LAFAYETTE, La. – With just one week remaining until the highly anticipated Festival International de Louisiane kicks off, Downtown Lafayette is undergoing a noticeable transformation. At the heart of the activity is Parc International — the festival’s largest venue — where a series of beautification and infrastructure improvements are already turning heads.
Passersby have noticed the changes in recent days, including fresh coats of paint, newly installed flags, and enhanced landscaping throughout the area.
“I’ve seen it — the blue and the flags. It’s beautiful,” said Lafayette resident Garret Smith. “I’m excited about that.”
The upgrades are part of a $1.6 million investment into Parc International and surrounding spaces, aimed at both elevating the festival experience and enhancing the site for future use. According to Warren Abadie, Director of Traffic, Roads and Bridges for Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG), the work underway is just the beginning.
“Phase One of the renovations includes repainting the roof of the stage and the flags at the top of the stage, painting the festival logo on the concrete, repainting fencing, and installing new landscaping,” Abadie said.
All improvements in the first phase are expected to be completed in time for Festival International, which draws thousands of visitors each year to Downtown Lafayette. But further enhancements are planned beyond the event.
“They’re renovating the dressing rooms and the bathrooms at Parc International,” Abadie added. “That will be a longer-term project, and we expect that to be done by the end of this year.”
According to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), upcoming renovations will include fully updated restrooms with air conditioning, four additional universal ADA-compliant restrooms, upgrades to green rooms, new lighting throughout the park, fresh paint on all structures, improved stage features, new signage, and electrical system enhancements.
The improvements are the result of a collaborative effort between the DDA, Downtown Lafayette Unlimited (DLU), and Festival International organizers, who worked together to identify and prioritize the most impactful upgrades. The groups successfully advocated to LCG for funding, securing both financial support and technical expertise to bring the vision to life.
Both DDA and DLU have expressed gratitude to Lafayette Consolidated Government, CASE Engineering, and Festival International for their cooperation and commitment to enhancing the heart of the city’s cultural celebrations.
With the countdown to Festival International underway, residents and visitors alike can look forward to a refreshed, more accessible, and more vibrant Parc International — just in time for the music, food, and festivities to begin.