city government

Palmer Park gets a new name: Marsalis Harmony Park

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The City Council voted Thursday (July 1) to change the name of Palmer Park to Marsalis Harmony Park. The new name for the park, located where the Carrollton and Claiborne avenues meet, was chosen with input from community members, who eventually settled on “Marsalis Unity Park” at a meeting of multiple neighborhood associations early last month. “Marsalis Harmony Park” was the second most popular name discussed. Palmer Park was named after the Rev. Benjamin Palmer, a prominent Confederate and vocal defender of slavery. The park’s new name honors the late renowned jazz musician and educator Ellis Marsalis, whose family still lives in the neighborhood.

community meetings

Carrollton neighbors back “Marsalis Unity Park” as the new name for Palmer Park

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The Carrollton area neighbors of Palmer Park agreed on “Marsalis Unity Park” as a new name for the park at a meeting hosted by Carrollton United. Palmer Park, which sits at the corner of Carrollton and Claiborne avenues, is currently named after the Rev. Benjamin Palmer, a 19th century minister who was a staunch vocal supporter of both slavery and the Confederacy. Originally called Hamilton Park, it was renamed in 1902, during the Lost Cause movement, for the New Orleans minister who preached to Confederate soldiers and was best known for a speech given after the election of Abraham Lincoln defending slavery and endorsing secession, according to New Orleans Historical. Marsalis, who died April 1, 2020, was a jazz musician, educator and lifelong New Orleanian who lived near Palmer Park for many years. Members of his family still live in the neighborhood.

arts, books and music

Arts Market and Caroling at Palmer Park planned for this weekend

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The Carrollton Area Network is be hosting the 11th annual Caroling at Palmer Park on Sunday, Dec. 16, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Before the Christmas caroling, there will be Christmas shopping in the park. The Palmer Park Arts Market will be held both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The park is bordered by South Carrollton Avenue, South Claiborne Avenue, Dublin Street and Sycamore Place, at the end of the St. Charles streetcar line. The Arts Market is the Arts Council’s free, open-air marketplace of artwork by New Orleans and Gulf Coast artists, featuring between 80 and 130 local artists.

business

Man shot at Claiborne-Carrollton intersection

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A man was shot shortly after 5 p.m. near South Claiborne and South Carrollton, one of the busiest intersections in Uptown New Orleans, leaving a sprawling crime scene that stretched from beside Palmer Park to the side yard of the Walgreens across the street. The victim was toward the river side of Claiborne when he was shot, police and witnesses said, and then came running across the street to the Walgreens pharmacy for help. Walgreens manager Chris Sperling said that when he first saw the man come running toward the store, he closed the store’s front doors in case the gunmen were still outside. He called 911, and ran out to where the man had sat down in the grass outside the store, and then ran to the next-door fire department to get medical help. The victim was bleeding from his hand and said his shoulder had also been hit, Sperling said.

arts, books and music

Arts Market returns to Palmer Park on Saturday

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The Arts Market of New Orleans will host 115 visual artists as well as the usual assortment of food and drink vendors, live music and children’s activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Palmer Park, at the corner of South Claiborne and Carrollton. From the Arts Council website:
At the Kid’s Tent, the fun starts at 10:30 with African drumming for the kid’s with Seguenon Kone, followed by Make a Maraca and more craft activities all day. Live Music starts at 1:00 with Patrick Cooper, followed by Smoking Time Jazz Club at 2:30.

events

Barbecue fundraiser Saturday at Palmer Park to benefit mentoring program

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A barbecue blowout featuring a competition between 40 teams at the recently reborn Palmer Park on Saturday will benefit a volunteer group seeking to build an army of mentors in the New Orleans area. The “Q’n for Kids BBQ Fundraiser” in support of Each One Save One will begin at 11 a.m. Sampling the barbecue will run until 2 p.m., with awards announced at 5 p.m.

Read more for the full event announcement:

Join us for our 1st annual EACH ONE SAVE ONE Q’n for Kids BBQ Fundraiser on Saturday, September 17th, 2011. Join us for great food, great fun, and a little competition for a great cause–presented by our sponsors EZ PARKER!!!!!!!!!!!! Q’n for Kids is a BBQ Cook Off event at New Orleans Palmer Park on September 17th to support Each One Save One, a 501c3 nonprofit charity that provides mentors to public school children in the Greater New Orleans Area. Up to 40 Amateur BBQ teams will compete in 8 categories with trophies/prizes awarded.

arts, books and music

“Latin Fiesta” theme Saturday for Arts Market in Palmer Park

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“Latin Fiesta” will be the theme for June’s Arts Market of New Orleans, held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Palmer Park at South Carrollton and South Claiborne. From the Arts Council of New Orleans website:

The monthly market presented by the Arts Council of New Orleans featuring the region’s best artists, live music and good food starts the 4th annual “Fun in the Sun” summer series with a Latin Fiesta. Local artists will exhibit handcrafted works- including stained glass, metal sculptures, and paintings to ceramic pieces, yard art, and prints- that evoke New Orleans’ unique cultural mix with an exotic flair. Presented by the Arts Council of New Orleans, the Arts Market takes place the last Saturday of every month in Palmer Park (where South Carrollton Avenue meets South Claiborne Avenue). The Arts Market of New Orleans is free and open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – featuring more than 100 local artists, live music showcasing New Orleans musical heritage, a performance and creative crafts for children.

events

Volunteers needed to help build KaBoom playground at Palmer Park today

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Sunday marks a long-awaited milestone for Carrollton-area families, the “Build Day” for Palmer Park’s new KaBoom playground. After years of planning, more than 200 volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Carrollton and Claiborne. Sponsored in part by Disney, the project extends beyond play equipment to include benches, landscaping and a facelift for the archway. For more information and to see a few photos from the project’s “Prep Day” on Friday, see the Friends of Palmer Park page on Facebook.

church

St. Augustine supporters march in defense of paddling policy

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Hundreds of purple-clad supporters of St. Augustine High School marched a short route through Uptown New Orleans on Saturday morning to protest Catholic officials’ call to end the school’s controversial paddling policy. The march began from Palmer Park and ended at the Archdiocese of New Orleans offices on Walmsley Avenue. For coverage, see nola.com, or wdsu.com and wwltv.com for video.