Downtown Lafayette Celebrated Grand Opening of Playground at Parc Sans Souci

LAFAYETTE, La (press release) – Downtown Lafayette Unlimited (DLU) is proud to announce the official Grand Opening of the Playground at Parc Sans Souci. The nearly $1,000,000 privately funded project is a key component to a family-friendly experience in Downtown Lafayette, given its location next to the Children’s Museum of Acadiana and the Lafayette Science Museum.

“Thanks to the generosity and vision of community philanthropists, this world-class amenity will serve families of Lafayette for decades,” said Kevin Blanchard, CEO of Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Downtown Lafayette Unlimited (DLU). “We are creating something special at Parc Sans Souci, adding to the existing family-friendly infrastructure and programming in the park and leveraging its adjacency to the Children’s Museum and Science Museum, live music, great retail and easy parking.”

For 40 years DLU has provided the community with free programming such as Downtown Alive! and Bach Lunch with both series having largely taken place in Parc Sans Souci. In bringing their vision for a Downtown playground to life, DLU turned to its network of supporters and business leaders who are passionate about investing in downtown development and in creating quality of life amenities for the Lafayette community to enjoy in the heart of the city.

“My husband Rick and I invested in this project for many reasons, but the main focus was always to make our downtown a more vibrant community and a better place to live, work, and play,” said Kiki Frayard, one of the major donors to the project. “I believe every initiative downtown, whether publicly funded or not, should focus on these objectives.”

The Playground at Parc Sans Souci provides additional opportunities to activate the public park and surrounding businesses throughout the year. Events programmed within the park will enjoy this beautiful, permanent infrastructure designed specifically with families and children in mind.

“As a healthcare organization deeply rooted in the well-being of our community, we are excited to support the creation of an inclusive playground downtown,” said Patrick Gandy, Ochsner Lafayette General CEO. “Inclusivity is not just a value we uphold; it’s a principle we champion. This playground will not only provide a safe and welcoming space for children of all abilities to play and thrive but also symbolizes our commitment to fostering a healthier and more inclusive environment for all. We believe that by investing in initiatives like this, we are building a stronger, more resilient community where everyone has the opportunity to flourish,”

The grand opening celebration took place April 19 with donors and the project team.

The 6,000-square-foot inclusive and accessible playground includes equipment from Berliner Seilfabrik—a leading manufacturer for playgrounds across the world. Design and equipment selection were led by Duplantis Design Group (DDG) and Innovative Recreation, LLC. The project was constructed by Triad Construction Services. Lafayette Consolidated Government will own and maintain the playground.