Since the coronavirus outbreak, the people of New Orleans have used  the Audubon Golf Course as open green space to stay healthy, happy, and to relieve stress. Ron Forman, Audubon Institute, recently announced that the Golf Course will be reopening June 2, 2020.

We believe the following:

• · The critical need of the public for fresh air and green space to stay healthy exists in New Orleans;
• · There has been a  substantial and sustained rise in walking and biking, as noted by the University of New Orleans Transportation Institute;
• ·  There is a shortage of open and unprogrammed green space in NOLA, particularly shaded green space and smooth walking paths;
• ·  Many of our residents do not have access to country clubs, vacation homes, backyards and green spaces.
•   The Audubon Golf Course is underutilized. More people have been on the fairways these past few weeks than in the past few months.
• ·  The overwhelming financial losses faced by the Audubon Nature Institute during this pandemic, and their subsequent need to prioritize resources and eliminate unnecessary resource drains makes reopening the golf course seem counterproductive.

We are asking that the City of New Orleans, the Audubon Nature Institute and the Audubon Commission  respond to the needs of citizens and designate the Audubon Golf Course a Public Park and Green Space, open and accessible to all.