Mark A. "Tony" Gulotta Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park
Overview
The heart of Plaquemine, its downtown area featuring historic Bayou Plaquemine, has become the jewel of the city with the construction of the Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park. Located along the bayou and with easy walking access to the Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site, the Iberville Museum, the Iberville Parish Welcome Center, St. John Catholic Church, Plaquemine Depot Market and Best Western Plaquemine Inn, the park is the focal point of downtown activities and an often-visited recreational gem for both residents and visitors.
Features
The $3.2 million dollar project includes an
• open air pavilion,
• a three-tiered terrace,
• a walkway connecting the Plaquemine Lock Historic Site with the park,
• an extensive fishing pier, boat docking area,
• parking and landscaping, and
• the Plaquemine Community Center. The renovation of the old Nadler’s building into the new Plaquemine Community Center, along with a covered open air space was completed in 2020. It is across the street from the park pavilion and carries the same design as the park.
Click here for a biographical sketch of the late Mayor Mark A. “Tony” Gulotta.
Sponsors
The park project was funded with a variety of grants, community business donations and matching city funds. Major project sponsors include:
- Atchafalaya Basin Program under the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
- Dow Chemical Company
- Georgia-Gulf Corporation
- Iberville Parish Council
- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Fishing Habitat Project
Another project to improve the fishing habitat in the bayou was completed in 2006. The $2.5 million dollar project pumps fresh water into the bayou from the Mississippi River. The project was funded through the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Section 1135(b) Program. Plaquemine was one of the first in the country to receive such a funding award. Local funding was provided by the City of Plaquemine and the Atchafalaya Basin Program under the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.
Since the pumps began operating, the City has been working with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to add thousands of bass fingerlings to the bayou in an effort to help repopulate the fishing habitat.
Awards
The park and freshwater project won the prestigious Best of Show Award given by the Louisiana Municipal Association in 2006. Mayor Mark A. "Tony” Gulotta was the honored recipient as Elected Official by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation as Conservationist of Year 2006 for the park and freshwater project. In 2008, the park was awarded honored with the Design Award of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and Designers.