New Orleans recovery czar Dr. Ed Blakely will be leading a public bike ride this weekend to tour the St. Roch neighborhood for a hands on view of the hurricane recovery there. If you'd like to participate in the bike ride, following are the details.

When: Saturday, October 06, 2007 9:30 AM-11:00 AM (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada).
Where: 2381 St. Claude Ave

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Start at St. Roch Market (2381 St. Claude Ave.)
Left at St. Roch
Right at Marais
Left at Franklin Ave.
Left at N. Villere
Right at St. Roch (Stop a Fire Station, 1415 St. Roch)
Right at Roman
Left at St. Roch
Left at N. Johnson
Left at St. Roch
Right at N. Prieur
Left at Marigny
Left at Marais
Right at St. Roch
Finish at St. Roch Market (2381 St. Claude Ave.)

Larry

Labels: Dr-Ed-Blakely, New-Orleans-bike-tour

Saturday outing will end with Q&A session at Mary Queen of Vietnam Church

NEW ORLEANS, LA (July 19, 2007) Dr. Edward Blakely, Executive Director of Recovery Management, and District E Councilmember Cynthia Willard-Lewis will host a bike ride through a portion of New Orleans East on Saturday (July 21) morning.

Saturday's bike ride is part of Dr. Blakely"s series of neighborhood bike rides that are designed to engage all New Orleans citizens in the recovery process. The 4.5 mile ride will focus on both commercial and residential sites in the area.

"Residents of New Orleans East, like those throughout much of the city, continue to demonstrate their resolve in rebuilding," said Dr. Blakely. "As they do so, we want to ensure that we are in communication with each other and work together in accelerating our recovery."

This is the second of three bike rides that will be held in New Orleans East. Dr. Blakely hosted last week's ride along with District D Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell.

"It is important that everyone have the opportunity to have access to the important information that involves our recovery," said Councilwoman Willard Lewis. "I encourage all the business leaders, civic leaders, and residents of Venetian Isles, Lake Catherine, Oak Island, Little Woods and Village D'lest to take part in the tour and information session."

The ride will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Old Gentilly Road near the Folgers Coffee plant. Residents not participating in the ride may join the group for a question and answer session after the ride at Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, 5069 Willowbrook Drive, at approximately 12:15 p.m.

The Bike Rides allow for an up-close look at neighborhoods, during which rebuilding activities, existing assets and investment and rebuilding opportunities. They are intended to encourage civic participation in the city's recovery and rebuilding. They also provide participants an opportunity to see places outside their own neighborhoods.

The Lake Forest Plaza in New Orleans East is one of 17 target recovery areas identified in the city's $1.1-billion recovery action plan. The action plan focuses redevelopment at the level of the neighborhood.

The route for Saturday's ride follows:
Begin at Old Gentilly Road near the Folgers Coffee plant.
Proceed down Michoud Boulevard, past Chef Menteur Highway to Willowbrook Drive.
Right on Willowbrook Drive to Dwyer Road
Left on Dwyer Road to Alcee Fortier Boulevard
Right on Alcee Fortier Boulevard to Chef Menteur Highway.
The group will then turn around and ride back to Mary Queen of Vietnam Church

Labels: Dr-Ed-Blakely, Katrina-Bike-Tour

by Larry Lagarde

Yesterday, I received an email announcing the latest in a series of free neighborhood bike tours being led by the New Orleans recovery czar (Dr. Ed Blakely). The tours are designed to focus awareness and attention on the state of recovery of New Orleans neighborhoods ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. The upcoming tour will focus on a section of New Orleans East. Following is the press release.

Councilmember Hedge-Morrell & Dr. Ed Blakely invites you to a Bike-Ride Tour in Eastern New Orleans on Saturday July 14th, from 10am-12pm. The Bike-Ride will be led by Councilmember Hedge-Morrell and Dr. Ed Blakely, Director of Recovery focusing on points of interest as it relates to the revitalization of the neighborhoods and commercial corridors. The route starts at Downman Rd. at Chef Menteur Hwy. (Spur Gas Station)heading North on Downman Rd. to Morrison Rd. then making a Right at Morrison Rd. to Crowder Blvd. and ending at Saint Maria Goretti Parish Hall. Residents who are not interested in participating in the Bike-Ride Tour are welcome to 11am. Councilmember Hedge Morrell & Dr. Ed Blakely will give brief remarks.

Points of Interests along Route:
Downman Rd. Corridor
Pines Village
Georgetown
Chimney Wood
Kenilworth
Spring Lake
Lake Willow

Thanks,
Jared C. Brossett
Chief of Staff, District "D"
Office of Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell
1300 Perdido St. Suite 2W20
New Orleans, LA. 70112
Office 504.658.1040
Fax 504.658.1048

Labels: Dr-Ed-Blakely, Katrina-Bike-Tour

New Orleans Recovery Czar To Lead Bicycle Tour June 3rd

Dr. Edward Blakely, the Executive Director of Recovery Management for the City of New Orleans, will continue his series of neighborhood bike rides at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 3. This ride will focus on the Carrollton area, and will begin at the corner of Saint Charles Avenue and South Carrollton Avenue (Image: expandable Google Map of bike tour route; click map to zoom in).

The bike ride tours are part of an effort to engage all New Orleans citizens in the Hurricane Katrina recovery process. The rides also provide participants an opportunity to see places outside their own neighborhoods. The public is invited to participate.

The Bike Tour Route:
Start Tour: 2:00 PM
- Gather on top of the Levee at St. Charles and Carrollton before we proceed to the starting point.
- Gather again at the Carrollton Monument located behind the fountain across from Cooter Browns.

2:05 PM: Bike downriver on St. Charles, one block to Short St.,
- At Short, turn Right into the "Black Pearl" neighborhood.
- From Short, turn Left on Pearl for two blocks.
- From Pearl, left onto Burdette,
- On Burdette, cross St. Charles and go two blocks to Maple.
- Left on Maple for 3 blocks,
- On Maple, cross Carrollton Ave. Go one block to Dublin,
- On Maple go west one block to Dante, turn right on Dante for one block.
- From Dante and Burthe turn left, go one block,
- Right onto Cambronne, view St Joan of Arc School.
- Continue north on Cambronne to Oak St., turn left on Oak.
- From Oak, right onto Eagle, view portions of Pigeon Town.
- From Eagle, right on Willow, view the Street Car Barn at Willow and Dublin.
- Continue on Willow, cross Carrollton, turn left on Carrollton.
- From Carrollton, turn right onto Birch.
- Left onto Adams from Birch
- Left onto Hickory from Adams, continue on Hickory and cross Carrollton Ave
- Continue on Hickory to Leonidas.
- Right on Leonidas to Claiborne (cross Claiborne)
- Right turn onto Apple from Leonidas
- Right turn onto Carrollton from Apple

Finish: Carrollton to Claiborne (Palmer Park)

Labels: Dr-Ed-Blakely, Katrina-Bike-Tour