Lafreniere Park

Very peaceful and spacious park in the Metairie area. I was in the area today for some book drop offs, so I decided to visit Lafreniere Park since the weather felt really nice. There are a lot of hills to go up and down on. Various soccer fields are available. There’s also an outdoor stage for concerts and festivals, cute geese and chickens walking along the trail way, and overall a lot of nature in sight. Overall, a pretty nice park.

The most beautiful park and place to watch all sorts of wildlife. It’s pretty unbelievable how pristine they keep this place, right in the city. I love coming to watch all the ducks, small mammals, and other critters, especially around dusk when they’re the most active. Such a beautiful place.

Excellent place So far for me is the best park in NOLA We went on a sunday at 4 pm and was very good There.are people but not a lot. The place is beautiful, for walk, or bike, or skate, or scooter, to eat, to read I recommend a lot to go here

They recently completely revamped their playground and it's GREAT. We love Lafreniere Park. From the farmers market to the playground, disc golf to the giant exercise loop, this park has a little something for everyone. I will say the bird situation may be getting a little out of hand... The resident flock has almost every type of farm bird and family pet bird you can think of, all hanging out together. The kids enjoy it but I'm not sure how healthy that situation is atm.

I really like this park it was very large and had a lot of different things for you to do. It was quite peaceful and relaxing early in the morning to be able to sit and enjoy coffee while just taking a break and collecting my thoughts.

Lafreniere Park is a spacious and well-maintained park that offers a variety of outdoor activities. The park features walking trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, and open green spaces, making it suitable for families, individuals, and groups. It’s generally clean and easy to navigate, providing a comfortable environment to relax or stay active. While it can get busy during peak times, there’s still plenty of space to enjoy nature. Overall, it’s a pleasant park for casual outdoor recreation and leisure.

The staff here truly deserves recognition. They are friendly, hardworking, and consistently provide great customer service. You can tell they care about their work, and it shows in the overall experience. That said, there is room for improvement within the management team. Jonathan and Dave are visible in their roles, but stronger communication, consistency, and leadership would greatly improve both staff morale and daily operations. At times, the lack of alignment affects the flow of service. The employees are doing an excellent job and are the main reason customers continue to return. With improved management practices, this location could easily reach a five-star standard

Was awesome the kiss loved it well worth the wait in line.

I don't visit Lafreniere often because it's in Metairie but every now and then I find a reason. When I had my doggy baby Ginger we would walk the perimeter of the park and I'd let her chase squirrels and ducks (off leash only if other people/dogs weren't around) to exhaust her. The paved track is great for skating and cycling because it's smoothe and easy to navigate. The park itself is pretty large with soccer fields, shelters with bbq pits and spaces to have gatherings. It's a really nice park. The water features (ponds/fountains) are really nice to sit and enjoy or walk around. I do wish people didn't feed the ducks because the water becomes soggy with bread and that can't be good for the animals. Oh well...

Nice walking trail. I enjoy going to Lafreniere park to get in a couple miles daily. It's nice to see my tax dollars at work. I feel very safe on my walks and never had any issues.

What a great park in Metairie, Louisiana. There is also a slew of birds here, so if you like our avian friends, you will like it here. There is plenty of parking and the park is an absolute joy. I would definitely recommend this park.

Love this amazing park! It's spacious, walkable and lots to do around here. I enjoy the incredible serenity it provides. Just viewing nature or sitting around the water is super relaxing. Picnics are always a great idea, tossing a ball on the grass, playing soccer and other fun sports and leisure activities can be enjoyed with others. I love how huge it is to walk around but the people sharing the trail aren't the friendliest. I prefer LaSalle Park because almost everyone you pass in walking or running will speak. The view here is much better though!

They've invested heavily in the park in recent years and it shows. Just drove through today and saw that a new kids area opened and it looked nice . I enjoy coming here to walk the 2 mile loop. It can get crowded, but I'm glad to see it being used.

this is a very peaceful park. there are a lot of family and kids that be at this park. I never see any homeless people at this park. they have somebody this events hosted at this park, such as foodfight and taco. there are a lot of ducks at this park and they are friendly and beautiful to watch.

Fantastic park with many different spaces and areas that are suitable for whatever activity is your preference.

The park is not kept up well. There's damage from Hurricane Ida still. The park manager Tripp, is not too friendly and seems a bit like a car salesman.

