CREATE Lafayette Partners for Inaugural “Kids to Parks Day” Event

Lafayette, LA – Lafayette families and friends are invited to Lafayette’s first Kids to Parks Day at Beaver Park on Sunday, May 19 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event is hosted by Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Parks and Recreation Department, Councilwoman Nanette Cook and CREATE Lafayette. Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play organized by the National Park Trust. Lafayette’s Kids to Parks Day is one of more than 1,000 park events taking place across the country encouraging children to explore their neighborhood parks and discover science, history, nature and adventure close to home.

The Lafayette event will include a showcase of recreational and cultural activities such as tennis, bocce ball, dance, arts and crafts, face painting, live music and much more! Kids to Parks attendees are encouraged to picnic at Beaver Park or make their way over to Vermilionville to dine at Le Cuisine de Maman for lunch then enjoy Le Bal du Dimanche with The Babineaux Sisters, starting at 1 p.m. Vermilionville will also offer boat rides on the Vermilion River and kayak lessons. For a full day of family recreation, consider biking to Beaver Park on the Atakapas-Ishak bike trail.

“Parks and Recreation are critical to the health and vitality of Lafayette Parish and partnering in this national Park advocacy day is a great way to connect our citizens with our programs,” said Gerald Boudreaux, Director of Lafayette Parks and Recreation.

Councilwoman Nanette Cook agreed adding, “I’m a lifelong health advocate and educator, and I am proud to partner for this great community event. Getting kids moving and outside has not only been my career but my way of life.”

“Showcasing and supporting our parks and recreation programs are critically important to CREATE Lafayette. We thought this event was an excellent opportunity to partner with our Parks and Recreation Department to really show what Lafayette has to offer,” said Kate Durio, CREATE Lafayette.

Supporting the efforts to empower kids and encourage families to get outdoors and visit our parks, Mayor-President Joel Robideaux declared May 19, 2019 as “Kids to Parks Day” by official proclamation.

The Beaver Park activities are free and open to the public of all ages, however no pets, please. Organizations interested in offering a program at Kids to Parks Day should contact create@lafayettela.gov.

The public is encouraged to follow and share Kids to Parks Day experiences on social media using the hashtags #kidstoparks, #KTPDay and#ParkChampion.