NEW ORLEANS – With the 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival set to open at the Fair Grounds Race Course on Friday, April 24, 2015, the City is reminding the public about the procedures and requirements for selling goods and public parking in the festival’s vicinity. This year’s festival dates are Friday, April 24 to Sunday, April 26 and Thursday, April 30 to Sunday, May 3.
“Celebrating its 46th year, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is one of the most authentic cultural experiences in the world,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “Jazz Fest attracts hundreds of thousands of revelers to the Fair Grounds and is only getting bigger and better. This year, we encourage all residents and visitors to make a plan before heading out to Fair Grounds to enjoy a day of music, food, and culture. As in previous years, City enforcement officials will be on site to ensure that local businesses are in compliance with City ordinances. Our goal is to make commercial business owners and non-profit managers aware of the rules and regulations, and to eliminate confusion in advance.”
COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ENFORCEMENT
City code requires that commercial businesses get the appropriate permits if they wish to operate on their commercially-zoned property during the festival. In the event that a non-profit organization plans to manage a parking service on commercial property, they must also apply for a permit. Fees associated with permits for parking operations are $265.25 for a business and $30 for a non-profit organization.
In addition, existing businesses will be allowed to sell their products on their property, both inside and outside of their business contingent upon not blocking the public right-of-way. However, the City will aggressively enforce the rules that prohibit transient vendors (carts, trucks, etc.) from improperly selling their products within the festival’s “Clean Zone.”
The Clean Zone is a temporary designation that seeks to protect the quality of life for residents and assists businesses in thriving during the 2015 Jazz and Heritage Festival. Simultaneously, the designation will facilitate a tremendous positive economic impact on the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana through the regulation and control of certain areas in order to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare of thousands of residents, visitors, dignitaries, and media personnel who will attend events.
The Clean Zone is bounded by Florida Avenue on the north, North Broad Avenue on the east, Esplanade Avenue on the south, and Bayou St. John on the west (excluding the portion of that area contained within the exterior boundaries of the New Orleans Fair Grounds Racetrack).
The Clean Zone is in effect beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2015, and ending at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, 2015. The Clean Zone will go into effect again at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2015, and ending at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2015.
The City of New Orleans’ One Stop Shop for permits and licenses is open during regular business hours, Monday – Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
GETTING TO JAZZ FEST
The Fair Grounds Race Course is located at 1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA, 70119, in a residential part of the city offering restricted parking in surrounding neighborhoods. Festival-goers that are driving to the Fair Grounds are encouraged to bicycle, carpool whenever possible, park in downtown long-term lots and use the shuttle system festival organizers have arranged or to take public transportation.
Bicycling
Festival attendees planning on riding bicycles to the Fair Grounds are encouraged to utilize the City’s designated bikeways.
Bicycle parking is available by the Gentilly Pedestrian Entrance at the corner of Gentilly Blvd. and Sauvage Street.
Jazz Fest Express Shuttle Service
Gray Line Tours will operate continuous round-trip transportation – the Jazz Fest Express – from the Sheraton Hotel, the Gray Line Lighthouse at the Steamboat Natchez Dock (Toulouse St. at the River – next to Jax Brewery), and City Park (next to Marconi Meadows) daily from 10:30 a.m. until all patrons have been transported from the Fair Grounds.
A special entrance will be used only by Jazz Fest Express vehicles to avoid traffic and bring festival-goers inside the gates of the festival.
Taxi and Pedicab Stands
Taxicab stands are located at the Stallings Playground at the corner of Gentilly Boulevard and Lapeyrouse Street and Fortier Park at the corner of Esplanade Avenue and Mystery Street.
A pedicab stand is located at Esplanade Avenue and Mystery Street across from the taxicab stand.
RTA
RTA offers bus and streetcar service to stops within walking distance of the Fair Grounds.
JAZZ FEST PARKING ENFORCEMENT
Parking enforcement personnel will be monitoring for illegal parking, including blocking hydrants, driveways and sidewalks, or parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection or stop signs. Motorists are reminded to park in the direction of travel on one-way streets, and with the right wheel to the curb on two-way streets. Motorists are highly encouraged to pay close attention to all posted signage to avoid being ticketed or towed.
The City’s Parking Control Officers will be actively enforcing the following safety violations:
• Blocking a fire hydrant ($40 fine)
• Parking in a fire lane ($40 fine)
• Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant on either side ($40 fine)
• Parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection, or stop sign ($40 fine)
• Parking on a sidewalk ($40 fine)
• Parking on a traveled portion of the roadway ($40 fine)
• Parking within 3 feet of a driveway on either side ($40 fine)
• Parking on the neutral ground and subject to seizure ($75 fine)
• Parking adjacent to the neutral ground ($40 fine)
• Parking in freight/loading zone ($40 fine)
• Parking in a handicapped zone without proper permit displayed ($500 fine)
• Parking at an expired meter ($40 fine)
• Parking in a Residential Permit Parking zone without a permit displayed ($40 fine)
• Parking in the wrong direction (vehicles must park in the direction of travel on one-way streets, and with the right wheel to the curb on two-way streets) ($40 fine)
• Vehicles with unpaid parking tickets will be booted and/or towed.
For more information:
• Department of Public Works (Parking enforcement and information), (504) 658-8100 (answered 24 hours)
• Information related to Residential Parking Permits, (504) 658-8200
• Pay and release of boot, (504) 599-5652
• Information on Ticket/Tow Appeals Hearings: (504) 658-8250
Towed vehicles may be retrieved at the N. Claiborne Ave. Auto Impound Lot located at 400 N. Claiborne Ave., New Orleans, LA, 70112.
The Auto Impound Lot is open 7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
