Every great city has at least one stand out park such as the Central Park of New York City. New Orleans version is the expansive City Park which covers an area of 1,300 acres. In fact, City Park is around 50% bigger as compared to Central Park making it the 6th largest public park in the country. The City Park boasts of the biggest compendium of old live oak trees in the entire world, some of these are more than six centuries. City Park was created in 1853 which puts it in ranks of one of the most antiquated parks in the United States.

Aside from the beautiful greenery and its masterfully landscaped environs, City Park feature a number of attractions drawing crowds from all over Greater New Orleans and making it the 7th most frequented public parks in the whole of United States.

One of these attractions in City Park is the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park which has a small roller coaster and a scale model train. It also boasts of wooden carousels which are rare nowadays. The amusement park celebrated its centenary in 2006.

What would be the better way for kids to enjoy fairy tales apart from reading them? At City Park, the answer comes in the form of Storyland which is a playground with a fairy tale theme. The playground has 26 giant storybook displays wherein children can role play as if they were part of the story. There are also slides and other playground facilities that kids can enjoy. Another attraction within City Park is the New Orleans Botanical Garden spanning an area of 13 acres which contains a wide array of plant species. The New Orleans Museum of Art is also found within City Park which is regarded as one of the best art epicenters in southern United States.

Sports enthusiasts can will also find City Park as a rewarding place to visit. The park boast of over one dozen fields for soccer and softball. The Tad Gormley Stadium can accommodate up to 26,500 spectators wherein the top high school football teams compete. Another smaller stadium, the Pan American Stadium which can set up to 5,000 guests is also a battlefield for both soccer and football teas. City Park also boasts of some of the best public tennis courts among the southern states. For the track and field aficionados, they can use the 400-meter track built using international standards and was built as a practice venue for the athletes who participated in the 1992 Olympics. There are also golf courses found here. Unfortunately, the golf courses were flooded when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans which included an 18-hole course used in the PGA tournament.

Active leisure activities are also present in the park to be enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts. City Park feature 18 kilometers of lakes and lagoons teeming with numerous species of fish such as bass. Visitors can also enjoy equestrian lessons. Aside from fishing, boating and horseback riding, the park features a driving range for those who are in need for a little bit of speed.

Because of the beautiful sceneries with City Park, it is a famous venue for several occasions such as the ?Celebration in the Oaks? which is a famous fundraising entertainment Christmas event created to raise funds for the maintenance of the park. It is also the most popular settings for weddings making City Park the biggest caterer in New Orleans outside of hotels.