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Map of state parks maintained by the Office of State Parks (Each dot is linked to the corresponding park article)
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The state of Louisiana has 38 state parks, which are governed by the Office of Lieutenant Governor, a division of the 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 to the 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]
After the State Parks Commission of Louisiana was formed in 1934, 7 sites were acquired for use as state parks.[2] During World War II, the rate of new park acquisition declined with the addition of only one new site, Sam Houston Jones State Park in 1944. In 1966, the National Park Service reviewed Louisiana's state parks system and made many recommendations, which led to specific guidelines and requirements for state parks.[3] Over time, many state parks that did not meet these guidelines were either reclassified as state historic sites or were turned over to local or state agencies. Some of these parks include Lac des Allemands, Saline Bayou, and Black Lake.[4] During the 1970s, government management of the state parks was restructured. The Office of State Parks was created, and 2 new parks were acquired. From 1995 to 2009, $80 million were invested in creating new facilities, or updating existing facilities.[2]
Louisiana state parks are selected on the criteria that they must be natural areas of unique or exceptional scenic value.[3] Many of the state parks also have historic or scientific importance. For example, Chemin-A-Haut State Park served as a route used by Native Americans during seasonal migrations.[5] Louisiana state parks have many accommodations, including overnight cabins, boating rentals, guided daily tours, and fishing piers. In 2002, Louisiana state parks had more than 2 million visitors.[2] With the addition of Palmetto Island State Park in 2010, Louisiana state parks comprise more than 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) of land.
Other names of current parks
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The following are significantly different former or alternate names for current Louisiana state parks.
The following are parks that were officially recognized as a state park after the 1966 National Park Service review, but were later removed.
- Smith, Darren L. (May 30, 2007). Gill, Kay (ed.). Parks Directory of the United States (5 ed.). Omnigraphics, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7808-0018-2.
- Herndon, Ernest (April 15, 2003). Canoeing Louisiana. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1-57806-426-7.
- ^ "Louisiana State Parks | Dept of Culture, Recreation, & Tourism". Parks-Homepage. September 4, 2013. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Historical Overview of LA State Parks System. Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. 2009.
- ^ a b Louisiana State Parks Plan, 1975-1990–Master Plan for Improvements to the State Parks System. Gulf South Research Institute. 1973.
- ^ State of Louisiana comprehensive outdoor recreation plan–1970-1975. Louisiana State Parks and Recreation Commission. 1971.
- ^ a b c "Chemin-A-Haut State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ Gorman, Carolyn Portier; Schultz, Deborah. Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program–Tour Guide. p. 20. Archived from the original (pdf) on August 12, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
- ^ a b Louisiana Conservationist. Vol. 40–42. Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission, Louisiana. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries. 1988.
Bayou Segnette State Park in Jefferson Parish and Lake Fausse Pointe State Park in Iberia Parish since the grand opening in 1987 have been very popular.
- ^ "Bayou Segnette State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "Bogue Chitto State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ Derry, Jim (August 4, 2010). "Bogue Chitto State Park near Franklinton set to open at the end of this month". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans, Louisiana: Advance Publications. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ Baca, Keith (June 1, 2007). Native American place names in Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-57806-955-2.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Louisiana State Parks Brochure" (PDF). Louisiana State Parks. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
- ^ a b "Chicot State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "Cypremort Point State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ "Weekend with Nick". January 19, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- ^ 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 978-1-55566-167-0.
- ^ a b "Fairview-Riverside State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "Fontainebleau State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ a b Adams, Nixon (November 5, 2009). "Northshore Conifer–It Is What It Was". Northshore Conifer. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
- ^ Frois, Jeanne; Calhoun, Milburn (May 31, 2006). Louisiana Almanac: 2006-2007 (17 ed.). Pelican Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-58980-306-0.
