caught in Louisiana have been in Caney Lake Reservoir which is in the park.[20] As of 2010, the largest bass from Louisiana was caught at Caney Lake.[21]
Lake Bistineau State Park Webster Parish &10000000000000750000000750 acres (304 ha)[22] 01938 1938[23] Lake Bistineau State Park is the first state park in Louisiana to accommodate African Americans, starting in 1956. The two separated areas are an artifact of the segregated nature of the park at the time.[24]
Lake Bruin State Park Tensas Parish &1000000000000005300000053 acres (21 ha)[25] 01956 1956[26] Lake Bruin State Park was originally established in 1928 as a fish hatchery.
Lake Claiborne State Park Claiborne Parish &10000000000000643000000643 acres (260 ha)[27] 01974 1974[28] The lake at Lake Claiborne State Park is the park's main attraction. When at full reservoir level, it has a surface area of 6,400 acres (2,590 ha)
Lake D'Arbonne State Park Union Parish &10000000000000655000000655 acres (265 ha)[29] 01967 1967 Lake D'Arbonne State Park offers disc golf. The course is located near the group camp.
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park Iberia Parish &100000000000060000000006,000 acres (2,428 ha)[9][30] 01987 1987 The site was once part of the Atchafalaya Basin and the surrounding land was once the home of the Chitimacha Native Americans
North Toledo Bend State Park Sabine Parish &10000000000000900000000900 acres (364 ha)[31][32] 01987 1987 The park is situated on Toledo Bend reservoir, the 5th largest in the nation by surface area.[33]
Palmetto Island State Park Vermillion Parish &100000000000012990000001,299 acres (526 ha)[34] 02010 2010[34] The visitor center complex contains a water playground and a bathhouse.
Poverty Point Reservoir State Park Richland Parish &100000000000027000000002,700 acres (1,093 ha)[35] 02003 2003 Due to an active bear population, bear-proof containers are provided for waste disposal throughout the park.
St. Bernard State Park St. Bernard Parish &10000000000000358000000358 acres (145 ha)[36] 01971 1971[37] A local family business donated the land for the park to Louisiana in 1971.
Sam Houston Jones State Park Calcasieu Parish &100000000000010870000001,087 acres (440 ha)[38] 01944 1944[8] The park is located north of the most productive birding region of Louisiana. At certain times of year, nearly 200 species of birds can be seen within 30 miles (48 km) of the park.
South Toledo Bend State Park Vernon Parish &100000000000010000000001,000 acres (405 ha)[39] 02004 2004[39] South Toledo Bend State Park is a nesting ground for the bald eagle, which feeds from the supply of freshwater fish, including largemouth bass, catfish, bream, and white perch.
Tickfaw State Park Livingston Parish &100000000000012000000001,200 acres (486 ha)[40] 01999 1999[40] Tickfaw State Park contains three distinct ecosystems: cypress/tupelo swamp, a bottomland hardwood forest, a mixed pine/hardwood forest.[41]

Other names of current parks

The following are significantly different former or alternate names for current Louisiana state parks.

Former or Alternate Name   Parish   Date name changed   Current Park Name    Remarks   
Caney Creek Lake State Park Jackson Parish 2003[42] Jimmie Davis State Park The park is located on Caney Lake Reservoir, which was created by damming Caney Creek in 1986.[42]
Lake Bruin Wayside Park Tensas Parish 1962 Lake Bruin State Park Originally only a park, but when made a state park it was renamed.
Sam Houston State Park Calcasieu Parish Sam Houston Jones State Park Originally named for Sam Houston, but was renamed in honor of Sam Houston Jones, 46th Governor of Louisiana.[43]
Tchefuncte State Park and Conservation Reservation St. Tammany Parish Fontainebleau State Park The land was originally owned by Bernard de Marigny who called the area Fontainebleau after a forest in Paris he admired.[14] When designated a state park, Governor Richard Leche named it Tchefuncte State Park and Conservation Reservation, which was later reverted back to Fontainebleu.

See also

Notes

a. ^ Unless otherwise noted, all remarks come from the official website from the Louisiana Office of State Parks within the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism.

