MONCUS PARK OPENS THE KERGAN MEDITATION GARDEN
A New Sanctuary for Reflection, Healing, and Community in the Heart of Lafayette
LAFAYETTE, LA, May 18, 2026 – Lafayette now has a new place to slow down, find stillness, and reconnect. The Kergan Meditation Garden opened yesterday at Moncus Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony. This one-of-a-kind ornamental garden is nestled at the back of the Park’s 100 acres, just beyond the historic Oak Allée. Designed as both a visual and sensory experience, the garden invites visitors into a serene world of curated plantings, fragrance, and stillness, offering a true sanctuary for healing and reflection in the heart of Acadiana.
Made possible through the extraordinary philanthropic generosity of Ted, Ann, and Jean-Luc Kergan, the garden was thoughtfully designed using Feng Shui principles, drawing on the ancient Eastern practice of creating spaces that feel balanced, harmonious, and deeply connected to the natural world. Its structure is guided by the Bagua Map, a framework that organizes the garden around five elements: fire, metal, wood, earth, and water. Each element inspires a distinct space or “room,” all flowing together in a layout shaped by the organic form of an unfurling fern. Gentle curves, soft grasses, and plantings that move with the wind create a sense of calm and intention at every turn.
The result is a living, breathing landscape where every planting, pathway, and water feature has purpose. Showcasing plants chosen for their flowers, foliage, fragrance, form, and texture, the garden creates a tapestry that shifts with the seasons and invites visitors to slow down, look closer, and simply be present. This breathtaking vision was masterfully brought to life by the extraordinary local talent of Michael Cullen and Dan Spiller of LAND Architecture, LLC, and the Edenscapes team, whose craftsmanship transformed a dream into a reality for all of Lafayette.
“Seeing this garden come to life fills my heart. When I dreamed of this place, I hoped it would become somewhere people could come to be still, to breathe, and to feel connected to nature and to one another. That dream is now real, and it belongs to all of Lafayette,” said Ann Kergan.
The garden will be open daily from sunrise to sunset to all visitors. Looking ahead, Moncus Park envisions the space as a programming hub for guided meditation, wellness classes, and community gatherings, as well as a public garden where anyone can seek healing, thoughtfulness, or simply admire its beauty.
“The Kergan Meditation Garden is a gift to Acadiana in the truest sense. It reflects the Kergan family’s deep belief in the power of nature to transform lives, and it is a space that will offer every visitor a chance to pause, breathe, and reconnect. We are so proud to open this sanctuary for our community,” said JP MacFadyen, Executive Director of Moncus Park.
The Kergan Meditation Garden opens just as Moncus Park reaches a significant moment of momentum. May also marks the opening of the Paul A. Doerle Sr. Farmers Market Pavilion, the new permanent home of the Lafayette Artisans and Farmers Market, and the b1BANK Backyard, a grove of overcup oak trees designed for lingering, gathering, and celebrating. The Park has also added new restrooms and expanded parking to meet growing demand, with an additional parking lot set to open in June as attendance and use of the space continues to soar.
These latest additions reflect the remarkable growth of Moncus Park as an increasingly popular and self-sustaining destination. With attendance continuing to rise and revenue generated through events, programming, and partnerships, the Park is proving that a nonprofit conservancy model can thrive while delivering world-class green space to the community it serves.
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About Moncus Park
Moncus Park cultivates connections to enrich lives and strengthen community through nature. Guided by this mission, the Park is committed to sustainability efforts and provides activities and events for the community. The nonprofit park conservancy is solely responsible for the operations and maintenance of 100 acres of greenspace in the heart of Acadiana, with its annual operating budget primarily derived from fundraising and self-generated activities. This unique nonprofit park conservancy model, the first of its kind in Acadiana, is a growing trend nationwide. To learn more about Moncus Park’s mission and contribute to its impactful journey, please visit www.moncuspark.org.
