Community Spaces
Downtown Parks
Did you know that while Lafayette’s general plan calls for 218 sq. ft. of minimum parkland per resident, Downtown Lafayette residents only have 2 sq. ft per person? That number will only continue to decrease with the building of more housing unless it is prioritized. Lauren understands that not everyone has a backyard and that we need to provide more gathering space, especially for the 20% of Lafayette that lives Downtown and everyone who attends our city events.
Revenue Generation
Parks bring people together! They also bring in money. According to the city’s proposed budget, recreation programs like Camp Awesome and year-round classes/activities at the Lafayette Community Center bring in around $2 million in revenue each year. We also saw restaurants adjacent to parks thrive during COVID because of their proximity to outdoor spaces. Especially if we are projecting a budget shortfall, we should prioritize the expansion of our amazing city programs and spaces that not only bring in needed city revenue, but also much-desired services for families and seniors.
Community Belonging
Whether it is a playground, a dog park, a passive picnic area or a community center, having a physical space where you can meet others in real life can truly make a difference. With so much debate in our culture, Lauren is hopeful that with more opportunity to come together in the physical world, we can bring back the foundations of knowing our neighbors, the ability to have more civil conversation and a greater sense of being part of the Lafayette community.