Stallings St. Claude Recreation Center
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Stallings St. Claude Recreation Center is primarily valued for its structured, supervised activities like dance and ballet for children aged 4-5 and up, operating as a well-maintained community hub with friendly staff and dedicated teachers. It effectively engages dozens of kids in organized programs, but is not designed as a public playground for very young children or for general, flexible public access, especially for swimming.
Key Highlights
- ✓Offers a variety of structured activities, specifically modern dance and ballet lessons, for children aged 4-5 and older.
- ✓Known for keeping 'kids off of the street by the dozens' through its organized programs.
- ✓The building is consistently well-kept and maintained, both on the inside and outside.
- ✓Staff are described as very friendly, and the teachers for the children's programs are 'awesome'.
- ✓Serves as a crucial community resource, demonstrated by its provision of emergency support (AC, hot meals, charging stations) during a crisis (Hurricane Ida).
Standout Features
- ⭐Well-maintained and clean building (interior and exterior).
- ⭐Friendly staff and highly praised teachers for children's programs.
- ⭐Structured and engaging activities for school-aged children (e.g., dance, ballet).
- ⭐Strong community support role, including emergency services capabilities (AC, charging stations).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →**For parents of very young children**: If you're looking for typical playground equipment like swings, a playground 'up the street on Royal' is suggested as an alternative.
- →**Verify operating hours**: Due to reports of limited public access, confirm current schedules for specific programs or public entry before visiting.
- →**Focus on structured programs**: The center excels in organized, scheduled activities and classes rather than spontaneous drop-in play.
- →**Do not expect public swimming access**: Swimming availability is highly restricted and unreliable.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Frequent complaints that the facility 'never seems open' for general public use.
- ⚠Swimming access is severely limited, described as 'an hour once a month or something ridiculous', and often unavailable due to lifeguard shortages.
- ⚠Not equipped for babies or very young children; it lacks traditional playground equipment like baby swings.
- ⚠Perceived lack of 'all ages' programming and public access compared to community centers in other cities, leading to frustration among some residents.
Price & Value
No specific pricing details are mentioned for activities or general use. While Review 1 references significant public spending, public access is perceived as poor value. Fees for programs like NOBA dance lessons are implied but not stated, suggesting value is in the structured programs rather than free public access.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Provides AC and charging stations, particularly noted during emergency relief efforts.
- •No specific accommodations mentioned for physical disabilities or sensory needs.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not mentioned in reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Not mentioned in reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Implied to be well-attended when structured activities are running, 'keeping kids off of the street by the dozens!!'.
- •However, Review 1 suggests it's often empty due to very limited open hours and public access, meaning crowds are only an issue during popular scheduled programs.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Teachers are described as 'awesome with the kid's', implying good supervision within structured classes.
- •General expectation of supervision within a recreation center setting for organized activities.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Parents with babies or toddlers expecting a traditional playground experience with age-appropriate equipment.
- • Individuals seeking reliable, general public swimming access.
- • Those expecting a facility with flexible, open hours for drop-in, unstructured play or general public use outside of specific programs.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Daddy Daughter Spring Dance
Not specified (Spring)
No cost
Includes photo booth, raffles, dancing, food. Open to girls ages 18 and under. Guests consent to being photographed/filmed for media use.
Kite Day
Not specified
No admission cost
Prizes for fastest kites, best decorated, and more! Includes Bounce Houses, snacks, crafts, and music. Open to all.
Easter Eggstravaganza
Not specified (Easter season)
Not specified (implied free)
Family-friendly Easter egg hunts at select NORD parks. Meet the Easter Bunny, find eggs with candy and prizes. Features face painting, space walks, and field games.
Superhero Family Fun Walk
Not specified
FREE!
FitNOLA Superhero Run, a 1-mile walk/run for youth of all abilities. Participants encouraged to dress as superheroes. Focus on healthy living and movement.
Krazy Hat & Sock Hop Dance
Not specified
Not specified (implied free)
Fun-filled evening for youth with dancing, photo booth, and competitions for kraziest hats and socks. Door prizes.
NORD Community Talks & Listening Sessions
Not specified
Not applicable
Community engagement, Q&A, and general NORD updates with NORD's Executive Team.
Family Fit Fest: Play. Bike. Fly. Explore.
Not specified (Spring)
Not specified (implied free)
Variety of activities for the entire family including healthy snacks, interactive play, nature walk, bike ride from Milne Rec Center to Lake Pontchartrain, kite flying contests. Includes food, music, and entertainment.
Hispanic Heritage Celebration
During National Hispanic Heritage Month
Not specified (implied free)
Community festival recognizing Hispanic heritage through music, food, and art.
