The park is named in honor of artist and naturalist John James Audubon, who began living in New Orleans in 1821.

It belonged to Étienne de Boré, the first mayor of New Orleans and the first successful sugar planter in Louisiana; his plantation also included what is now the location of Tulane University and Audubon Zoo.

The only notable reminder of the fair to remain in the park in the 21st century is a large iron ore rock from the Alabama State exhibit (which in local lore has often been misidentified as a meteorite).

The ring road around the park was closed to automobile traffic at the start of the 1980s and became a popular 1.7-mile (2.7 km) walking, jogging and biking route.

Audubon Park was used as a makeshift helicopter port and encampment for National Guard troops and relief workers after the storm.

In 2002, the golf course was renovated and converted to a mostly Par 3 executive course, to complaints from many non-golfing users of the park, who alleged that the original Olmsted Brothers design was being desecrated.

[5] Ochsner Island on the east side of the park features a rookery that is one of the prime birding spots in Greater New Orleans.