We visited the huge dog park area of the park. This is a terrific dog park - really big, lots of trees, well cared for grass, and plentiful dog bags, trash cans, and benches. There is a paved pathway around the entire fenced in park. Parking lot at the park. The rest of Lafreniere park was busy with activities as well on this Saturday - picnics, gatherings, and games.

Splash Pad- this review is specifically for the splash pad area. It is a free area that is open on Fri- Sun during summer months. The splash pad is a small area but nice to cool down for the smaller one. It is gated and far from the parking lot which is good for kids who like to run. There is only one bench in there so seating could be limited. I recommend bringing folding chair to sit inside the splash pad area to closer watch your kids. There is also a park right next door . It is a little worn and could use some updating but my toddler enjoyed playing on it.

I went to the Christmas Lights in Lafreniere Park for the first time this year. I waited in line for 50 minutes before I even got to the part of the park to see the lights. Unfortunately, I was probably in line longer than I was actually out looking at the lights because they were closing.

What an amazing time I had here. My first time and it was such an experience I hope everyone has a chance to go to the que Pasa festival.

Lafreiniere Park was opened in 1982 and is gigantic. It is over 155 acres. It does not appear to have many upgrades since then, but it is still a pretty good park. The park is very picturesque The park has tons of amenities including a splash pad, 2 playground areas with traditional swings and a jungle gym with slides, a marina, an awesome turf field, and a huge filed that is subdivided into 6 soccer fields, an 18-hole disk course, a 2 mile paved Healthtrak/walking trail with two warm-up areas, a carousel with 30 moving horses, a tiger, a zebra, and 2 chariots (1 handicapped accesible), 8 shelters with picnic tables that can be rented, a foundation center that can also be rented to host meetings, receptions, showers, and parties, a 5 acre dog park ( I can't speak on it though), and the outdoor Copeland Amphitheater, that is named after the long time New Orleans resident and founder of Popeye's. Of course they have bathrooms and paved walking/jogging trails. There is also benches along the marina to sit and look out to the water. With a park this size, there is a lot of greenspace at this park available to play catch, have a picnic, fly a kite or other fun activities. The playground equipment is adequate. I have seen better and I have seen much worse. It would not hurt to upgrade it. The turf field is lighted and can be used for soccer, football, and ultimate frisbee to name a few activities. Every winter they host the Christmas in the Park light show to raise money for the park. The park is decorated with over 10 million LED lights and there are visits by Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch, and Elves. If you go though, the lines are looooonnnggg, so be prepared to wait. The park has tons of free parking available. I really like this park. I have been here many times. It is a nice place to get away from the big city and sit and watch the water or walk around the trail and clear your head. This is one of the better parks in the area and I am sure you will find it and its many amenities very enjoyable

Where ya at? Mom and Dad took me to the Big Easy this weekend. Well actually Metairie, but close enough. We went to Lafreniene Park on Saturday, and I was hoping to run into Zac George and some of his friends. He's a trainer who lives down here. We tried the dog park first, it a big park with small and large dog areas. I noticed this park has some of the nicest fences I have ever seen. Not your typical chain link fences. They are like walls, only with steel slats. Call it whatever you want, it was a border. The large park has a concrete trail inside that makes a loop. That seems unusual, but I guess it's designed to keep the humans off the grass. We didn't stay long because the park was very muddy. I didn't mind, but mom was freaking out. I guess she didn't want to give me a bath. I will admit the mud looked pretty nasty. It's like a grey silty soup. I'm used to the red dirt back home in Alabama. So instead of playing at the dog park we explored the rest of the park. I'm glad we did because it was terrific. There is a two mile trail around the park. I saw a little bit of everything.. What is frisbee golf? I thought frisbees were made just for retrieving. And hundreds of little humans kicking balls. But the best part was the wildlife. I saw squirrels, ducks, chickens, and cats. I gotta get me one! No sightings of Zac George, but this park is fantastic. Signed, Macey the golden pup

I absolutely adore this park. I started visiting for the 2 mile walking trail, but it is a huge park with a nice lake, bird sanctuary, carousel, and pavilions. I love that there are little playgrounds for the kiddos, as well as a dog park for people with fur babies. Also, I see many people playing soccer in the huge green spaces near the trails. My infant daughter enjoys her stroller rides out here, and it ample parking

Love coming to this park! It's very peaceful at times. I enjoy running along the path or on the sidewalks. I love how they have dog parks for large and small doggies! Plenty of parking spaces. Lots of birds everywhere which includes chickens, ducks and geese. Be careful! Those birds will chase you. Overall a nice park to go to!

