South Lafayette Sees Park Improvements Through City-HOA Partnership

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A neighborhood park in Lafayette’s growing south side is getting a major facelift through a new agreement between the city and the Woodfield Village Homeowners Association (HOA). Lafayette Parks and Recreation has signed a long-term maintenance deal that will allow for new playgrounds, a picnic shelter, and several community-friendly additions.

Under a 20-year agreement signed in spring 2024, Lafayette Parks and Recreation officially took over responsibility for maintaining Woodfield Park. The deal also includes an option to extend the partnership. The project, estimated at $230,000, is being funded through a mix of tax increment financing and financial contributions from the Woodfield Village HOA.

In the months following the agreement, neighborhood meetings were held to plan upgrades. Residents and city officials came together to help design the new park layout, replacing outdated equipment that had been in place since the early 2000s.

“We are so excited to bring Woodfield Park under the Lafayette Parks & Rec umbrella,” said Parks Superintendent Claudine Laufman in a prepared statement. “Adding a new park on Lafayette’s south side is really exciting for our growing community. We have a tremendous partnership with the Woodfield Village HOA and neighbors, and we can’t wait to see this beautiful, new equipment in use.”

Ground was broken on the park improvements in early 2025. The redesign includes two separate play zones, one for children aged 2 to 5 and another for children aged 5 to 12. Both play areas will feature modern, inclusive equipment such as belt swings, toddler swings, a saucer swing, slides, and various climbing and spinning features.

A new 12-by-20-foot picnic shelter is also part of the redesign, giving families a place to gather for community events and casual outdoor meals. The project includes new picnic tables, recycling bins, landscaping, and even a dog waste station to encourage responsible pet ownership.

“This park has been well-loved over the years,” Laufman added. “It was definitely time for some improvements, and we are so proud to see it come to fruition.”

City leaders emphasized the value of strategic investments like this one, especially as Lafayette continues to expand. The decision to build upon existing infrastructure rather than start from scratch has been praised as a cost-effective and community-focused approach.

“We are proud of our partnership with the Woodfield HOA and love that we were able to use existing infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing south side of town,” said Mayor Tony Roswarski. “It’s a financially responsible approach to enhancing and expanding recreational opportunities in the city of Lafayette.”