St. Bernard State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Bernard State Park |
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Park entrance at Poydras, Louisiana
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 St. Bernard State Park
Location in Louisiana
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| Location | St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, United States |
| Nearest city | Braithwaite or Poydras |
| Area | 358 acres (1.45 km2; 0.559 sq mi) |
| Established | 1971 |
| Governing body | Louisiana Office of State Parks |
| Official website: http://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-parks/parks/ | |
St. Bernard State Park is a special place in the state of Louisiana, USA. It's located in St. Bernard Parish, between the towns of Poydras and Caernarvon. Even though it's only about 18 miles southeast of New Orleans, it used to not have many visitors. Today, it's a great spot for outdoor fun!
Park History
St. Bernard State Park was created in 1971. The land for the park was given to the state by a local businessman named Lynn Dean and his wife Jackie. Lynn Dean was also a State Senator, which means he was a leader who helped make laws for Louisiana.
For 34 years, this park was the only state park in the St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parish area. However, it was badly damaged in 2005 by a big storm called Hurricane Katrina. The storm caused levees (walls that hold back water) to break, leading to a lot of flooding.
The park, along with Fort Pike State Historic Site, had to close for more than a year because of the damage. But don't worry, it's now fully open again! You can go camping, watch birds, or just spend a fun day there.
What You Can Do at the Park
St. Bernard State Park has many cool things for visitors to enjoy. It's a great place to spend time outdoors with family and friends.
- Camping: The park has 51 improved campsites where you can set up your tent or park your RV. There are also areas for regular tent camping.
- Picnic Areas: You can enjoy a meal outdoors at one of the park's picnic spots.
- Playgrounds: Kids will love the playgrounds where they can run and play.
- Restrooms: Clean restrooms are available for visitors.
- Nature Trail: Explore the park's natural beauty on the nature trail. It's perfect for a walk and seeing local plants and animals.
- Dump Stations: If you're camping in an RV, there are dump stations available.
The park does not have boating, cabins, group tents, lodges, or swimming areas.
Park Reopening
St. Bernard State Park was seriously damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Many parts of the park needed a lot of work to be fixed.
The park officially reopened on Tuesday, December 19, 2006. There was a special ceremony at 4 p.m. The Lieutenant Governor at the time, Mitch Landrieu, was there, along with other important local leaders and choirs. After the ceremony, people could take hayride tours of the park. There were also coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies for everyone to enjoy. It was a happy day for the community to see their park open again!
