New Orleans City Park: From Tragedy to Triumph - Hardcover

by Bob Becker (Author)

The recently retired CEO of New Orleans City Park shares here all the major events that impacted the park in the last twenty years, from Hurricane Katrina to COVID-19. Located in the center of New Orleans, the park and its post-Katrina recovery were essential to the recovery of the entire city. This striking book with color images recounts the experiences, both funny and heartbreaking, of the board, staff, and visitors to the park at a time of great upheaval. Bob Becker was a highly visible member of the community during his tenure as park CEO, and his behind-the-scenes stories will be of interest to fans of the park as well as professional city planners, park managers, disaster recovery experts, and universities worldwide.

Author Biography

Dr. Robert Becker was the chief executive officer of New Orleans City Park from 2001 to 2021. During that time he dramatically improved the park's financial position, securing its first-ever public funding and developing and implementing a nationally recognized master plan that led to over $200 million in capital investment. Prior to managing City Park, Dr. Becker held senior management positions with the Audubon Nature Institute and was the director of the New Orleans City Planning Commission. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including a National Planning Excellence Award from the American Planning Association, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bureau of Governmental Research, and a Special Recognition Award from the National Park Service, and was named a Hero of the Katrina Recovery by New Orleans Magazine. He holds degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo, the University of Iowa, and the University of New Orleans. Dr. Becker lives in New Orleans with wife Patricia and their golden retriever, Maggie.