New Moncus Park Farmers Market Pavilion and b1BANK Backyard
Two New Projects at Moncus Park Create a Permanent Home for the Lafayette Farmers Market and a gathering place for the community
Lafayette, La. (press release) – On April 17, Moncus Park celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the Paul A. Doerle Sr. Farmers Market Pavilion and the b1BANK Backyard.
“This ribbon cutting is a milestone years in the making, and it would not have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of our partners,” said JP MacFadyen, executive director of Moncus Park. “The pavilion and backyard give this community what it has earned, a permanent home where Acadiana can gather, celebrate and thrive for generations to come.”
Organizers at Moncus Park share that the Lafayette Artisans and Farmers Market has been a cornerstone of the Acadiana economy for more than a decade, supporting over 120 vendors, artisans and small businesses annually and drawing thousands of visitors to the park each Saturday.
From live music and community events to private celebrations and weddings, the new projects were designed to to bring people
together in every season and drive economic opportunity for the entire region.
From Moncus Park
The New Paul A. Doerle Sr. Farmers Market Pavilion
Designed by Lake Flato Architects, a nationally acclaimed firm and recipient of the American Institute of Architects Firm of the Year Award and the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, the Paul A. Doerle Sr. Farmers Market Pavilion spans more than 3,000 square feet of ADA-accessible open-air space.
The farmers market pavilion adds new restrooms and additional parking to the property. Organizers share these additions address two of the most pressing needs of a market that has grown steadily in both vendors and attendance over its thirteen-year history.
From Moncus Park
The pavilion is named in honor of Paul A. Doerle Sr., who, alongside his father Paul Peter Doerle, grew a small produce distribution business into the nationally recognized Doerle Foods.
The pavilion was made possible through a founding gift from the William C. Schumacher Family Foundation, with additional support from:
- Carolyn Doerle Schumacher
- The James D. Moncus Family Foundation
- The Stuller Family Foundation
- Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA)
- The Si Brown Family
- Lenny and Christine Lemoine
- Joyce and Sherman Scott
- The Frank Gerami Family
- Rodney and Cindi Savoy
- The State’s Capital Outlay Program
“Having this Pavilion bear my father’s name, in a place where farmers and artisans gather every week, is the most fitting tribute our family could have imagined,” Carolyn Doerle Schumacher of William C. Schumacher Family Foundation and daughter of Paul A. Doerle Sr. “We are proud to support Moncus Park and grateful that his legacy will live on here for generations to come.”
The New b1BANK Backyard
Directly behind the pavilion, the b1BANK Backyard is completing its final phase of landscaping and will open to the public in May 2026. The space will establish an entirely new grove of overcup oak trees with a sophisticated European bosque-inspired design developed in collaboration with LAND Architecture.
Shaded by a canopy, the Backyard is designed for lingering, whether that means browsing the farmers market on a Saturday morning, gathering for a concert under the trees or finding a quiet moment in the middle of a busy city.
“The b1BANK Backyard is an investment in the hundreds of small businesses, farmers and artisans who show up every week to serve this community,” said John Michael Robinson, senior vice president and managing director of the Acadiana Market, b1BANK. “Moncus Park has built something rare here, a place where commerce and culture grow side by side, and we are proud to play a part in ensuring that those opportunities continue to expand for the people of Acadiana.”
Rendering from Moncus Park
