A not-for-profit organization succeeded in restoring a wetland, transforming a neglected wetlands park in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans to its former glory.
The 40-acre area, guided by a local community group, now flourishes with native trees and attracts various bird species, parkgoers, and nature enthusiasts.
Rashida Ferdinand, founder of the Sankofa Community Development Corporation (CDC), witnessed the decline of her childhood neighborhood in New Orleans.
Once a thriving area with strong Black homeownership and wetland fishing, it was neglected due to poor drainage, crumbling roads, illegal dumping, and hurricane damage.
Rashida founded the Sankofa CDC to restore the Lower Ninth Ward’s natural heritage and protect the area from flooding.
In 2014, she secured an agreement with the City of New Orleans to restore a 40-acre wetland called Sankofa.
The wetland’s decline had worsened storm-related flooding, leaving homes damaged beyond repair.
As residents left, the community’s cultural identity gradually faded with the receding waters. She knew restoring natural flood barriers like Sankofa was essential for protecting his community from flooding.
Rashida recalls seeing her neighbors using boats to get around after heavy rains as the water rose to their porches.
Her family experienced Hurricane Betsy, a Category 4 storm that flooded 164,000 homes in 1965, long before Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.
The surge from Katrina overwhelmed the city’s levees and pumps, flooding 80 percent of New Orleans, with the Lower Ninth Ward at the center of the devastation.
The Lower Ninth Ward has a rich cultural heritage, known for producing musicians like Fats Domino and celebrating traditions such as second-line parades and Mardi Gras.
Before Hurricane Katrina, the neighborhood had one of the highest rates of Black homeownership in New Orleans. Today, only a third of the original 14,000 residents remain, and many lots are abandoned.
After facing several hurricanes, the remaining residents are committed to building climate resilience.
“Hurricane protection is a major concern in the community, but there’s a lack of trust in the infrastructure systems that are supposed to protect us,” Rashida told the Audubon Magazine.
Today, Sankofa Wetlands Park is an impressive destination. Hiking trails wind through ponds and creeks, where bald cypress and water tupelo trees thrive, remaining strong even during storms.
Picnic benches are placed throughout the park for visitors to relax, and wheelchair-accessible trails link different sections of the Lower Ninth Ward. As a result of restoring a wetland, local businesses are experiencing an increase in visitors.
Birdwatchers at the park have identified over 100 species, including songbirds, ducks, and wading birds like egrets and herons.
The park also provides a home for otters, beavers, and various amphibians and reptiles.
However, building this vibrant ecosystem required significant work. Thousands of invasive tallow trees needed to be uprooted, and 27,000 cubic meters of illegally dumped trash had to be removed from the soil.
In addition, a 60-year-old canal built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had to be disconnected, and new native plants were carefully planted by hand throughout the area.
Rashida often finds it hard to believe how much Sankofa has transformed into its current state.
“Seeing butterflies, birds, and other pollinators in the park is a sign of a healthy ecosystem,” she says. “All we had to do was create the right conditions.”
The project is scheduled for official completion in 2025 and will feature an outdoor amphitheater, interpretive signage, and new trails.
Meanwhile, Rashida and the CDC plan to extend their efforts to a larger area of wetlands north of Sankofa.
Throughout restoring a wetland, she and the CDC have gained support from numerous volunteers and built valuable partnerships.
Ultimately, the transformation has been driven by the spirit and determination of one woman, poised to make a difference for many in this historic part of the city.
Here’s a quick virtual tour of Sankofa Wetland Park and Nature Trail:
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