While the park itself is quite nice and tucked away in a corner of Metairie I'd never been to before, the light show they put on is nice, but not worth the $10/car they are asking for.

I've been going to this park since a was a small child. It's perfect for birthday parties, family picnics and working out! There are different exercise/work out stations along the track. The park is well taken care of. The staff does an excellent job maintaining the park's appearance. I love the dog park. The dog park is sectioned. There is one section for small dogs and another section for larger dogs. There are various free concerts at the park. You can check the park's website for more information.

The Christmas run is a scam! The description states that the course for the run/walk takes you through the lights display, and the lights weren't turned on! We came back through the display in our vehicle, and had to wait in line for an hour before a rude older man yelled at me and took my commemorative race bib from me at the entrance.

We visited Lafreniere Park while on a vacation to New Orleans. A local friend recommended it as a great place to check out some Christmas lights. The cost is five dollars per car to drive through the lights. You can then park your car and do a walk through. Bring a little cash along for some snacks or hot chocolate and enjoy. Be sure to check out the artificial snow station for the kids. It's in the pavilion. And don't forget the loads of photo ops that are set up. The lights were super cool. So many and such a variety. Super heros. Classic displays. Pokémon. Minions. Animated displays. You name it. We were there on a Wednesday and it wasn't terribly busy at all. Bonus. Law enforcement was on site to keep things rolling along and for safety. I have to say that this was the one time we were actually out at night time and felt safe. It's a lovely park in a great area. We had an awesome time. It certainly satisfied the kid's craving to see some lights.

Lafreniere is a great park in my opinion. It has lots of activities to keep you busy or if you just want to sit and relax it also has plenty of benches. This park is very kid-friendly. The activities they can partake in include feeding the ducks, enjoying the spray park, riding the carousel, or playing on the playground equipment. I also have been here a few times to watch soccer games. They have over 7 fields just for sports. What I really like about the park, though, is that it is rarely ever crowded during the week. It is also one of the cleaner parks in the city. There are nice ponds in this park which adds to the beauty of the park. If you have a dog take your dog to the dog park. It is a very nice dog area with lots of friendly dogs and owners there! If you like to jog they have a 2-mile track circling the park. I love Lafreniere Park and think it is a wonderful asset to the people of Jefferson Parish!

David and I were here for the Christmas lights and it was okay. The line to get in is insanely long- we waited at least 30 minutes and I feel like it could have been better organized. It's $5 to see the Christmas lights during the holiday season. They have a nice little setup of different characters and things like that. It's not quite as "extravagant" as Celebration in the Oaks, but it's a nice little thing to do for the holidays. You can get out and walk around or you can just drive through. We drove through and it goes pretty fast if you drive. You might want to walk if you're looking to make an evening of it.

I love to bring my pup to the park, and he loves to bird watch/chase and people watch. I don't let him chase the people. I don't think they would appreciate it. There is so much room at the park it's very enjoyable even when it's packed with a soccer tournament or any other event. The park has fireworks for New Years and 4th of July, Christmas lights during the holidays, and other festivals and events during the year. Lots of families come here for birthdays or reunions since there are pavilions to rent. There is also a walking track with workout stops along the track. The dog park is pretty big and nice, complete with separate areas for big and small dogs. Overall a Great place to hang out any day of the week!

I absolutely love this park. It has come a long way over the decades. The park is super kid and pet friendly, as they offer all the amenities a kid or pet would love. The lawn is always nicely cut, and the small animals are always friendly. The park has ducks, geese, fish, and other small creatures that make the park seem like some sort of free mini zoo. It's not overrun with small animals, but they are in various spots, and I find them pleasant. I love the "walk" bridges and waterways. Again, just another beautiful attraction. The bridges are a great spot to fish or just take in the scenery. There is always something going on at the park, whether it's a sports game or Christmas light show. Oh, and there's a pretty good sno-ball stand right next to the park!

The park has a nice walking and jogging trail with exercise equipment in a few areas. It is quite the jewel. There are several pavillions,hills and small trails if you need the occasion diversion. While on the path, you get the chance to see, area residents in their yard, the chickens on site, ducks, people hanging out in the dog park and kids at play in the playground. There is something for everyone at Lafreniere.

