A large park featuring a variety of nature trails alongside Bayou Lacombe is now in the planning stages. In a June 23, 2021, update, Parish Council Member Jimmie Davis of District 7 unveiled the latest proposal for the Lacombe Trace Trails and Nature Park construction design.
After several meetings with local residents, parish planners, and grant application personnel, they have decided to make the Park only accessible via the Tammany Trace by foot or bike. The park will be completely surrounded by a fence with only two gated visitor entrances from the Lacombe Tammany Trace, one where the old RR spur meets the Trace, and the other near the Lacombe Trailhead on the West side of the drawbridge.
The Tammany Trace drawbridge over Bayou Lacombe
Click on images to make them larger.
Click on images to make them larger.
The Park will truly be a “passive” park with walking trails, a boardwalk, a single restroom (required by Louisiana State Parks) and interpretive kiosk. The Park’s hours of operation will align with the Trace, 7:00 AM - 7:30 PM. All visitor gates will be secured at 7:30 PM. Secure gate entrances from the existing boat launch parking area on Main St. will only be accessible by St. Tammany Parish maintenance crews, construction personnel and Trace Rangers.
A diagram of the proposed nature trails park
This is a great project, sure to be a key attraction for Tammany Trace riders and walkers, and a focal point on the natural setting on Bayou Lacombe as well as the area's rich historical and heritage preservation efforts.
Council member Jimmie Davis met with Tom Aicklen (at left) to discuss the heritage preservation possibilities of the new Lacombe Nature Trail Park. Aicklen lives near Tammany Trace and knows its potential for not only recreational use, but for cultural and heritage promotion as well, since it crosses through some of the most historic areas of St. Tammany Parish.
Tammany Trace passes through or near several key historical locations, places of interest to naturalists, environmentalists, historians, and visitors from around the country.
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