Renovation, expansion planned for Bogalusa's Cassidy Park

Calling it a lynchpin of the community, Bogalusa Mayor Charles Mizell on Monday afternoon announced a renovation and revitalization of Cassidy Park.

Cassidy Park's preliminary master plan

“It has had some great days and it has hard some not-so-great days,” Mizell told about 50 persons attending the first of two Town Hall meetings as part of the Louisiana Development Ready Communities program. “What you have in front of you is a plan we’ve had drawn up for the park.”

Mizell was referring to what was described as a master plan for the park — and the rendering prepared by Joseph Furr Design Studio in Baton Rouge included numerous changes.

“Things come and things go,” Mizell said. “We want to build a foundation for the future and we have to have something that will stand the test of time. This green space … in some way … has touched everyone who has ever been in Bogalusa.

“We’re going to start building this park. We have the plans drawn and we think we think we have something stand the test,” Mizell said. “We’ve found some money to start on this and we’re going to apply for grants and other funds.”

The Mayor said he feels the revitalized park will be a plus for the community — and cited some things already under way.

“We have two wonderful museums that are run and operated by volunteers who are committed to making this community a better place,” he said. “We just completed 3,800 feet of paved bike and walking trails … we have a full-time employee now in the park and we’ve cleaned up, picked up and painted up and we’re going to do more.”

In addition to those items cited, there are new barriers in place to limit areas where persons can drive vehicles and work is also being done on existing structures.

“I think this is one of the first things we need in the community … to give families a place to go, kids a place to play.”

That said, there are a number of proposed changes to the park, including a boulevard-type entrance with new signage. As one enters the park, there is a new location for the annual Yule Log burning and a relocated building to house park operations office and café.

To the left, going toward the covered bridge, the road is realigned and a new road splits off to the right to a parking area that affords parking for both museums. Near the Pioneer Museum is a playground while, just past that, is a new pavilion and restroom structure.

Major additions proposed for the park include several hundred yards of beaches all along Bogue Lusa Creek, a dog park where owners can allow their pets to run and play off-leash, an expanded pond with fishing pier, a new pond, an amphitheatre, a canoe launch area and a playground near one of the beaches.