My love affair with Lafreniere Park goes way back to the times when I was a young whipper snapper putting my way through college. Back then it was a cheap place to bring girls for a "date" to just walk around and chat. I worked around the corner at the old Delchamps so i'd bring over a few of the cashier girls here on lunch break. Sometimes we'd even sneak in after the park closed to umm.....talk by the fake rocks near the big pond. Later on i'd marry one of those cashiers and she'd yell at me when I would pretend to let go of the baby stroller and the stroller would proceed down the hill unattended. Parent of the Year! Ok my trip down memeory lane serves zero purpose for a review other than for my my own vein interests so moving right along...... The park is great and always has been. There are many soccer fields, sometimes for organized soccer league but many times just for random people to play a pickup game. There are a few baseball diamonds as well as the areas best kept frisbee golf course. (come take notes City Park. There are no 2 foot high hay fields to play through here. The park offers paddle boating, a carousel, many gazebos for picnicing and in the past year added a very nice dog park. There is also somewhat of a nature reserve with various ducks and birds for feeding bread and soggy french fries too. (they won't eat the chicken nuggets, I tried) The 2 mile jogging track gets me here more often than anything else as it is well lit at night and very well maintained. Along the route there is also 2 workout stations with various pull up bars, pushup stations and various things like that. The place is perfect for picnicing and every X-mas all of Al Copelands old lights are on display for a nominal fee. Definitely a great place in the burbs to just relax. I now bring my 13 and 11 year old daughters here regularly to hang out. In a few years, I'll be checking by those rocks to make sure they aren't "talking" with anyone!

I always enjoy this park from taking a stroll in the bird sanctuary to sitting by the lake to running on the path to workout. In the summer and fall months there are a few concerts and movie screenings in the amphitheater area. Winter time is the Christmas lights setup with various characters in lights. When in Metairie, check out the park for your dose of green.

You know you have the olds when you want to start an Abe Simpson like story with... I remember when this park was first built but there you go. Back when I was in grade school this was just scrub AND a bird preserve because we drove past and I saw the sign and learned what a preserve was. Now unlike most of the green spaces in JP which are playgrounds this is truly a park. And it has space for everyone. From running trails to dog areas to play areas to bbq spots to a soccer field to places to be chased by geese. The park really does have it all. It's also the location for many JP festivals and fairs so prepare for not enough parking at those times. The main entrance is on West Napoleon but there is also a secondary entrance on Downs Blvd. There's also a pedestrian entrance where York dead ends into Judith but I'm not sure when that gate is unlocked.

This is a great park in the suburbs, and had a bit of everything. I am more biased to City Park in New Orleans, but this has its great points as well. The main way I know to get to it is from I-10, get off on the Veterans BLVD exit, head west and make a left at the first light. The drive around the park is circular. The only confusing time is during the Christmas lights driving light show. There are several nice walking and running paths. There are also ducks, geese and other birds to feed. Be careful as some of them can get quite aggressive with their feelings, with you and with each other. I have been pecked in the knees a couple of times. The lakes are really nice to look at. On warm days, the splash pad is open for the kids. There is a carousel to ride on when they have it open. There are a couple of kid specific playgrounds. A fenced in dog park for the furry family members. There are soccer and football fields, a couple of baseball diamonds. There is a workout area outside for targeting specific areas. There is a concert meadow for outdoor concerts, a Frisbee golf course and just so much that it's almost indescribable. A snack bar is open during high use times and for the holiday light show. Thanks to the late Al Copeland, from the week of Thanksgiving to the end of December, there is a drive thru light show that is amazing. There is a part where you can park, walk thru, ride the carousel, get snacks and participate in other activities. Amazing. This is a great park and a great way to spend a couple of hours, or if you have young kids, this is a great way for them to come expend some energy!

This park is large and well maintained-clean and with lots of parts to it. You can play frisbee golf you have a picnic you can go to one of the festivals or music in the park events -you can play soccer -go To dog park use the kids playground equipment and even get snacks. A gem of a park indeed with lots of trees for shade.

My kids and I were told to leave the soccer fields today around 6pm Do to the female security at the park said it was closed for a league today. I asked where is the league's. She said I don't have to explain myself look at the sign. I looked it said closed when fields are wet. I think she was having a bad they but she only asked me and kids to leave and no one else like the 12 teenagers and the other family of 7 playing next to us. I guess I need to talk to mr Tripp. I pay every month for this park to have my kids enjoy and have fun. I letter and a phone call will be placed.