References

  • Smith, Darren L. (2007-05-30). Gill, Kay. ed. Parks Directory of the United States (5 ed.). Omnigraphics, Inc.. ISBN 978-0780800182. 
  • Herndon, Ernest (2003-04-15). Canoeing Louisiana. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1578064267. 
  1. ^ "Louisiana State Parks". Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. 2011. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/iparkslisting.aspx. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  2. ^ a b c The History of Louisiana's State Parks. Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. 2009. 
  3. ^ Gorman, Carolyn Portier; Schultz, Deborah (pdf). Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program - Tour Guide. p. 20. http://btnep.org/Libraries/Lessons/Field_Trip_Guide_to_the_Barataria-Terrebonne_National_Estuary.sflb.ashx. Retrieved 2011-03-18. 
  4. ^ "Bogue Chitto State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/iboguechitto.aspx. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
  5. ^ Derry, Jim (4 August 2010). "Bogue Chitto State Park near Franklinton set to open at the end of this month". The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana: Advance Publications). http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/08/bogue_chitto_state_park_near_f.html. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
  6. ^ Baca, Keith (2007-06-01). Native American place names in Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi. p. 10. ISBN 978-1578069552. 
  7. ^ "Chemin-A-Haut State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/icheminah.aspx. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
  8. ^ a b c 2009 Wall Calendar - 75 Years of Celebrating Louisiana's Treasures and Making Memories. Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. 2009. 
  9. ^ a b c Louisiana State Parks Cajun Country Brochure. Louisiana State Parks. 2007. 
  10. ^ "Chicot State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/ichicot.aspx. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
  11. ^ "Cypremort Point State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/iCyprempt.aspx. Retrieved 3 January 2011. 
  12. ^ DeHaan, Vici (April 1996). State Parks of the South: America's Historic Paradise : A Guide to Camping, Fishing, Hiking, & Sightseeing. Johnson Books. p. 192. ISBN 978-1555661670. 
  13. ^ "Fontainebleau State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/iFontaine.aspx. Retrieved 3 January 2011. 
  14. ^ a b Nixon Adams. "Northshore Conifer - It Is What It Was". Northshore Conifer. http://www.northshoreconifer.com/Articles/tabid/56/EntryId/219/It-Is-What-It-Was.aspx. Retrieved 2011-03-18. 
  15. ^ Frois, Jeanne; Calhoun, Milburn (2006-05-31). Louisiana Almanac: 2006-2007 (17 ed.). Pelican Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 978-1589803060. 
  16. ^ "Portion of Grand Isle State Park Beach Reopens" (PDF) (Press release). publisher=Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. 2011-05-03. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/PressReleases%5C20110429.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-12. 
  17. ^ a b "Hodges Gardens State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/ihodges.aspx. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
  18. ^ Smith 2007, p. 499.
  19. ^ "Jimmie Davis State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/ijimmiedavis.aspx. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
  20. ^ John N. Felsher (May 2006). "The Changing Face Of Caney Lake". http://www.lagameandfish.com/fishing/bass-fishing/LA_0506_01/index.html. Retrieved 2011-04-01. 
  21. ^ Andy Crawford (2010-03-25). "16-pound bass caught on Caddo, Louisiana record at stake". http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=2151. Retrieved 2011-04-01. "The current state record is a 15.97-pounder landed by Greg Wiggins in 1994 while fishing Caney Lake." 
  22. ^ Louisiana State Parks - A Guide to Louisiana's State Parks, State Historic Sites and Preservation Areas Brochure. Louisiana State Parks. 2007. 
  23. ^ "Lake Bistineau State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on 2005-03-05. http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20050305082231/http://www.crt.state.la.us/crt/parks/lakebist/bistino.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-17. 
  24. ^ Otto, David (2007-08-17). Insiders' Guide to Shreveport. Insiders' Guide. p. 127. ISBN 978-0762757022. 
  25. ^ Fonseca, Mary (1996-08-08). Weekend Getaways in Louisiana. Pelican Publishing. p. 188. ISBN 978-1565540965. 
  26. ^ Wilson, Amanda (2008-12-03). "Lousiana, USA, That is the Place for Me". http://www.articleshmarticle.com/Art/166367/190/Lousiana-USA-That-Is-The-Place-For-Me.html. Retrieved 2011-06-20. 
  27. ^ "Claiborne Parish Lakes and Recreation Areas". http://www.claiborneone.org/lakes.html. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
  28. ^ Outdoor Recreation Action. United States. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. 1974. p. 67. 
  29. ^ "Lake D'Arbonne State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/iDarbonne.aspx. Retrieved 17 January 2011. 
  30. ^ "Lake Fausse Pointe State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/ilakefaus.aspx. Retrieved 16 January 2011. 
  31. ^ "North Toledo Bend State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/Parks/intoledo.aspx. Retrieved 3 January 2011. 
  32. ^ Louisiana State Parks Crossroads Brochure. Louisiana State Parks. 2007. 
  33. ^ "North Toledo Bend (WMA)". Austin, Texas: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2009-04-21. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/lst/?id=33. Retrieved 2011-06-13. 
  34. ^ a b Bergeron, Judy (7 November 2010). "Palmetto Island State Park opens in Abbeville". The Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana). http://www.2theadvocate.com/entertainment/106780383.html. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
  35. ^ Smith 2007, p. 502.
  36. ^ Sternberg, Mary Ann. The Pelican Guide to Louisiana (2 ed.). Pelican Publishing Company Inc.. p. 160. ISBN 9780882899015. 
  37. ^ "St. Bernard State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/istbernrd.aspx. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
  38. ^ "Sam Houston State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/iShjones.aspx. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
  39. ^ a b "South Toledo Bend State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks". Louisiana: Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/istb.aspx. Retrieved 2011-01-30. 
  40. ^ a b Herndon 2003, p. 165.
  41. ^ Gomez, Ms. Gay M. (2008-10-09). The Louisiana Coast: Guide to an American Wetland. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. p. 161. ISBN 978-1603440332. 
  42. ^ a b "Office of State Parks - Jimmie Davis State Park". Louisiana Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/ijimmiedavis.aspx. Retrieved 2011-03-18. 
  43. ^ "Office of State Parks - Sam Houston Jones State Park". Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/ishjones.aspx. Retrieved 2011-05-13. 

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