MLK Jr. Memorial Walk | Hayden Plaza

Project Overview

Hayden Plaza is a public plaza renovation project located in the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. The plaza occupies a neutral ground along a street dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., where the public artwork of internationally recognized sculptor Frank Hayden serves as the central focus.

The design was developed to serve a wide range of users, including visitors from around the world, Central City residents, and people who use the space as part of their daily routines. The project also responds to the importance of the site within New Orleans' active Civil Rights community, whose members regard the plaza as sacred ground.

Community engagement occurred at multiple levels, in several venues, and over an extended period of time. This process helped ensure that the renovation respected the cultural meaning of the site while improving the plaza's accessibility, function, and public presence.

Completed in 2016, the renewed plaza strengthens the setting of the memorial artwork and creates a more welcoming civic space for gathering, reflection, education, and remembrance in the heart of Central City.