Back in October of 2023, LCG hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Lafayette Skate Park to be constructed at Thomas Park at 300 Geraldine Drive. This is right behind the McDonald’s on Johnston Street near Johnston Street Bingo.
The new 11,200-square-foot skate park will feature a street plaza with rails and platforms, a 4.5 to 7-foot bowl, and a mini ramp.
The Lafayette skate community has needed a public skate park since the former Dust Bowl was demolished to make way for UL Lafayette student housing. The new project is a big step towards fulfilling this need.
Bronson Sarver, a longtime skater, and community advocate for a skate park, expressed his excitement for the project, saying, “I grew up in this neighborhood since 1986, and some of the best skateboarders came out of this area. It means a lot for it to be here in the center of Lafayette.” Sarver’s passion and dedication played a significant role in bringing this project to fruition.
William Emfinger, owner of WE Construction Inc., who has been building skate parks across the country for the past 20 years, expressed his excitement to construct the park by saying, “I actually grew up in the neighborhoods back here, so it’s really great to see this happening. There used to be skateboard ramps all over the place.”
Architect Thomas Hughes of Architects Beazley Moliere managed the project. Tito Porrata, founder of The Platform Group in Orlando, FL, designed the park. William Emfinger of WE Construction Inc. is the contractor.
The tentative completion date that was originally set back in October of 2023 was for the end of January 2024. Here we are, February 2024 with a project that appears to be around 35% of the way to completion. Our best estimate for completion timeline looks to be closer to mid-April to early May of this year. Could it be sooner? Maybe!
