Those who have long supported turning UL's Horse Farm property into a public park gathered on the lawn of the Johnston Street property for Moonlight on the Meadow, a late October fundraising and appreciation event. Members of the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra performed, along with Cupid and Marc Broussard, under chandeliers strung from the giant oak trees. City-Parish President Joey Durel, who spearheaded Lafayette Consolidated Government's purchase of the acreage and organized the event, says final figures are still being tallied. But Durel estimates about $400,000 was raised, thanks to businessman Wayne Elmore, who chaired the fundraising effort. Though a big success, Moonlight on the Meadow is only the beginning of what will be needed to begin the process of turning the Horse Farm into Lafayette's central park. At press time, LCG was still working through the details of a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Community Foundation of Acadiana, which will be responsible for raising funds needed for the design, build-out and perpetual maintenance of the property as a passive park. "We're close," Durel says of the agreement. "We're very close."
1. City-Parish President Joey Durel, Wayne Elmore and UL President Joseph Savoie
2. Kermit and Debbie Bouillion, State Rep. Stephen Ortego and Patrick Gandy
3. Donna and Pat McDonald and Leslie Turk
4. Bill Ham and Tressie Cox
5. Nicole Hebert, Lauren Poche and Christina Hurley
6. Lisa Pizzolatto and Jamie Norton
7. Avery Silar and Andrea Owens
8. Adrian Fulton
9. Mark and Junalyne Cunningham
10. Jennifer and Ryan Marine, and Stuart and Colleen Ottinger
11. Angie Hargett, Kackie Lerille and Rachel Patin