Hammond DDD Pedestrian Promenade

We provided preliminary design studies for a linear parkway along Southwest Railroad Avenue in Hammond, Louisiana. The project was envisioned as a critical pedestrian connection linking the new and planned destinations along RR Avenue, including Railroad Park, the downtown pavilion, and the Farmers Market.

Currently, pedestrians must navigate unsafe conditions — crossing busy streets and walking through parking lots — to move between these amenities. To address this and support a more walkable downtown, the concept proposes the removal of parallel parking along the east side of Southwest Railroad Avenue from the historic depot to Coleman Avenue. This would allow for the creation of a generous, dedicated pedestrian walkway featuring new pedestrian-scale lighting, benches, and raised planters.

The parking spaces displaced by the widened walkway would be relocated to a new, efficiently designed parking lot at the southern end of the project, located on the west side of the railroad tracks near Cate Street Seafood Station. This new lot would not only replace the lost spaces but also provide approximately 15 additional parking spaces.

The plan also includes the complete redesign of all existing parking lots along Southwest Railroad Avenue. These improvements focus on maximizing parking efficiency while incorporating new street trees, safety fencing adjacent to the railroad tracks, and consistent material standards established by the adjacent Railroad Park.

This linear parkway project is intended to deliver a major aesthetic upgrade and create a safer, more inviting arrival experience into downtown Hammond.