 The St. Bernard State Park was created in 1971 when the land that the park sits on was donated to the state by local businessman and former State Senator Lynn Dean and his wife Jackie.The park operated for 34 years as the only state park in the St. Bernard/Plaquemines Parish area until it was severely damaged by storm surge from the levee failures during Hurricane Katrina.The park (along with Fort Pike State Historic Site) remained closed for more than a year due to the severe damage but is now in full operation for camping, birdwatching and day use.