Ah, what a lovely place to spend the sunset most days of the year! The view of and across the Mississippi River is splendid and clear. If you bring binoculars, you'll see a host of native and migrating birds, according to the season. The "Fly," as natives dub it, is named for a long-gone food court that sold snoballs, popcorn and the like. The Butterfly-shaped building's supports collapsed into the river and the building was never replaced. I've never understood this because I know any place that sells food at that location would make a fortune. But the park made a decision. Now it's a riverfront overlook with parking. The problem with the park, however, is that the extensive amount of money allocated to stem erosion has not been maintained. An impressive rock and fencing riprap installation has been allowed to deteriorate, and native trees have grown to block the view and are not removed. One of the overlook shelters is completely blocked from the river view and therefore, rarely used. There also seems to be a shortage of one shelter. They are spaced too far apart from shelter 2 to shelter 3, as if another shelter should've been installed in-between. A fourth overlook and tree maintenance would improve this area immensely. In high season, now through October, the Fly is packed with people every weekend and every good sunset. But there are areas where people park on the grass, tearing it up and creating mud that erodes into the street and drains. I wish those areas would be provided with granite rocks and cut-ins for proper parking. Concreting the area further causes runoff problems. And granite "paved" cutins would work perfectly. They have added a fabulous bathroom near the ball courts, but the tiny, old bathroom, up front, remains in deplorable condition. It never has enough toilet paper, or a hand dryer, and is always overused because MOST PEOPLE PARK up front to picnic and barbecue. There are not enough garbage receptacles for high use weekend days, and they are not collected in a timely manner. Those problems aside, it is still a gem of a place to watch the river flow, see ships wend their way down and up the river. It's magical, and few places on the planet can say that about themselves.

A totally awesome and beautifully wide range view of the Great Mississippi River. This has to be one of, if not the best view out of all the places that host this ages old, yet still amazingly beautiful, forever gracefully flowing, powerful, and most respected body of water.
Playground
The playground area is very large, always clean and manicured for our children's safety and enjoyment to ensure memorable fun times.
Restrooms
There are restrooms at either side of the view, which are maintained around the clock on order for you to feel comfortable enough to utilize them with ease as if you were at your own back home.
Dog-friendliness
Yes! Dogs are very welcomed, so much so that I am sure your four legged best friend will come away with a few four legged friends of their own.
Picnic area
Honestly, I think the entire view can be used as a picnic spot, especially those designated areas that sits out away from the common part of the view and delves out towards the river.

Despite the distance from our home, I love this park. We've been coming for years. Who doesn't love baseball by the river?? Or a picnic? Maybe even a barbecue or family renuion? I couldn't give it 5 stars, though, because of the train tracks. One way in and one way out; if you happen to catch the train . . . well, I hope you don't have to be anywhere soon. I wish I could say I was exaggerating but I've waited over 45 minutes to get out of the park at 8:30 pm with 2 hungry children in tow. Not my best experience at "The Fly." Apart from that, it's great!

We are from Memphis area, they don't have. Banks like they did at this park. Ablento walk right up to the river and look down into it. Very clean and nice park to visit.
Playground
My son loved the 1 playground he went on. Was able to do all of it by himself without help from us.
Restrooms
They had restrooms but we did not visit them.
Dog-friendliness
Saw plenty of people with their dogs visiting the park.
Picnic area
The areas we saw had plenty of people there having cook outs and enjoying the day.

Once Upon a Time the young people what's locked in this area of town Senior Skip Day etc etc the native call this area The View shorthand for Riverview the Loyola and Tulane students calls it the fly either way it's one of my favorite spots in New Orleans just to hang out grab some seafood enjoying the breeze at the river yes Mississippi River really great best kept secret I will Orleans if you're looking for a Park Place to do things flying kites while riding bikes working out you name it the View old school news

The Butterfly AKA "The Fly" is a great view of the river in a quiet open space. It gets really popular on the weekend. But during the week it is a great space for almost anything. Rolling down the levee to the multiple Dimonds for ballplayers and several ground nets for girls soccer games. Picnic tables and river side gazebos. And a few acsses points to clearings you can cast a fishing line through. There be monster catfish in dat muddy water.

