Today's City Park was once part of the Jean Louis Allard Plantation, originally established in the 1770’s, and later purchased in 1845 by shipping magnate and philanthropist John McDonogh. Upon his death in 1850, McDonogh donated the land to the City of New Orleans and in 1854 a large section was designated as a city park. More land was added, but no real development took place.
In 1891, citizens formed the City Park Improvement Association. In 1896, the Louisiana Legislature place the park under the control and management of this group.
From 1936 to 1939, the Works Progress Administration, a federal agency, constructed bridges, buildings, roads, and artwork still in use today.
In 1979 Friends of City Park, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was created to raise funds for the park.
In August 2022, The City Park Improvement Association voted to approve a long-term agreement with a newly formed nonprofit, called the City Park Conservancy (CPC). The CPC is the 501(c)(3) that operates the day-to-day of the Park and oversees programming, fundraising, management, operations, and membership of the 1,300-acre Park.
Detroit Publishing Co., Copyright Claimant, and Publisher Detroit Publishing Co. The Peristyle, City Park, New Orleans, La. [Cbetween 1900 and 1910] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2016814766/>.
