Facility Overview
Oakwood Center - Dick\'s North parking area serves as one of the primary, most accessible surface parking zones for the premier shopping destination on New Orleans\' Westbank. Situated at the northern edge of the Oakwood Center retail complex along the Westbank Expressway corridor in Terrytown/Gretna, this spacious, outdoor asphalt parking field directly flanks the prominent Dick\'s Sporting Goods anchor store. Because it is an expansive, single-level surface lot with no overhead barriers or height restriction gantries, it offers unlimited vertical clearance. This makes it an outstanding, stress-free option not only for standard passenger sedans and crossovers, but also for full-size pickup trucks, commercial service vans, lifted SUVs, and passenger vans equipped with rooftop cargo carriers.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Located immediately adjacent to the vital transportation artery linking Jefferson Parish with Orleans Parish, this parking zone places motorists within steps of top-tier shopping and dining, and minutes from the heart of historic Gretna and downtown New Orleans. Key nearby points of interest include:
- Oakwood Center Retail & Dining: Direct walking access (1 to 3 minutes) to Dick\'s Sporting Goods, JCPenney, Dillard\'s, Conn\'s HomePlus, Foot Locker, and an array of food court eateries and perimeter restaurants.
- Historic Downtown Gretna: Located less than 2 miles west (approx. 5 minutes drive), featuring the Gretna Cultural Center for the Arts, historic architecture, and the annual Gretna Heritage Festival.
- Algiers Point & Canal Street Ferry: Roughly 3 miles northeast (approx. 8 minutes drive), offering a scenic, pedestrian ferry crossing directly to the edge of the French Quarter.
- Downtown New Orleans & Caesars Superdome: Situated just over 4.5 miles across the Crescent City Connection bridge, placing the Superdome, Smoothie King Center, and New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center within a convenient 10-minute drive outside peak rush hours.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Ingress and egress are straightforward thanks to multiple wide access aprons leading from the Westbank Expressway service road and surrounding interior ring circulation lanes. Generous turning radiuses and wide driving aisles ensure easy maneuvering even during heavy shopping seasons. For regional motorists, the facility enjoys instant access to US-90 Business (Westbank Expressway), leading seamlessly onto the Crescent City Connection over the Mississippi River toward Interstate 10. Regional transit riders can utilize nearby Jefferson Transit (JeT) bus stops along the Westbank Expressway and Stumpf Boulevard, connecting local Westbank neighborhoods with the CBD in downtown New Orleans.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Open-Air Surface Parking: Ample, clearly striped standard and oversized surface spaces with unobstructed vertical clearance for tall vehicles.
- ADA Accessible Stalls: Designated, code-compliant accessible parking spaces positioned near store entrances with curb ramps for barrier-free access.
- Complimentary Customer Parking: Open, free patron parking during standard center operating and shopping hours.
- Lighting & Visibility: High-mast parking lot illumination providing clarity and safety for evening shoppers and retail staff.
- Pedestrian Connectivity: Well-marked crosswalks, concrete walkways, and perimeter sidewalks linking directly into store portals.
Ideal For
- Retail & Sporting Goods Shoppers: Customers visiting Dick\'s Sporting Goods and Oakwood Center stores looking for convenient, immediate storefront parking.
- Large Vehicle Drivers: Drivers of heavy-duty trucks, full-size cargo vans, and elevated utility vehicles that cannot clear standard parking garage ceiling limits.
- Local Dining & Quick Errands: Visitors stopping by for quick dining pickups, sporting goods returns, or apparel errands along the Westbank corridor.
- Westbank Commuters & Rideshare Rendezvous: Convenient, easily identifiable landmark for passenger pick-ups, drop-offs, and carpool meetups before heading across the river.
Visitor & Driver Tips
During the busy holiday shopping season and major clearance weekends, spaces nearest the Dick\'s Sporting Goods exterior entrance fill quickly; parking slightly further back along the northern lot perimeter offers faster access and smoother outbound turns. Always remember to secure your vehicle by rolling up windows, locking all doors, and keeping any valuable purchases or personal items hidden out of sight in the trunk. If you are meeting someone or coordinating rides, use the clearly visible Dick\'s exterior signage as an effortless geographic landmark.