Moncus Park

Moncus Park
Lake Reaux
Location	Lafayette, Louisiana
Area	100-acres
Administered by	Lafayette Central Park, Inc
Visitors	500,000 annual visits[1] (in 2024)
Status	Open all year
Water	Lake Reaux and Coulee Mine
Parking	Yes (paid)
Public transit access	Northbound bus: Johnston St & Riverstone Apartments stop. Southbound bus: Johnston St & Cycle Gear
Website	moncuspark.org

Moncus Park is a public green space located in central Lafayette, Louisiana.^[2][3] The site was formerly known as the “Horse Farm” when it was owned by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (formerly USL) and used for agricultural education, planting trials, and ROTC training before remaining largely undeveloped.^[4]

The park’s transformation began in 2005 with a community-led campaign, called "Save the Horse Farm", which aimed to preserve the land from commercial development. In 2012, the campaign achieved success, when the city reached agreement to purchase the property. A year later a nonprofit entity, formed as Lafayette Central Park, Inc, undertook planning and fundraising for a master-plan-based park.^[5]

The international landscape architecture firm Design Workshop developed the master plan after consulting with thousands of local residents and incorporated many features such as native tree and flower species, restored wetlands, a dog park, children's playground, amphitheater, a Veteran's Memorial and a few walking paths or trails.^[6]

References

1. "Moncus Park Annual Report | PDF to Flipbook". heyzine.com.
2. "Moncus Park". www.lafayettetravel.com.
3. "Moncus Park | Explore Louisiana". www.explorelouisiana.com.
4. Fontenot, Jordan LaHaye (February 21, 2020). "A Place for the People". Country Roads Magazine.
5. "How one community created a privately funded park". www.synkd.io.
6. "Moncus Park :: Design Workshop". www.designworkshop.com.