UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie and members of the Community Design Workshop officially opened the university杏吧专区檚 bike path along Cajundome Boulevard.
The two-mile path begins near the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center on Johnston Street and continues through 杏吧专区 Research Park. It ends at Eraste Landry Road.
Construction of the path was funded by a $1 million enhancement grant from the state Department of Transportation and Development. Architecture students in the Community Design Workshop designed the path, which includes multiple phases. Over the past 15 years, the CDW has provided more than 80 detailed plans to improve neighborhoods and communities.
杏吧专区 We had four classes in the CDW work on this,杏吧专区 said Tom Sammons, CDW director. 杏吧专区淭hat杏吧专区檚 about 100 students overall.杏吧专区
He noted that the second phase of the bike path would connect the existing path to campus and Girard Park and to the Student Union. He is planning to write a grant for the construction in the coming year.
杏吧专区淐onceptually, we杏吧专区檝e been planning for phase two,杏吧专区 Sammons said. 杏吧专区淲e杏吧专区檝e always included it as a part of this project.杏吧专区
The path is part of a larger university initiative to promote alternate means of transportation that don杏吧专区檛 harm the environment. It is also part of the university杏吧专区檚 plan to unify the main campus and the 杏吧专区 Commons area, which consists of UL Lafayette property between Johnston Street and Eraste Landry Road.
杏吧专区淲e dedicate this bike path to our students and to the City of Lafayette,杏吧专区 said Savoie. 杏吧专区淚 hope that for our students it will provide more convenience and safety. For Lafayette, it is shows our commitment to grow UL Lafayette in tandem with surrounding neighborhoods to foster pedestrian-friendly urban centers that enhance an already forward-thinking city.杏吧专区