The park was pretty big and clean. A small group of us came here to enjoy the Christmas lights. I do believe it was free since we parked nearby and walked right on in. I think you can drive into the park itself and park there, but I am unsure since my friends said something that I can't remember. Plus, it seemed like there was a good amount of people that parked outside and did the same thing as well. I do believe you have two options of viewing the lights: walk or drive. I am not positive about this aspect since the rows of cars that night seemed like they were following cars through the park for the lights and not necessary there to find parking. The was definitely a designated area for the cars to drive through so I am assuming driving through the park is an option. There was a food shack (?) that sold hot chocolate, nachos, funnel cake, and other snacky items. It was opened pretty late since our group was here around 8 ish (?) to 9 PM. I think everything shuts down at 10 PM since everything became dark after we all got our food.

The park as a whole is great. Nice to see the area preserve some green space for parks and recreation. The only reason I give it two stars is for how the Christmas lights are run. It is a great display, so not get me wrong. Plus, much more affordable than the Celebration in the Oaks at $10 a car. But they pushed people to pay online ahead of time but you still have to stay in the same line as everyone else entering. So while you might have saved time by having to pull your wallet out at the ticket counter to pay for admission, you still wait at least 30-40 minutes to get in. Then you have the folks who walk in off of Veterans and the neighborhood and business that come from that entrance. Guess what, they don't pay a dime. And they have a whole lane to walk around and look at the lights limiting the view for those that paid in cars driving through. If they can't get a fast pass system for those who have already paid, go ahead and have people set up at the Veterans entrance collecting $5 per adult. This way you can reap some of the benefits from those working the system.

Absolutely love the Bark Park! They have separate dog parks for small dogs and large dogs. It's perfect for our beagle who can get overwhelmed by lots of big dogs. The park itself is kept beautifully manicured. The Fourth of July is really a great time to go. I forget what the event is called but my family and I go every year. Very kid friendly and free! (Most events if not all are free) P.S. they currently have Star Wars Christmas lights up!

I haven't been able to explore the whole park, but i LOVE the dog park!! I bring my pup here every chance i get. The park is always clean and well maintained.

I love this park! I was looking for a great dog park to let my pup run around get some energy out and this was a great place! The dog park has 2 sections (1 for the smol puppers and 1 for the bigger doggos). My pup Remy is very social (and thank god) because there are always so many dogs here! Its very open and (of course with any dog park you're gonna have dirt) but a lot of grass to for her to frolic in. Its pretty clean too and also has a water hose station because well, you're pup is definitely going to need it afterward... They do have rules to follow (but mostly your standard, no food/drink inside, no puppies without shots, etc) but also have a no kids under the age of 10 policy too so just keep that in mind.

(New Orleans Resident) I absolutely love this park. My husband and I are transplants from Colorado, and this park lets us pretend we are back home -- if even for a moment. It's a great relief from busy city life. Walking on the bridge is my favorite part, because you are cut off from the views of the city and surrounded by nature. Parking hasn't been an issue for us, however, other reviews state that this might be a problem during events. Just a personal tip: When I walk around, I try to make it a point to pick up a piece of trash here and there. Just doing a small part to keep this lovely place clean.

Love this park! I've had a couple of dates here and also have visited at Christmas time. It's not overly crowded. There are ducks, geese, nutria, and turtles to look at. There is a carousel that even adults can ride. Such a perfect date spot. My fiancé brought me here for my bday. We had a picnic by the dog park, fed the wildlife, rode the carousel, and just walked around. The best bday ever! My only complaint is that the boardwalk was closed. Christmas time is also amazing! Christmas in the Oaks is so crowded and it's old to me now. Coming here for Christmas is refreshing!

So this was our first trip to Lafreniere Park and I've got to say I am grateful for all of the Yelp reviewers whose advice helped us avoid any first-time frustrations. Access was pretty easy. Hop on I-10, left on exit 225 and left at the first light. After that follow the main drag until you see the water park on your left, by the pond/lake what have you. Entrance is $5 per child. You have to purchase tokens from a machine to enter. Takes $1-5-10-20 but ONLY pays you back in coins so be prepared. The park itself is fenced in which is a little awkward considering there are parents who want to be with their kids without being on the splash pad so if they remain outside of the gate to stay dry -- there is the inevitable meltdown. There are features for older kids and smaller kids. You have to keep an eye on the runners for the inevitable collisions. All in all, you have all of the usual pleasures of the splash pad with the usual pains. Someone here mentioned that there is a 90 minute limit. As she noted, no one is tossed out after 90 minutes so if you think your little ones can tolerate that much stimulation, party on. Concession and snowball stand right by the entrance for your convenience. All in all it was easy to access, easy to park and once we conquered the token machine, easy to play. We'll be back!

