Friends of West End (New Orleans)

03/31/2026

United States Coast Guard

Waterways Status – Powerboat Grand Prix – New Orleans, LA

To ensure the safety of all participants and spectators, the U.S. Coast Guard will establish a temporary safety zone on Lake Pontchartrain for the New Orleans Powerboat Grand Prix beginning on April 10, 2026, lasting through April 12, 2026. The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) New Orleans, under the authority of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, will be establishing the safety zone for the race area between the Bonnabel Boat Launch and the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor to protect personnel and vessels from race hazards.

All vessels are prohibited from entering the safety zone created by the following points:

30°01.7186'N, 090°06.1220'W, to 30°02.9325'N, 090°06.2590'W, to

30°02.9073'N, 090°08.9313'W, to 30°01.31280'N, 090°09.23280'W.

Additionally, no spectator vessel is allowed to anchor, block, loiter, or impede the through transit of participants or a designated representative in the regulated area during the effective dates and times. Patrol boats from the New Orleans Powerboat Grand Prix, will be posted near the entrance to the New Orleans Municipal Yacht Harbor to help guide recreational boating traffic through the safety zone.

A lane for vessel traffic will remain open from the entrance of the Orleans Marina and Southern Yacht Club, as shown by the green and red arrows on the map below. Bonnabel boat launch, Bucktown Marina, and West End Boat launch will be occupied by the New Orleans Powerboat Grand Prix during event dates.

Grand Prix Map

This safety zone will be in effect during the following dates and times:

Friday, April 10, 2026 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, April 11, 2026 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, April 12, 2026 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Only predesignated vessels participating in the event will be permitted within the safety zone. All other vessels are prohibited from entering the safety zone unless they have been granted permission by the COTP New Orleans or the designated representative.

All vessels requesting permission to enter or transit within these zones must contact the designated representative on VHF-FM Channel 09. The designated representative will evaluate vessel transit through the safety zone on a case-by-case basis.



For further race information, please visit: www.IHRA.com

For regular updates, follow Jefferson Parish by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777

Or by following on social media at the QR code below:

QR

For further information, contact the following:

International Hot Rod Association Main Line: (855)646-4472

Sector New Orleans Waterways Management: (504) 365-2280, [email protected]





CAPTAIN G. A. CALLAGHAN

Captain of the Port New Orleans

03/26/2026

Official Statement from Mayor Helena Moreno
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26, 2026
For Media Inquiries Only
[email protected]
(504) 658-4945

West End Project Advances in Legislature and Now Heads to House Floor

After years of stalled progress, Moreno administration is moving quickly with regional coordination to develop West End

NEW ORLEANS - Today marked a major step toward new development of West End as House Bill 892 by Rep. Stephanie Hilferty advanced out of the House Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs Committee. The bill now advances to the House floor.

The West End contains parcels split between Jefferson and Orleans parishes, complicating development. For years, negotiations stalled between the two parishes, but the Moreno administration worked quickly to resolve disputes within the Mayor's first month in office to move the project forward. This led to the filing of HB 892 which created an economic development district to manage land, enter contracts, and oversee development.

“We’ve been waiting more than 20 years to bring back West End, and I’m proud to have worked collaboratively and urgently with Jefferson Parish leaders and the state to get this project moving,” Mayor Helena Moreno said. “Thank you to Rep. Stephanie Hilferty for taking the lead on this important legislation that, once enacted, will be the governing entity to bring in development. Just like many other initiatives, we’re moving fast and I know some believe my administration ultimately moves too fast, but I say we’ve waited long enough for progress.”

“West End has been behind a chain-link fence for more than 20 years. That changes now,” said Louisiana State Representative Stephanie Hilferty. “This morning, our bill to create an economic development district for West End officially passed — a major step toward bringing this iconic lakefront back to life. Building on the legislation we passed in 2024 to clear key redevelopment hurdles, this measure ensures that tax revenues generated by the economic development district will be reinvested directly into the park and surrounding infrastructure. West End has always been a place where families gathered, where restaurants lined the water, and where the city met the lake. Now, we’re finally turning the page — honoring that history while creating something new for the next generation. This is what progress looks like: thoughtful policy, long-term investment, and real results for our community.”