The Fly is the perfect place to visit when the weather is nice. It's kind of like an extension to Audubon, but less crowded (usually) and with a view of the river. You'd be hard pressed to find a better spot to put up a hammock or bring the dogs, and if you live/stay close by, running through the park feels incredible with the cool breeze coming off the water.

Great place to relax with fmily and friends. breathtaking view of the river with a constant breeze blowing to keep you cool. Great for picnics or just to have a a quiet time of reading. Occassionally used by students from neighboring universities for various events. Close to a soccer field and stadium. Great plce to chill overall.

Behind the Zoo, locals call it the Fly, its great outside fun by the Mississippi, we bring our own fun activities and refreshments for the day out but it's got covered areas to have birthday parties public restrooms and it's usually crowded on weather perfect weekends but it's a huge area multiple playground areas

Nice park, in my opinion. Not much here as far as attractions, but it was clean and well manicured when I was there. Quiet, open, and lots of space to get good views of the river. More trees would be nice, possibly some close together for people who like hammocks. And maybe more of the little waterside gazebos.

This is a perfect spot for sunset picnics when the weather allows for it. Watching every size boat and ship pass by on the Mississippi and listening to the tiny waves crash is a serene departure from some of the other waterfront attractions in this city. Can't wait to come back.

This is a hidden gem of the Big Easy. I have so many memories of the fly, It's where me and my first love Suzy shared many things. We snuck into the fly one night through the railroad tracks and we made love under the stars on the bank of the river. It's a truly amazing place.

Best place to see the sun set. Looks amazing going down over the Mississippi River. Also a good place to bring some fried dark hang out or the family for a BBQ. Can gwt a little crowded but there is plenty of space you know where to look. watch out for ant hills though.

This park has seen me grow up. Being a kid playing soccer and watching my dad play baseball to being an adult drinking daiquiris and doing hood rat stuff with my friends. Best views of the river uptown if you don’t wanna giveaway other secret spots. Long live the fly

Lovely park with a great view of the river. I would definitely recommend to go here for sunset. We’ve done this multiple times and have never been disappointed. You can sit down on the grass and watch the stars rise in the night sky. Very peaceful and serene place.

This has to be one of the best spots in the city to watch a sunset. The Mississippi sparkles with bits of majestic blue and sapphire as the sun lowers itself on the horizon. Great for lovers having a picnic. Plenty of fun for the kids and fur babies too.

Nice park with good kid structure but hectic. Lost sight of my kid and had a panicked moment until I spotted him on the swings. There are lots of trees to play around but it also blocks line of sight. Its also got a small hint of new Orleans grunge.

One of my favorite places to hang out! The fly is a great spot to bring a blanket and relax while enjoying views of the mighty Mississippi River. I love to pick up po-boys and a Daiquiri and have a picnic here. Also a good place to catch lizards ;)

The Fly, as the locals call it. Great riverside park, can get a little crowded in the main areas on beautiful weekend days, but it's a big park, so plenty of room if you just keep looking. Also remember that you have to cross the tracks to

This is a great place for family's to go to behind the Audubon zoo (aka the fly). There's lots of room to play games, watch the boats go down there river or just to spend time together. Just a great place to go outdoors and enjoy the day.

Butterfly Park are you kidding!!! HAHAHA I see no plantings to attract butterflies. No shade trees. Lawn and mechanical equipment. Louisiana doesn’t even know how to use parkland except to drink in it. This is probably a levy not a park:

Come here when the sun is shining and just watch the levee whenever you find yourself longing to see the beauty of New Orleans. Always a great hangout spot or place to get some peace and quiet for a few minutes with a lovely view.

It's a beautiful place for family and friends. There's plenty of activities and friendly people. The bathroom facilities are always clean and the view from the bank is great. I'm thinking of going to fish there later this week.

A wonderful spot to watch the sun set above the Mississippi River. Ideal place to picnic and people watch. There are plenty of locals in the area, plenty of shade from the trees and the continuous breeze from the Mississippi.

Nice view of the river, but the soccer fields are terrible. It would be nice if the they could spend a little bit of money to bring the soccer fields back up to par with some of the other sports facilities around the city.

A nice place to visit. When you need a place to go and think and just relax the Fly is the spot sitting by the Mississippi River watching the ships pass by is serenity for me.....my go to spot when I need to be by myself.

