Mr. Peanut Opens Peanut-Shaped Urban Park
Planters, America’s leading snack nut brand, opens the first Planters Grove, a peanut-shaped urban park in New Orleans’ historic Central City.
Designed to provide a natural, inspirational place for the community to enjoy, the Planters Grove was brought to life by Planters partner The Corps Network, the national member organization for Service and Conservation Corps, with its local member Corps, Limitless Vistas, Inc. and the Louisiana Green Corps/ARC of Greater New Orleans.
[ Also Read: Peanut is Your New Friend on Facebook ] [ Also Read: Visiting Keukenhof Gardens in Holland ]The iconic Mr. Peanut, arriving in his new biodiesel Planters Nutmobile, opened the public green space with Corps members and community volunteers.
“We’re proud to have worked with the wonderful people of Central City to plant some good in New Orleans,” said Jason Levine, senior director of marketing at Planters. “These parks were inspired by the community of nut growers who have been our namesake – planters.”
[ Also Read: Over 100,000 Tulips for Festival of Flowers ]Renowned landscape architect Ken Smith designed the natural, green park at 2047 Felicity Street with strong input from the community. Part urban revitalization, part art, the Planters Grove is inspired with New Orleans influences found in locally-sourced reclaimed materials and native and local plants and flowers.
[ Also Read: Look, How Big is Big for a Plant ]A windowpane display made of reclaimed windows from homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina outlines the peanut-shaped park exterior. The windows, painted prominently in unique shades of local colors, allow a clear view into the park and provide a bold first impression from Simon Bolivar Avenue and Euterpe Street.
[ Also Read: Why and How to Eat a More Plant-Based Diet ]Additional features include:
- A statue of Mr. Peanut seated on a peanut-shaped bench greets visitors into the Planters Grove
- A boardwalk entrance at Simon Bolivar Avenue made of treated pine wood and featuring ceramic street tiles
- Sixteen 18-foot native bald cypress trees
- A bog garden and meadow growing a variety of local plants and flowers such as Swamp Lilies and White Prairie Glovers
- Recycled concrete pavement makes up a community-gathering spot called the Legume Plaza
- Common planting areas for families and youth to learn more about horticulture
- Colorful Adirondack chairs made of recycled materials
In coming weeks, the Planters Grove will feature additional sustainable elements such as solar lighting and a rainwater collection tank attached to a neighboring home.
Mr. Peanut is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mrpeanut.
