With signs urging developers to back off on plans to build a $24.5 million golf complex in New Orleans City Park, nearly 100 park users gathered Friday (March 13) for a march to protest the project. Golf course opponents said they were concerned about losing a natural space that's open to everyone, and the impact the development would have on the birds, reptiles and other wildlife that have settled in the area. They also questioned whether a golf course would make money.

"We are trying to continue putting pressure on the board of City Park to listen to the citizens of New Orleans," said Christopher Lane, who used to enjoy frequent picnics and bird watching in the space. "There's been a public comment period on this golf course, but they've been ignoring all of the negative or alternative views of how they could use the space. There hasn't really been any process other than, 'We're going to build a golf course and go with that.'"

City Park CEO Bob Becker has said it's too late to abandon the plan because the state already has awarded a contract and construction has begun.

UNO biologist Larry Dew doesn't buy into that statement. "Nothing is set until they cut down the trees and cut down all the bushes," he said. "And if they have a groundswell of public support for this public space, we hope we can adjust their plans."

In February, more than 60 people protested the plans at a board of commissioners meeting. The meeting took place about a week after officials broke ground on the project.

At the protest march Friday, people carried handmade signs reading, "Keep Your Green Fees Off Our Green Please," "There Is No Demand For Golf" and "Keep City Park Natural and Free." Echo, a pit bull and Australian Shepherd mix, wore a sign telling developers to "Get the bark out of our park."

The protesters walked from the Peristyle to the Botanical Gardens and around the New Orleans Museum of Modern Art chanting, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, this golf course has got to go."

"As a citizen of New Orleans who pays taxes, as a homeowner, I'm really disturbed that the one place that I can really enjoy is being turned into a place that's not usable for most of the city," said Kaya Caputo, who's used to park almost every day for the last seven years. "It's going to benefit wealthy people who, for the most part don't even live in the city and have nothing to do with the revitalization of the city."

The former golf course between Harrison and Filmore Avenues has been an open space for almost 10 years. The course flooded in Hurricane Katrina, and since then has been used for everything from a dog park to a hiking trail to an open area for amateur naturalists.

The space has been fenced off since Mardi Gras weekend.

"We're concerned about the use of public space that people have been using for hundreds of different purposes peaceably, and now it's going to be torn down into just one single usage," Lane said.

Concerned residents formed the "City Park For Everyone Coalition" earlier this year. Its Facebook group has more than 1,000 members. Others opposed to the project started a petition on Change.org urging City Park's board to cancel its plans for the golf course. It has more than 5,100 signatures.

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