The City of Natchitoches will host a public meeting to present its vision for the redesign of Ben Johnson Park. The meeting will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12 at the City of Natchitoches Council Chambers, located at 716 Second St. The planning and design efforts center around tangible connections to the Texas and Pacific Railway Depot and Cane River Creole National Historical Park Visitor Center, and envisions the redesigned Ben D. Johnson Park as a place for community and historical programming. The design will ultimately increase the vibrancy and livability of the City, especially underserved neighborhoods.

“Every successful project starts with a well-thought-out plan and this amazing rendering was funded using grant dollars,” said Mayor Williams. “The new design for Ben Park transforms a rarely used, dilapidated space into a vibrant hub where the community can truly come together. It seamlessly blends functionality, culture, and beauty, offering a welcoming environment that inspires connection, creativity, and a sense of belonging.”

With a grant award from the National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town program, the project brought the community together to collaboratively decide how best to leverage the communal asset that is the park to better promote and honor our shared history. Led by Sr. Planner and Architect Michael Cullen of LAND Architecture, the project team obtained views from a cross-section of the community, including residents as young as six years old at the Boys & Girls Club.

The ultimate outcome of the project was the development of a creative community plan and design for a new space that integrates local arts, culture, and history into a more engaging public place, featuring improved outdoor recreational opportunities, event spaces, facilities, art work, community gardens, and more.

“The plan and final design is far better than we could have imagined. It envisions every detail we discussed with community stakeholders and seamlessly captures all of the feedback from the children as well. The final design is breathtaking and we can’t wait to share it with the community,” said Project Director Nicole Gray.

For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office at (318) 352-2772.