History
What once was a movement,
is now a world-class park, Moncus Park.
See how it all began below.
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1903
The Schoeffler family ancestors move to Louisiana and establish a farm.
1920-1990s
UL, then Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, bought the whole parcel of land in three sections, a total of 125 acres. For decades, University presidents and other officials lived on the working farm. The farm was plowed with mules until modern times and was used as the school's dairy farm for years. After the farm's cattle were relocated to St. Martin Parish, the land was used as the University equestrian center and earned the nickname "the Horse Farm."
October 2005
Under the threat of commercial development, two young women, Danica Adams and Elizabeth "EB" Brooks, launched a community-wide campaign to inspire civic leaders and residents to help "Save the Horse Farm."
May 2009
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Community Foundation of Acadiana, and Lafayette Consolidated Government announce their collaborative effort to dedicate nearly 100 acres of university property on Johnston Street, known as The Horse Farm for the development of a passive public park, preserving its natural beauty for use as walking trails, bike paths, gardens, green space and uses other than organized sports areas.
April 7, 2011
In keeping with the vision advanced by the Save the Horse Farm organization, the Lafayette Consolidated Government City Council voted on April 7, 2011, to secure the $6 million in public funding for the purchase of the Horse Farm from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL).
July 31, 2012
The Horse Farm property is purchased from University of Louisiana Lafayette by Lafayette Consolidated Government for $6,800,000 to create a world-class public park.
July 18, 2013
The Horse Farm property is leased to Lafayette Central Park, Inc. (LCP), known today as Moncus Park, a new nonprofit created to plan, design, build and operate the Park.
August 29, 2013
The LPTFA (Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority) committed 2.6 million in seed funding to support the community engagement efforts necessary to determine the programing in the park, the fundraising campaign, and hire a design firm to create the master plan for the park.
October-December, 2013
The Lafayette community gathers to consider park programming opportunities on the property, ranging from goal setting and initial ideas of soft programming, such as events and festivals, to hard programming, which are built objects upon the landscape, such as trails, an amphitheater and restrooms. Over a nine month time period, over 7,400 opinions were registered with regards to residents’ ideas, alternatives, and concerns about the future park environment.
April - May, 2014
Presentation of the Master Plan and Prioritization to Lafayette City-Parish Council.
June 3, 2014
Lafayette City-Parish Council votes unanimously to support the master plan - a true testament to the community-wide support for the planning process and the resulting product.
May 14, 2016
Lafayette Central Park (LCP) names central park Moncus Park, in honor of the major donation made by philanthropist James "Jim" Moncus.
March 9, 2018
Lease recorded at Lafayette Parish Courthouse and enacted at City Council.
March 27, 2018
Construction begins on Phase 1 of Moncus Park.
March 19, 2021
Construction begins on Phase 2 of Moncus Park.
January 1, 2022
Moncus Park opens to the public.
May, 2022
The First Horizon Amphitheater opens with a gala and celebration.