“Kudos to Mayor Moreno, Representative Hilferty, and Councilmembers Aimee McCarron and Hans Liljenberg for their hard work and commitment to not allowing West End to remain fallow and to work across parish lines for economic development,” said City of New Orleans CAO Joe Giarrusso. “Today’s vote in a legislative committee to create an economic development district dedicated solely to West End brings us one step closer to bringing this area back to life for residents of Orleans and Jefferson Parish.”

“This bill is a significant milestone and an incredible opportunity for New Orleans and Jefferson Parish to redevelop the West End area,” District A Councilmember Aimee McCarron said. “This project shows the continued commitment to multi-parish collaboration, while promoting economic development that benefits residents and visitors of both parishes. I am thankful for the continued partnership with Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, Councilmember Hans Liljeberg, and Mayor Helena Moreno’s administration and look forward to reinvesting into one of our city’s greatest natural treasures.”

“We appreciate the Moreno administration working quickly with us to finally redevelop the West End site,” said Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng. “This is an important shared space where our parishes meet at the lakefront, and we now have an opportunity to work together to redevelop it in a thoughtful way that benefits the entire community.”

“I’ve always believed Jefferson Parish and New Orleans can reach great heights by collaborating,” said Jefferson Parish District 5 Councilmember, Honorable Hans J. Liljeberg. “The success of West End could spur real opportunity in the region.”

“NOBC expects the redevelopment of the West End parcel to be a very successful economic development project that will soon become a favorite destination for residents of and visitors to the City of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, just as it was for over 100 years before Hurricane Katrina,” said New Orleans Building Corporation’s CEO, Annie McBride. “This effort requires cooperation among Jefferson Parish, the City of New Orleans, and the State of Louisiana. Our elected officials have worked hard to foster that spirit of cooperation. Rep. Hilferty’s HB 892, and the regional support of this bill shown by Jefferson Parish and the City of New Orleans, is emblematic of that cooperative spirit.”

A New Orleans City Council Resolution supporting the collaboration, authored by Councilmember McCarron and co-authored by Councilmembers Willard, Harris, Green and King, is slated for approval today.

03/25/2026

Proposed -
HOUSE BILL NO. 892
BY REPRESENTATIVE HILFERTY
DISTRICTS/ECONOMIC DEVEL: Creates the West End Economic Development District in the parishes of Jefferson and Orleans

11/25/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 25, 2025



For Media Inquiries Only

[email protected]

(504) 658-4945

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF LANES ON WEST ROADWAY STREET
Traffic Advisory


NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans Department of Public Works (DPW) announces that beginning Monday, Dec. 1, at 7 a.m. there will be intermittent lane closures on West Roadway Street (Breakwater Dr to South Roadway St). These temporary lane closures will allow DPW contractor Barriere Construction Co. LLC to perform roadway improvements as part of the DPW772: Right of Way Improvement Project. Local access will be maintained in both directions.



On West Roadway Street (Breakwater Dr to South Roadway St), one lane will remain open for one-way traffic, and parking will remain available during the initial phase.



Crews will begin patching, milling, and overlay paving, generally working Monday - Friday 7AM - 5:30 PM. During this time, access will be limited to local traffic only, including deliveries and emergency vehicles as needed. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes during the closure. Parking will be prohibited on blocks where crews are actively working. “No parking” signs will be posted in advance to notify residents and businesses.


For more information, visit www.nola.gov/dpwprojects. For questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at 504-658-8036.

11/21/2025

We've got a small run of Softshells available tonight! Enjoy it Almondine style - our favorite!

11/20/2025

Thank you to Charles Marsala for filming the public meeting in April 2025.
We encourage Friends of West End to watch the video and listen carefully to the issues discussed. We commend Levee District Police Superintendent Joshua Rondeno for his leadership in promoting communication between our West End neighbors.

Felix's West End New Orleans Outdoor Amplified Sound Meeting Permit April 16 2025

11/20/2025

11/20/2025

Gameday burgers for Brunch & Dinner! Melty cheese and caramelized onions, stacked and ready to fuel you up before kickoff.

11/20/2025

Warm up with our Basin BBQ Shrimp & Grits... creamy, flavorful, and full of Southern comfort! 😜💙

11/20/2025