- ^ "Make a Weekend Stop to Grand Isle State Park". Houma, Louisiana: Gumbo Entertainment Guide. July 6, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
Nestled in the northeastern portion of the only inhabited barrier island in the state, Louisiana purchased the 150-acre park in 1968.
[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Facebook–Grand Isle State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
The park was purchased in 1968 by the State.
- ^ "Grand Isle Beach Reopens to Public". KTBS-TV. Associated Press. July 25, 2008. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
- ^ Smith 2007, p. 499.
- ^ a b c "Jimmie Davis State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ Felsher, John N. (May 2006). "The Changing Face Of Caney Lake". Game & Fish Magazine. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
- ^ Crawford, Andy (March 25, 2010). "16-pound bass caught on Caddo, Louisiana record at stake". Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
The current state record is a 15.97-pounder landed by Greg Wiggins in 1994 while fishing Caney Lake.
- ^ Louisiana State Parks–A Guide to Louisiana's State Parks, State Historic Sites and Preservation Areas Brochure. Louisiana State Parks. 2007.
- ^ "Lake Bistineau State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on March 5, 2005. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
- ^ Otto, David (August 17, 2007). Insiders' Guide to Shreveport. Insiders' Guide. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-7627-5702-2.
- ^ Fonseca, Mary (August 8, 1996). Weekend Getaways in Louisiana. Pelican Publishing. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-56554-096-5.
- ^ "Wildernet.com–Lake Bruin State Park, Louisiana State Parks". Interactive Outdoors Inc. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
- ^ "Lake Bruin State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ Herring, Susan. "Claiborne Parish Lakes and Recreation Areas". Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ Outdoor Recreation Action. United States. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. 1974. p. 67.
- ^ "Lake Claiborne State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "Lake D'Arbonne State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ "Fall General Meeting at Lake D'Arbonne" (PDF). Pack & Paddle (Summer). Ozark Society: 7. June 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
- ^ a b "Lake Fausse Pointe State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "North Toledo Bend State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ Louisiana State Parks Crossroads Brochure. Louisiana State Parks. 2007.
- ^ Louisiana statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan: Information base for executive decision, 1993-1998. Vol. 1. Division of Outdoor Recreation. 1994.
North Toledo Bend State Park has been developed and has been operational since 1987.
- ^ "North Toledo Bend (WMA)". Austin, Texas: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. April 21, 2009. Archived from the original on August 20, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ a b Bergeron, Judy (November 7, 2010). "Palmetto Island State Park opens in Abbeville". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Archived from the original on January 27, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
- ^ "Palmetto Island State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ Smith 2007, p. 502.
- ^ "Poverty Point Reservoir" (PDF). Louisiana Department of Public Works and Water Resources. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
- ^ "Poverty Point Reservoir State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ Sternberg, Mary Ann. The Pelican Guide to Louisiana (2 ed.). Pelican Publishing Company Inc. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-88289-901-5.
- ^ a b "St. Bernard State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Sam Houston State Park". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ "South Toledo Bend State Park - Toledo Bend Lake". Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ a b c "South Toledo Bend State Park". Louisiana: Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- ^ a b Herndon 2003, p. 165.
- ^ Gomez, Ms. Gay M. (October 9, 2008). The Louisiana Coast: Guide to an American Wetland. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. p. 161. ISBN 978-1-60344-033-2.
- ^ a b c "Hodges Gardens State Park–Louisiana Office of State Parks". Office of State Parks, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on April 6, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- ^ a b Guidry, Leigh. "Hodges Gardens State Park a 'casualty of the funding crisis;' control reverts to foundation". The Daily Advertiser. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
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Federal | |
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State | State Parks | |
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State Historic Sites | |
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State Preservation Area | |
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State Forests | |
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State Wildlife Refuges |
- Elmer's Island
- Marsh Island
- Rockefeller
- St. Tammany
- State
- Terrebonne Barrier Islands
- White Lake Wetlands
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Wildlife management areas | |
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Other | |
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