Last week, citizens of Lafayette came out in numbers to voice their opinions about the elements and programming that they would like to see incorporated into the final design of the park at the Horse Farm. Lafayette Central Park, Inc. (LCP) hosted seven sessions in four days seeking input and listening to the voices of the people of Lafayette. The Share Your Vision! campaign and the series of community forums have been met with tremendous success, but it is not too late for those who wish to participate. Individuals who were not able to attend one of the forums can complete an online survey at https://lafayettecentralpark.org./take-survey. Surveys can be completed until November 11. The second phase of the community forums are being held from November 19-21. These forums will allow LCP to explain the results of the initial forums, check in with the public to ensure that the concept list for the park is narrowed down in a way that the public agrees with and understands, and continue to sharpen the focus on items that received mixed results. There will be a review of the overwhelmingly popular ideas, with discussions surrounding size, scale, and other essential decisions.
E.B. Brooks, LCPs Director of Planning and Design says of the forums, This really is a community driven effort. Public participation is essential to the final vision of the park. We realize it is a sacrifice to take time from your day or evening to attend a meeting, but the payoff is having your wishes for the park heard and possibly incorporated into the final plan. LCP wants the park to reflect the needs of the community and that will only occur if we hear from everyone.
Daily updates, engaging questions and park ideas are being posted on the LCP Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lafayettecentralpark and the community has energetically embraced this platform to share their ideas and visions for the park as well as proudly display their photos proclaiming Its My Park! Individuals and businesses that are interested in a Its My Park sign are encouraged to send a request in a private message on the LCP facebook page.
All members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend one of the upcoming, second-phase forums.
Tuesday, November 19
11 AM 1 PM Acadiana Center for the Arts, 101 W. Vermillion Street
6 PM 8 PM South Regional Library, 6101 Johnston Street
Wednesday, November 20
11 AM 1 PM South Regional Library, 6101 Johnson Street
6 PM 8 PM Petroleum Club Ballroom, 111 Heymann Boulevard
Thursday, November 2
11:00 AM 1:00 PM Rosa Parks Transportation Center, 101 Johnson Street
6:00 PM 8:00 PM Martin Luther King Center, 309 Cora Street
More information of the forums can be found at LafayetteCentralPark.org. For more information on this release, please contact Elizabeth EB Brooks at ebrooks@lafayettecentralpark.org.