Went here for a crawfish boil with family and friends. It was wonderful. Breeze coming in off the river cooled it down perfectly. Don't trust Lyft directions though. They try to drop you on the wrong side of the park.

Had a relaxing evening with my beautiful lady. This place, also known as the fly, is a spectacular place to catch the sunset over the river. Great place to fly kites if you are ever looking to do something like that.

Great park along the river, it is surprising how many people in the city actuality never been here. It could use better upkeep at the water edge. Great sports for the kids and wonderful open spaces to relax.

This park is known by locals as the "Fly" for short. It is really neat for sports and picnics. Great view of the river. It is right behind Audubon zoo. Some people go there to fish in the Mississippi River.

This is a nice spot along the Mississippi River. It is calming to watch the boats pass by. Parking was plentiful when I was there and it wasn't very crowded on a sunny Saturday in February, which was nice.

great spot for sports, hanging in the park, bbqs, boils, fishing in the river, or setting up a hammock. open spaces, play areas, fields. concession with normal fares, including beer on days with games.

Awesome park. Loved being by the water with shade and a light breeze. Tons of families out having fun, the energy was great and it felt both safe and stunning in it’s collection of trees and sunshine.

Beautiful river view and picnic area…but ground upkeep/maintenance is gravely lacking. Grass is not cut, overgrown weeds around benches, garbage strewn about and walkways are cracked/crumbling.

The best place to watch the river boats go by and see the sunset in New Orleans! Peaceful and serene place during the week normally, sometimes the weekends get a bit crowded, but still amazing.

Given a break from the cold weather, a stop by the Riverview was much needed. The view was serene, the weather was real nice and I could smell boiled seafood in the air.... its a NOLA thing!

A well kept secret in New Orleans. You take the same road to the Audubon zoo but go to the back of park along river. You can park, walk along river or sit on bench and watch ships pass by.

My girlfriend, her dog and I walked up and down The Fly and it was nice until we saw some younger kids huffing dusters. It's a nice, beautiful area but the druggie need to be pushed out.

Very Peaceful and Busy but enough space to have our own. Great sunsets
Features
Playground: Yes
Public restrooms: Yes
Off-leash dog area: No
Picnic tables: No
Barbecue grills: No

Look out on the river where some barges carrying goods are moving. There are gazebos where to sit and have a smack/meal, soccer and baseball fields. And it's near the zoo. Very nice.

Beautiful scenery bring your camera. Also sunscreen, because it gets hot in NOLA. But there's also so much more at the park. Locals: check out the locals freebies[ we deserve them]

This is a great place to go to watch the sunset and relax with friends. I’m surprised more people don’t access it. It is such a nice treat and hidden part of New Orleans. Are.

This is a great place for a picnic at sunset. The city looks like it is on the other side of the river. It's not though. Look at a map to see how the river curves around here.

Very fun park. Plenty if room to stretch, fly kites, play frisbee, barbecue. Also has soccer goals, little league baseball etc. Park is along Mississippi with a great view.

Great local spot to hang out and watch the river traffic. Good spots for sunset watching as well. Can get packed with college kids and crawfish boils during the season tho.

Bathrooms were disgusting! Toilets overflowing, trash covering the ground. I give 2 stars instead of 1 because the fields and other facilities would be nice if kept up.

Went got the train and enjoyed the view. Lots of shade to escape a hot and humid day. There is a lot of grafitti and trash that takes the experience down a few notches.

Nice place for rest Only the problem is when the Black Kids run the motorcycles and sport cars , no respet the People walking and run very close from the parking cars

Beautiful sunrise on the river, space to spread out for a picnic, and open bathrooms and water fountain. I often park here to ride my bike on the Levee trail. More

It is an absolutely beautiful park, a very relaxing place for a picnic or just to read a book under a tree sitting next to the river. Great soccer fields as well

Great place to hang out. Beautiful sunsets daily. Sometimes the college crowd can get rowdy but the space is big enough for all to attend and have a good time.

Finally felt safe enough to visit our kids in New Orleans and was driven around to places I didn't even know existed, this being one of them, was awesome!!!

Lazy river is not so lazy, current is quite strong and water feels so warm is not refreshing. They should have built a pool by the sand circle to cool off.