Catfish Stocking
Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 3:00pm
Free
NORD Fresh Catfish event at Joe W. Brown ponds (5601 Read Boulevard). 1,000 pounds of fresh channel catfish released. Stock lasts until all fish are gone. Attendees must bring their own pole & bait. Open to all.
Fall 2025 Movies in the Park series
Now through November 21st, 2025 (specific movie line-up not provided for Stallings St. Claude)
Not specified (implied free as generally described)
Fall movie series, view line-up details by calling 504-658-3052. An alternate indoor location available for inclement weather.
🍎Food Policy
- • No alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, firearms, weapons, smoking, or cooking allowed during Movies in the Park (likely general rule).
- • For rentals, grilling on self-provided grills is allowed.
- • For rentals, the sale of food, beverages, goods or merchandise requires written approval from NORD and may require additional permits. NORD Booster Clubs reserve exclusive use of NORD concession areas.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult for Movies in the Park.
- • No alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, firearms, weapons, smoking, or cooking allowed during special events (e.g., Movies in the Park).
- • Rental events requiring tents and staging need necessary permits from ONESTOP, presented to NORD Rental Office for approval.
- • Volunteer coach requirements include USA Football Level 1 Tackle Certification (for tackle/flag football), SafeSport online training, and attendance at clinics/meetings.
- • Volunteer coach requirements for other sports (Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Soccer, Softball, Track & Field, Volleyball) include SafeSport online training and attendance at clinics/meetings.
- • All volunteers must submit a criminal background check (clearance from other parishes if required).
📅Booking Policy
- • All rental requests must be submitted at least 15 business days before the event date.
- • Requests submitted under 15 business days will NOT be accepted or processed.
- • Rental application and COVID Release Waiver must be completed, signed, and submitted via email (NORDCrentals@nola.gov) or in-person (NORD Rental Office, 5420 Franklin Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122, Mon-Fri 9am-4pm).
- • The Rentals Division will contact applicants via email within two business days to confirm receipt, availability, price quote, and other requirements.
- • All reservations must be paid in full, along with proof of security officer payment, at least 7 days before the event date.
- • Any requested changes to the application must be received in writing and approved by NORD at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled event.
- • NORD accepts business checks, certified cashier’s checks and money orders. NO CASH, personal checks or credit cards are accepted for rentals.
- • NORD does not provide tables and chairs for outdoor events. Indoor recreation center events may have access to tables and chairs based on availability. Applicants are responsible for setup and breakdown of tables/chairs.
🚗Parking Information
- • Off-street parking
Recent Reviews
Josh Scott
a year agoI don't understand why all this money was spent on a place that never seems open and only allows residents to swim for an hour once a month or something ridiculous. That is if they were able to afford to lifeguard for the season. Sad, serious lack of public swimming somewhere this hot and humid. Not to mention just being open and used as a place to give these kids something to do besides getting in trouble. Almost nothing in this city is all ages. I grew up in Madison WI and everything was all ages. There was at least 5 different community centers all let us try to have punk rock shows a couple places didn't work as well as others but my point is that is only an example of what these places are meant for. I also understand it's a catch 22 when it comes to this situation. Everyone agrees these things need to exist but at the same time nobody wants to actually do it because the lack of these places and other influences have let these kids become out of control. So people believe it's not a matter of IF there will be trouble but sadly how often will there be trouble. I'm telling you right now trouble isn't automatic certain events draw trouble. Which one is trouble musical instruments, art, outside of school education (think alternative school not whatever is in your head) swimming, basketball games, sewing/ fashion design, or holding rap battles. Or hold the rap battles at a different place they would be less likely to start trouble like at there school gym, even do schools battling with finals having record contract people attending. That alone would be great as far as encouragement where it belongs and an eye opener for others that maybe hitting the books harder is actually necessary because the real world says you suck, not your pick and choose what you want to believe Internet/social media life
Charlene Knieper
7 years agoMy son and I love this place! I saw someone posted about swings and equipment for babies- that's not what Stallings is geared for. It's a rec Center, not a playground for very young children. Maybe in the future they'll have the ability to expand but for now there's a playground with swings and the like up the street on Royal. But, the facility does offer a load of activities for 4-5yr olds and up. Keeping kids off of the street by the dozens!! Keep up the great work Stallings Center!!
Renecia B. Cullier
3 years agoMy daughter takes modern dance lessons through NOBA here. The building is well kept and maintained from the outside. As I hardly go inside, but when I have been inside, it is as well kept as the outside. Staff is very friendly also!👍🏼💯
Marilyn McKelvey
3 years agoYouth ballet recital. It was just wonderful! The teachers are awesome with the kid's.
Kristi Sicard
3 years agoThey were an amazing force in taking care of the community after Ida. Appreciate these kind souls for giving us AC, hot meals, charging stations, cleaning supplies and FEMA filing assistance! The 9th ward loves y'all!