Now the only reason why they don't get five stars is because I am totally biased and City Park with Audubon Park a close second is my favorite park. But I have to give props to Lafreniere Park for impressing me. Did you know that they have a carousel you can rent for kids parties? Yeah, me either! Apparently my college gf had her adorable chubby daughter's bday party at the carousel. I am not ashamed that when the lady said last ride I jumped on that carousel so fast you would think it was the last ride of my life! Apparently all the horses go up and down unlike the one in City Park Storyland but I did not investigate fully to check on this. Another bonus is that when it is cold like it was this past Saturday, you can close the entrances save one to keep it warm! They also have benches to put the food, cake etc. and they supply huge trash cans. It was pretty fun! The kids and adults all had fun! Now, keep in mind that the park gets EXTREMELY busy at times. My gf tried to warn me that this weekend there was a lacrosse tournament but little did we all know that over 60 teams would be descending in the park and would make parking almost impossible! I circled the entire park twice to figure out where the carousel was (note it's behind the splash park and the playground). The park has tons of amenities such as ponds to feed the ducks, walking/running/biking paths, workout stations, dog park, splash park, carousel, playgrounds, and picnic shelters. It's quite clean as well! Happy Park Enjoying y'all!

The water area wasn't as big as it seemed on the website. My husband and I think it was a bit ridiculous that each child had to give $5 for an hour in a half of play there. It was one of the cheaper things to do kid friendly in the area so we decided to give it a go.

Don't listen to the snobs of City Bark where you pay $43 dollars for a pass from January to December (Which has increased every year its opening!). Lafreniere Bark is FREE, it is convenient, it is FUN, and IT IS A WHOLE ACRE BIGGER than City Bark. So why did I not rate it 5 stars? There are no water fixtures for the dogs to play in (or puppy pools). Yes, they do have 1 water bowl in the ALL dog section and 1 water bowl in the under 22 lbs and the 1 hose located withing the first entry gate. But this is Louisiana, IT IS HOT! Please Lafreniere Bark put a sprinkler or kiddie pools for the dogs to play in like every other nice dog park . Then you will truly be a a 5 star park. P.S. *People DO NOT TAKE YOUR KIDS TO A DOG PARK! (Rules state no children under 10). This is for their own safety. *Also, toys cause fights (It is against the rules to bring them because of this). * DO NOT keep your dog on a leash INSIDE the dog park. This is not a good way to introduce your dog. If you want to see how your dog reacts to others simply go into one of the transitional entrance gates and let them meet other dogs through the fence. Growling or vicious behavior = not a dog park dog, take your dog home. [Trust me I have one dog park dog and one who definitely does not qualify, it happens] Enjoy your trip to this park, I hope my review helps. -Chelcie

Bobby B inspired me to write my own review of Lafreniere Park (which I, also, have no clue how to pronounce) after reading his very UFC one. (By "UFC one" I mean "useful, funny, cool review." And that's your yelp-a-macation for the day. Now you know.) So I've actually only been to this park once before, when the organization I worked for (the Louisiana Technology Council) had a crawfish boil there for its members. We rented a shelter and, well, did the berl thing - drank beer, I ate the skins off crawfish potatoes, other people ate crawfish and made a mess, you know. If not for that event, I never, ever would've known that Lafrienere Park even exists. Or, if I had heard of it, I certainly wouldn't have felt the urge to drive ALL THE WAY through Metry and deep into the 'burbs just to go to some park. However, now that I've actually seen it, I would totally subject myself to driving through the suburbs to spend a day hanging out there. You know what? I lied. I've actually been to this park more than once. At least twice, possibly more than that. Who knows? (Evidently, I don't...) The second time I went was to play frisbee golf, because they've got a disc golf course there and it's actually really nice. So if you have stoner friends, they might like to know about the frisbee golf course at Lafreniere Park.