What a little gem of a park, plenty of mature trees for shade to beat our New Orleans HEAT! The best surprise CLEAN restrooms. Now thats really important.

We love it here, our oldest kid has played t-ball and now, soccer. Nice clean fields and fairly priced concessions. My kid loves the team drink.

Great place for getting together or events usually very nice environment and majority cleam with alot of people but enough space for Seperation.

Better known as the Fly to locals. This is a great place to hang with friends bring your dogs and hammocks and enjoy a nice sunset in the city!

It's a great place to relax and spend quality time with your family and friends and just enjoy the sun setting over the Mississippi River.

Very nice green space facing the river. Great place to picnic and gather. Stunning sunsets can be viewed while laying out on a blanket.

Beautiful views!! Great place to walk and watch the ships go by on the Mississippi! There are public bathrooms but there are very few.

Nice little park for hanging out, kids sports nearby, start a bike ride or run/walk on the river path, nice little spot on the river

The Fly is a great place to bring your kids. It is also a wonderful recreational facility for young people. Great sports faxility.

I enjoy it very much, the view of the ships passing was refreshing, and there's a little park so the kids can have fun also

Anyone visiting nola should make some time to visit the park. It's a great little gem with a nice, quiet view of the river.

Nice place to hang out on a Friday afternoon. The sunset over the river is beautiful, and every is just having a good time.

It was a wonderful place to unwind from my busy day. Just resting under the trees, enjoying the cool breeze off the river.

The area is awesome for small gatherings, picnics, flying kites and even exploring the shore and watching ships go by.

Beautiful views of water fowl and Cyprus trees along the Mississippi, while children play on the park across the way.

My brother and his wife were married in a small Cabana overlooking the mighty Mississippi River at the park today.

Spendid, had great views for sunset. Do get a mat and a fly repellent if you plan on spending some time there.

Very cool. If you're a cyclist, keep riding west along the river. Good flat, smooth levee surface for miles...

Perfect place to catch a beautiful New Orleans sunset…easy to find, plenty of parking and not crowded at all.

The sunset at 6pm was sooo awesome. This would be THEE romantic place for couples on a cool October evening!

Plenty of shade, open space for sports, gatherings, or picnics and you can catch monster catfish from river

Nice park along the Mississippi River. Good for dog walking, bencv sitting, grass lying and game playing.

We cooked on a grill and watched the sunset. It was very beautiful. The boats going thru was really cool.

Great park. Kinda cold. Ratchet bathrooms. Good trees for climbing. Lots of materials for building stuff

Its so serene. One of the best things ever is sitting by the river taking in the cool evening breeze

Pretty peaceful place to sit and watch our lazy river flow. Many people out fishing. Very pleasant!

Absolutely wonderful view, although the mosquitoes are evil other than that, it's amazing! …

Cool place to chill,can bring your alcoholic beverage, dog,food and watch the hot rides pass buy

A place to walk and relax, dog friendly park! Great place if you want to avoid the city crowds

Hard to find with one way streets. Nice view peaceful way to watch ships on Mississippi.

Love the "FLY". Family park. Great for birthday parties, picnics, sports and relaxation.

Went to see this train with Billy. Go to the Fly to eat lunch and watch the ships go by.

a wonderful, cozy place to chill on a hammock or lounge on the grass with best buds :-)

Beautiful end of day day stroll along the majestic Mississippi River. Perfect weather.

Great place to sit relax and enjoy the river views. Dog friendly. Plenty of parking.

Best sunsets best frisbee/ laying on a blanket sipping wine place in the city …

a beautiful view of the Mississippi River and a nice place to watch a baseball game

Very clean and well kept up park. If u looking for peace this is it and for free

Great place to relax, hang out with friends and family, BBQ, boil crawfish, etc.

Relaxing place to sit and enjoy an iced coffee or just a walk around the park

The Fly is uptowns best kept locals secret. Great for hanging out and all.

Mississippi River view … calm and nice . Perfect for the morning walkings.

It's fun to watch the ships go by but no one told me there's no lifeguard!

Wonderful spot to catch a sunset on the Mississippi River in New Orleans.

Great place to watch the river, people and photograph outdoor projects.

Watch the river waters pass you by..So Peaceful...Only In New Orleans!!

Best time to go is midday Mon-Thurs. Very few people, quietly relaxing.