City Park's Storyland will close on July 8 to undergo renovations that are expected to be completed in early fall, according to a statement from City Park.
The park will add new exhibits of Jack and the Beanstalk, Humpty Dumpty, Tortoise and the Hare, and Boudreaux the Zydeco Gator. The additions will be the first major upgrade to the park in 35 years and a milestone in the park's 60-year history.
Renovations will touch all exhibits, most notably Pinocchio and the Whale, Hey Diddle Diddle, the Storyland Castle, and the Puff the Magic Dragon slide.
Further upgrades will add educational elements to the park, such as STEM and Inclusive Play, and more exhibits will add ADA Accessibility.
Storyland is an outdoor, fairy-tale themed playground adjacent to City Park's amusement rides where children have played and learned for decades under the shade of the park's beautiful, historic oak trees. Forbes recently placed it "among best family-travel activities in New Orleans."
"Storyland is a treasured part of New Orleans. Generations of children have memories of the dragon slide and three little pigs," said Bob Becker, CEO for New Orleans City Park, in a statement. "This true gem in City Park will be revitalized this year, restoring the existing site and adding new additions, creating an environment that will bring deeper interaction with the fairytales through fun, play, and education."
Photo Credit: Jeremy Thompson, Source, licensed under creative commons 2.0
