When walking with your dog in the Lower Ninth Ward, residents and their pets enjoy warm weather all year with mild winters that rarely see temperatures below freezing and, even more rarely, experience snowfall. Although you don't need warm outdoor wear, you will need some rain gear, including a waterproof jacket for rainy days. Hot, humid summers often mean adjusting your schedule to venture out with your dog when it is cooler and looking for shady places to walk. Occasional severe weather, including tropical storms and hurricanes, can occur, so keep an eye on the forecast.
The Lower Ninth Ward was devastated during Hurricane Katrina and redevelopment is still taking place years later. There are still many vacant and abandoned lots in the area which can harbor hazards.
Homes in the area are moderate in size and landscaping is minimal. Many new dwellings have been built on elevated pylons to prevent future flooding of structures. The terrain in the area is flat with no steep hills to navigate while walking with your dog and most streets have separate pedestrian sidewalks, so you don't have to share the road with local traffic.
Lower Ninth Ward canines and their owners can access Bywater, the neighborhood to the west, on St. Claude Avenue, which has a bridge crossing the canal. Bywater is home to Crescent Park, a beautiful 20-acre greenway along the Mississippi River. The park has a 1.4-mile hard surfaced hiking trail for strolls with your leashed pet and an off-leash dog run. The dog run does not have a double gate system or separate areas for large and small dogs, so if you intend to let your pup play here, make sure they are social and well trained!
Lower Ninth Ward does have some community play spaces providing greenways in the neighborhood for locals and their furry friends The Lee Playground and Bonart Playground have play structures, open multi-use areas, and sports fields that are bordered by trees. These nearby parks make a good place to stop and play with your pup or relax under a tree in the shade.