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. 

Museums of Cassidy Park a good place to visit, learn about Bogalusa and the surrounding areas

If you're new to the area, an old-timer just wanted to "freshen" up some "old" facts or a visitor to the community, the Museums in Cassidy Park have a little something for everyone

Museum of Native American Art volunteer
Lydia Fendalson (right) explained how rings
on a tree help determine its age to Bogalusans
Landry Dupont (left), Mary Margaret Crawford
and Riley Dupont, The three youngsters were taking
advantage of the museum's extended hours on July 4.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

The Pioneer Museum and the Museum of Native American Art, both open from 2-4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, exhibit artifacts and interpretive materials and programs relevant to the history of the City of Bogalusa, the surrounding communities and the region itself.

Admission is free to both and both are staffed by knowledgeable volunteers who can answer your questions — or know where to find the answer.

Over the past several years, the museums have been renovated and revitalized under the direction of volunteer curator Millie Canter. The old "Indian Museum" had fallen into such bad repair after Hurricane Katrina that daylight could be seen through the ceiling and roof, while displays in the Pioneer Museum had become stagnant.

Under Canter's direction, new excitement was generated on both the board and in the volunteer ranks and now, exhibits are rotated on a regular basis and the history of the region around Bogalusa is explored.

Pioneer Museum, YWCA launch ambitious photo collection project for Bogalusa's Centennial in 2014

Do you ever stop and think what Bogalusa once looked like?

What were the streets like? What about some of the now-extinct houses and businesses? What about the people?

Well, the Pioneer Museum — in conjunction with the Bogalusa YWCA — has embarked on a what could be an ambitious task.

As part of its "Photography for Kids" cooperative with the YWCA, the museum is seeking to collect as many "old" photos of Bogalusa as possible.

"We are looking for anything of an historic nature that someone would be willing to share with us," explained Roosevelt Ludd, publicity coordinator for the Museums of Cassidy Park.

The objective of the project is to have these photos available to display when Bogalusa celebrates her Centennial in 2014.

Ludd said all photos received will be documented and kept in storage at the museum to be used as needed. Persons should attach their contact information, as well as any information regarding the photo, to the back.

Persons interested in the project should contact the YWCA at (985) 732-9083 or the Museums of Cassidy Park at (985) 750-5213 or (985)  335-4340.

Additionally, the museum offers a "Photography Camp" program, where instruction is given in the basic techniques of photography. For more information on the next class, which is held at the YWCA, call Bobbye Crawford at 735-8751.