New Orleans — It’s little more than piles of mud and a steel frame, but in the coming weeks, the construction zone next to City Park’s Great Lawn will be its newest attraction: City Putt, a two-course, 36-hole mini golf facility.

The new attraction is part of City Park 2018, the park’s $150 million master plan that has already has seen the creation of the Great Lawn, new tennis courts and festival grounds with more to come. City Putt will cost $2 million and is being paid for through several sponsorships, said John Hopper, City Park’s chief development officer.

While the idea of mini golf is nothing new, City Park is giving the game a bit of a local flavor. One of the courses, sponsored by First NBC, has a Louisiana theme and highlights various cities around the state. The other course, sponsored by the Stanley Ray Trust, will be New Orleans-themed with an emphasis on city street names. At each hole, signs will have a short history lesson for visitors. “I think it is kind of cool instead of just saying ‘Hole No. 1,’ ” Hopper said. “It’s not your parents’ miniature golf course.”

In addition to the courses, a clubhouse is under construction and will include two rooms that can be rented for parties or other events, Hopper said.

Work on City Putt began late last summer and is expected to wrap by the end of April, Hopper said. There is not yet an opening date, but park officials hope to welcome guests by May, he said.

It won’t be long before crews return to City Park. As part of the master plan, a splash park will be built. It is in the design phase right now, Hopper said, adding that he hopes to see bids go out for it this year.

A championship golf course is also in the works, something the park has lacked since Hurricane Katrina. Hopper said officials hope to put it out to bid in “coming months.”

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