Stuck in the Suburbs As the largest park in the suburbia of Metairie, this is a pretty great place. It is down the street from my relatives house and I grew up here coming many many times. When I did live in Metairie I used to jog the whole park as well. The great thing about this park is the fact that it is a local community place that is free with so much to offer. You can come here to jog around for miles, you can bring your children to one of their play grounds, you can walk around the board walk to view the ducks, geese, and nutria. You can even bring a bag of bread and feed the crazy little creatures. Stop by the concession stand or ride the carousel. Over the years they just keep adding more and in my opinion improving it. This park is very popular for hosting soccer games, some baseball games and also a Frisbee-Golf course. People come to BBQ or have their birthday parties here. During Christmas time the park uses a part of the land and road to host Holiday Lights. It is basically a smaller version of the City Park Lights. For a more affordable and drivable tour if you feel it is too cold to walk, you can see the lights displays and maybe some cool characters take form in their lit up glory. To me Lafreniere holds many memories from vacationing on visits to relatives and not too much has changed from what I remember. I loved walking my dog around this park and the simplicity of exercising here as well. Stop by, grab a snow cone and go for a nice stroll.

Even as few as 10 years ago, I still thought of Lafreniere Park as not much more than the big wide open green space in Metairie where my nephews and niece always had their soccer matches. Well, that and a nice, safe place to go feed the ducks if I didn't have the time to venture over to city park. The duck sanctuary and lagoon with walking trail was always lovely and well maintained. A lot has changed over the years and a lot of money has been poured into this park to develop it into a showpiece for Jefferson Parish. Although the park never expanded in acreage, it seems so much bigger now due to all the enhancements. In the center lies a large gazebo under which there are large parish wide events throughout the year like the Taste of the Town food and wine event, and well as the seasonal family friendly concert series in the fall and spring. There are also plenty of smaller gazebos to rent for private parties and functions like corporate events. . There is a gated play yard for kids with lots of swings, slides, climbing apparatuses and hills to slide down. On the other side of the park there's the carousel which is fun no matter how old you are, and a splash park (which i think is restricted just to kids, but im not certain of that). There's also a separate dog park with trails and play space just for them. The sports fields are still there of course and there's also one of the only Frisbee Golf courses I know of In the area. There's also lots of space to find a little peace and quiet. The Children's Memorial Garden was added a few years back as a reflective and quiet spot where engraved bricks memorialize children who were lost too soon and to give parents who endured miscarriages a place to remember and honor their lost angels. I now have a brick in this garden for my own little one, my special guardian angel. So I now have more reason to spend time here sitting, thinking and reflecting. I would be remiss if I neglected to mention the Christmas light display. It started out with Al Copeland's family donating their massive private light display years ago, but the park and parish have acquired many more lights and displays over the years. It is now a full driving tour as well as walking tour. Admittedly, it's not up to par with Celebration in the Oaks, but it is still a must-see and makes for a very nice family outing in the busy Holiday Season. Lafreniere park is lovely and a rare quiet spot in the heart of busy Jefferson Parish. Go enjoy it and see for yourself.

Enjoying a beautiful, sunny & breezy Saturday afternoon, sadly regretting not bringing my furry friends with me today. But to my defense, this wasn't a planned check in. I actually had no intentions on coming to lafreniere park today with as much work I'm swamped with. It's most definitely a refreshing and relaxing feeling on my trips to this park. It would be cool if it were always open to come to. There's lots of people out here today so who's up for a picnic???!?Me me me me

It's a nice park considering it is free. I would gladly pay a small fee for a splash pad, though. And I think the age limit of 10 is reasonable for the big dog side, but 10 for the small dog side is a bit arbitrary. My 7 year old has been raised with dogs and understand dog behavior more than many adults, knows not to run, how to approach a strange dog, what to do if a fight starts, etc., but she can't go in, even under my control, which I find a little unreasonable. It is technically her dog, after all. And I go in with our malti-pom and play for a while to make sure there are no aggressive dogs, so I would gladly sign a waiver, because otherwise we can't do that together. I do understand that rules are rules, though.

Love this park! Came here on a sunny afternoon to feed bread to the ducks and turtles. It was fun and relaxing! But I would recommend to come when the sun starts going down. It was too hot in the afternoon. There's a little shack where you can buy snow cones and snacks!!

Great park, well maintained. Lots of fun. We really enjoy spending time here. There is lots of parking right across the street. There is a separate small dog area as well. Trees, benches, water, and everything you need. Only downside is their hours! Those of us who work M-F 9-5 can only enjoy on the weekends. Wish it was open the same hours as the rest of the park.