OUR GROUP

The Save the Horse Farm organization formed in October 2005 as a response to the threat of commercial development of the Horse Farm. After launching the website www.savethehorsefarm.com to inform the public of the issues at hand, we received overwhelming community support in the form of thousands of petition signatures, yard signs dotting the Lafayette landscape, and substantial media coverage. We immediately began meeting weekly to explore all possibilities of a solution that addresses the best use of the property and best interests for Acadiana's citizens. We have an ongoing dialogue with Lafayette Parish Mayor-President Joey Durel and the City Council in which we are assisting the city-parish government's wishes to purchase the property from the University to be used as open greenspace and parkland for outdoor recreation. Together we have put together a plan that greatly benefits the University, the City of Lafayette, and the Acadiana region.

Danica Adams
I am a recent graduate of the Renewable Resources program at ULL, focusing in Community and Environmental Sustainability. I am dedicated to the ideas of community action, sustainability, and progressive urban planning. I have been involved in in this community interest group since the very beginning in October 2005. The issue of preserving this urban greenspace, along with Lafayette's local non-profit organization EarthShare Gardens, has occupied every minute of my time ever since. I sincerely believe in the creativity of the Lafayette community in coming up with solutions that benefit everyone.

Elizabeth "E.B." Brooks
I also recently graduated from ULL with a degree in Environmental & Sustainable Resources, focusing on Community Development, and also simultaneously pursued a degree in Spanish. Preserving the Horse Farm for the future generations of Lafayette to enjoy for recreation is a unique opportunity that obviously will not present itself again. As we watch Lafayette sprawl out into the neighboring fields, we need to look deeper into the principles of Smart Growth, which progressive cities around the world are incorporating into their city planning. Residents and businesses thrive in places where the quality of life has been enhanced by having places to relax and play. Let's work together to Save the Horse Farm - help us take an active role in creating Lafayette's future!

Jean DeClouet Duhon
I grew up seeing this beautiful piece of "greenspace"and always wanted it to remain as such. I have been a member of the "Save the Horse Farm" group since its beginning and I got involved with it because I felt I would not be able to live with myself if I didn't try to help save it from commercial development and from becoming nothing more than concrete. It is centrally located in the city and needs to be saved for future generations to enjoy. My father, Thomas Declouet, and uncle, Paul Declouet, were prominent and instrumental in the projects to develop Girard Park and Beaver Park. Because of this fact, I feel compelled to be involved in this project to carry on their work with parks and greenspace.

Laurel Lee Domingue
I became involved in the "Save the Horse Farm" group because to see this beautiful greenspace turned into another housing development or strip shopping area seemed rediculous. We make many mistakes by hasty decisions. Please let's not make another one with this beautiful land, which is the last large tract left untouched in our community. We must preserve it to be enjoyed by future generations.

Jason Faulk
I am a lifelong Acadiana resident and currently a UL student. My interest lies in seeing Lafayette become a more fully formed urban environment and progressive city through regional land use planning. For me, the key item in this is creating signature public spaces; therein I see the opportunity for the UL Horse Farm. This piece of land presents a unique opportunity for our city to secure this property for our future greenspace needs, at a price which can never be had so affordably again. Unfortunately, if it is developed commercially and residentially, we will never have the opportunity to create such a large central park in Lafayette again.

Pat McDonald
I am a 1972 graduate of UL, a proud Ragin Cajun supporter, married to Donna Sturlese (1977 graduate of UL), father of two UL students, Katie and Nick. I worked for the Legislative Auditor's Office for three years after college, and since that time have been self-employed doing accounting related work for various parish assessors and clerks of court. I believe that the community should focus on coming up with a much better proposal for all involved which would allow for us to keep the Horse Farm as green space. I urge community leaders to speak out in support of this issue, and to get involved in our opposition to the development of the property as well as getting involved in finding a better alternative.

Chris Adams
As a graduate of UL-Lafayette (Class of 2003), I have always appreciated the degree to which my University has given back to the community of Lafayette. With this in mind, I joined the effort to protect the Horse Farm, through the acquisition of the property as a public Green Space, as a way to extend and enhance this University's dedication to the public good. I am excited and inspired by visions of the Horse Farm property becoming both a hub of activity and a place simplicity and retreat. I am dedicated to preserving the beauty of the land, providing public access and input and helping in these ways to shape the future of Lafayette for the benifit of future generations.

Hans Breaux
Hans Breaux, a native of Maurice, Louisiana, has always had a fondness for the horse farm. As a child he trotted through the green, grassy fields during horse back riding lessons. Now, as a graduate architecture student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Hans is excited that he can put his architectural talents and ideas to use, saving the one sacred piece of land in Lafayette that brought him much joy as a boy. His hopes are that one day he may, through his helping to save the horse farm, can give another little boy such an inspiring experience.

JoAnn Pugh
I have been a resident off South College, next to Horse Farm since 1983. My three children all grew up seeing the horses roam the property and enjoying the vast green space. I would like to see the area remain green for future generations, and my future grandchildren.

Nicholas Hernandez
I recently graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in May of 2006 obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Landscape and Horticulture Management. I became involved with the Save the Horse Farm advocacy group because I emphatically believe the fate of such an invaluable piece of public property, of which has been part of the community for nearly a century, should be thoroughly scrutinized as the decision will greatly influence the direction of our community's future. I am determined to work hard for this organization in the hopes of achieving an unruffled agreement, working with people on all sides of the issue to come up with a solution. Save the Horse Farm has a vision; and the only component restraining our group's vision from becoming a reality is time. Time is of the essence and time is needed to make it possible. As a concerned citizen of Lafayette and as a proud UL-Lafayette graduate, I for one would like to see both sides working together in helping this beautiful vision become a reality.

Ben Blanchard
I am a concerned young citizen of Lafayette who recognizes that the commercial growth of the city yeilds the need for a larger greenspace. Communing in natural settings are essential in the unity of any community; it is my belief that Lafayette is at the critical juncture at which it must decide which values are worthy of defending. Participating in grassroots organizations and campaigns is important in connecting citizens to the environment in which they live. Together we can build the positive environment that we envision for our children.