New Orleans City Council Approves Ordinances to Advance Smooth Streets Program and Armstrong Park & Municipal Auditorium Strategic Master Plan
NEW ORLEANS — Today, the New Orleans City Council approved two ordinances that allow the city to move forward with key projects designed to improve daily life for residents and protect New Orleans’ cultural heritage. The funding allows the city to advance with the Department of Public Works Smooth Streets program and to begin planning for the future of Armstrong Park and the Municipal Auditorium.
“These investments are our commitment to taking care of our city and protecting what makes New Orleans special,” said Mayor Helena Moreno. “We’re fixing streets faster and more efficiently, while also planning for the future of one of our city’s most important cultural spaces.”
Earlier this month, Mayor Helena Moreno announced her desire to put $7 million in unused bond money back to work. The money was previously unspent and will now be used for important city needs, with most of it going toward street maintenance and $750,000 set aside for planning work at Armstrong Park.
Smooth Streets Program
The Smooth Streets program expands the city’s ability to handle everyday street and sidewalk repairs using newly hired city crews and equipment. By improving coordination and tracking, the Department of Public Works will be able to fix potholes and damaged streets more quickly, make streets safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and better plan long-term resurfacing across the city. At full staffing, city crews are expected to complete about 500 to 1,500 pothole repairs each week while maintaining roughly 1,500 miles of streets.
Armstrong Park & Municipal Auditorium Strategic Master Plan
The City Council also approved $750 thousand dollars to begin a Strategic Master Plan for Armstrong Park and the Municipal Auditorium. Armstrong Park is home to Congo Square, the birthplace of jazz, and the Municipal Auditorium is a historic cultural landmark.
Working with the Save Our Soul Coalition through a five-year agreement and in partnership with the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the city will lead a community-driven planning process to guide future improvements, cultural programming, and long-term care of the site.
“Armstrong Park stands as a sacred cornerstone of New Orleans culture. Its history, spirit, and legacy are immeasurable. As we embark on creating this master plan, we are committed to honoring our ancestors while opening doors to bold new ideas and meaningful opportunities for the next generation of culture bearers,” said District C Councilmember Freddie King, III. “Our vision is to ensure that the preservation of our culture uplifts its creators artistically, socially, and financially, so that cultural stewardship translates into real creative and economic opportunity for the people of New Orleans. We celebrate the authentic representation guiding this process and are committed to ensuring that same inclusive leadership is reflected in the team selected to shape the park’s future.”
“I think this is a significant step forward showing that the City of New Orleans truly supports the culture that brings the dollars to the city,” said Big Chief Dow Edwards of the Timbuktu Warriors, SOS Board member, and member of the Congo Square Preservation Society.
Together, these approvals show how the City Council and the Mayor’s Office are working in partnership to strengthen neighborhoods, improve city services, and honor New Orleans’ history for generations to come.
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