There was an article in The Daily Advertiser today about the Concrete Park. Here is the link but I copy and pasted the article if you don't feel like going to their website. You should go read the asshole comments some people made about it, though.

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009901030314

"Construction is scheduled to begin next week on a new concrete park on Johnston Street.

The park, which will be geared toward BMX riders, skateboarders and bicyclists, will be behind Goodwill near St. Julien Street, said UL junior Ooti Billeaud, who has been working with city officials on the project for the past few years.

"It's going to be a concrete ramp park, basically just a public park," Billeaud said. "They have them in pretty much every other state. This will be Louisiana's second one, and the first to allow BMX bikes."

Greg Gautreaux, manager of athletic programs/park maintenance for Lafayette Consolidated Government, said the city has been trying to build some type of similar park for several years. The most recent attempt was a few years ago when a wheels park was proposed near the old city landfill, but that project never got off the ground.

"We've been trying and finally were able to get some dollars allocated," Gautreaux said, adding that the first phase of the Johnston Street park will cost about $70,000. Those funds will come out of the parks and recreation department's budget.

"It's something Lafayette needs," Gautreaux said.

"We have not only teenagers, but a lot of young adults who like to skate. They'll go to places like the Cajundome or on sidewalks, and we tell them they can't do it, but we don't have a place for them to go. I think it's going to be a positive thing for us."

For Billeaud, the park represents several years' worth of efforts.

"I'm a junior in college now, but I've been calling Parks and Recreation since I was in sixth grade to see when and if I could get one," he said. "We've been working together, and I'm super-excited."

Billeaud said that the construction on the main section of the park should take about three weeks, weather permitting.

Gautreaux said the next phase will likely include freestyle ramps."