Horse Farm Ceremony
Published: Saturday, July 28, 2012
Updated: Monday, July 30, 2012 00:07
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UL President Joseph Savoie, Ed.D, and City-Parish President Joey Durel held a signing
ceremony Saturday morning that marked the official transfer of the Horse Farm from UL
Lafayette to the Lafayette City-Parish Government.
Before the ceremony, guests and community members gathered to enjoy a beautifully sunny
morning, complete with zydeco, a cool breeze and (more importantly) complimentary breakfast:
donuts, juice and coffee. After the guests had mingled for a while, Durel and Savoie rode in on
horseback to begin the ceremony.
“Today we consummate an agreement that will preserve for ourselves, our children and future
generations nearly 100 beautiful, natural acres located in the heart of our city,” began Savoie,
“soon to become our own central park.”
“The process for getting here was not quick,” he joked referencing the seven years of
negotiations before the final version of the ordinance was passed on July 3 by the city-parish
council.
Savoie mentioned all those involved with the transfer including the group Save the Horse Farm,
the city-parish council, and other community members making sure to thank all of them for their
time and participation. He then yielded the microphone to Durel to say some words.
“This property known as the Horse Farm is being preserved for the betterment of Lafayette today
and the improvement of Lafayette tomorrow,” Durel began. “It is a gift from the people of
Lafayette in 2012 to the people of Lafayette forever into the future, and it comes with a simple set
of rules: Enjoy it, respect it, and improve it for the generations that come after you.”
Durel thanked President Savoie for all his efforts and again thanked all those in the community
and the city-parish government who gave their time and support to see this deal through to the
end.
After the speakers were finished the duo signed the legal documents making the transfer official.
They then unveiled a check to ULL for $5,803,000. The guests were then invited to take a van on
a scenic tour of the property.
The property will be made into passive park for people to hike, picnic and enjoy other outdoor
activities. No sports structures or fields will be built in order to preserve the serene natural beauty
of the land in the heart of our city. In exchange for the Horse Farm UL received the Youth Park
located directly next to campus from LCG and the $5,803,000. They have no plans to change the
park at this time but may use the property to expand the university in the future.
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