Plaquemines Parish Tourism Commission Becomes First Major Sponsor for the Woodlands Conservancy’s Coastal Forest Center
PLAQUEMINES PARISH, La (press release) – The Plaquemines Parish Tourism Commission has committed $50,000 as the first major sponsor of the Woodlands Conservancy’s Coastal Forest Center, an upcoming educational facility focused on Louisiana’s wetland ecosystems.
“The Coastal Forest Center at the Woodlands Conservancy will be a key resource for educating people about the unique beauty and importance of our bottomland hardwood forests here in Plaquemines Parish,” said Foster Creppel, president of the Plaquemines Parish Tourism Commission. “We are proud to kick off this project, and we invite more sponsors to join us in supporting this effort to preserve and showcase our natural heritage.”
The Coastal Forest Center, located at Woodlands Preserve, will serve as an outdoor learning, research, and forest restoration hub, unique within the 7-parish New Orleans metropolitan area. It will support student engagement, environmental education, and hands-on science programs in a natural wetland setting.
“We are so excited and honored to receive our first major contribution from the Plaquemines Parish Tourism Commission,” said Katie Brasted, Woodlands Conservancy’s executive director. “This visionary support demonstrates recognition that an all-season building complex is the next step in deepening the visitor experience at Woodlands Preserve.”
Funding from Entergy has enabled Woodlands Conservancy to partner with Waggonner & Ball Architecture/Environment for the Center’s initial conceptual designs. Upon completion of the capital campaign, full engineering, design, and regulatory approvals will follow, with the project expected to take 20-24 months to complete.
Woodlands Conservancy is dedicated to preserving Louisiana’s coastal forests, managing over 800 acres, including the Woodlands Preserve in Plaquemines Parish and Delacroix Preserve in Orleans Parish. The primary goals for the Coastal Forest Center include:
- Developing a campus at Woodlands Preserve for education, research, and forest restoration.
- Creating multi-use facilities that generate income for campus operations.
- Establishing a public center for environmental education and advocacy.
“Louisiana has lost over 80% of its pre-settlement forested wetlands,” said Brasted. “Protecting the remaining areas is vital. Forested wetlands absorb stormwater, provide windbreaks, and support wildlife. The Coastal Forest Center will inspire stewardship for these natural habitats, offering programs that benefit local students, interns, and the public through citizen science and environmental education.”
Plaquemines Parish Tourism Commission’s sponsorship marks a critical milestone in making the Coastal Forest Center a reality.
