After more than 350,000 people visited the Bonnet Carre Spillway last year, the Corps of Engineers is moving ahead with the design and construction of recreational improvements.
The improvements are part of a new master plan, which was signed by Col. Alvin Lee last week. The plan calls for a new visitors center on Airline Highway, improved restroom facilities, landscaping improvements and a horseback riding area.
Spillway project manager Chris Brantley said that the new visitors center will be designed to house three park rangers while serving as a meeting point for school groups and anyone else visiting the spillway. The center will have room to show videos and display presentations about the spillway and its history.
As for the restroom improvements, the plan calls for the port-o-lets to be replaced with vault toilets, which are a little fancier, Brantley said.
“That was something that people asked for during our public meetings on the master plan,” Brantley said.
According to the plan, the new restrooms will be placed in high-use areas such as the ATV parking lot and near boat launches.
Trees and plants will also be planted throughout the spillway to beautify the area. Additionally, new signs will be erected that explain to visitors the purpose of the spillway and the various recreational activities that can be performed there.
Activities currently offered include fishing, ATV riding, biking, camping, hunting and boating.
Since approval of the 1998 master plan, there has been an increase in horseback riding activity in the spillway. Currently, there are no designated use areas or prohibitions of the activity, but the Corps wants to create an area designed specifically for horseback riding.
“We need to get the horses out of our current recreational areas, and we plan to design a horseback riding area on the western side of the spillway towards the river,” Brantley said. “This area would be a staging point for horseback riders, and then horseback riding groups or clubs can begin to design their own trails.
“That’s similar to how the ATV area and trails were developed.”
Other scheduled improvements include additional trails and new guidelines for sand, clay and vegetation removal.
Brantley said that the Corps will begin making most of the improvements on Oct. 1.
Be the first to comment