Three kayaks launched from the new Riverside Park Kayak Launch Wednesday, marking its grand opening.

The launch is one piece of the Bayou Greenbelt Project, the 23-mile green and blue space that will connect the Calcasieu River, English Bayou, Contraband Bayou and Kayouche Coulee, making it possible to paddle all the way around the Lake Area.

Bayou Greenbelt is one of the 11 Just Imagine SWLA Resilience Master Plan catalytic projects — called catalytic because once started, those plans will make other things happen, according to Sara Judson, Community Foundation.

Funding for gathering the information and completing the Resilience Plan was donated in 2020, two weeks after Hurricane Laura. The Filo family, who have roots in this area, donated $2.5 million to the Community Foundation and asked the Foundation to steward those dollars to build a more sustainable and thriving Southwest Louisiana.

“And now we have a Master Resilience Plan to guide us over the next 50 years,” Judson said.

Mike Nodier said he had the idea for Bayou Greenbelt and talked to group after group, and all supported the idea. However, it wasn’t until he connected with the Community Foundation that things began to happen.

Mayor Nic Hunter called the Bayou Greenbelt plan “fluid,” an intended pun. “However it ends up, I know we’re providing more access to our waterways for the community. I think we can consider that a success, and so the city is on board.”

Hunter named the many groups and activities that have been held at Riverside Park.

“This park is seeing more activity and activation than it has seen in a generation,” Hunter said. “We have a $20 million senior living development that is underway, a $30 million project announced for Fitzenreiter and Enterprise Boulevard. We have a community store that is being built around the corner and this kind of stuff doesn’t happen by accident.”

It really is a team effort, the mayor said, acknowledging council members at the event, including Ronnie Harvey Jr., Council District A.

“It’s a great day,” said Harvey, “anytime we can make life better for people in District A, it’s a great day.”

The National Park Service also partnered with the city, volunteers and the Community Foundation to help a “just imagined” project become a reality, to bring the benefits of national parks to locals.

Initially, the National Park Service was contacted and a grant submitted to get Bayou Greenbelt started, but after the hurricanes, FEMA became involved as a funding source.

“These kinds of projects can really be transformative for a community,” said Helen Siewers, National Park Service. She demonstrated by showing renderings from artist Blaine LeJeune of what the areas along the Bayou Greenbelt look like now, and what they might look like in the future.

She piqued the group’s interest in projects such as kayak rental, hammocks in the park, native gardens, an outdoor fitness trail, a water station for dogs and their humans.

“I would love to hear which one of these ideas resonates with you,” Judson said to the group assembled for the event. She wasn’t just looking for postcard pretty, but “something that would really attract people to come and use this beautiful scenery that we have. What did you love when you went to visit other places? Let us know.”

To let them know or find out more, go to Just Imagine SWLA.

What is a kayak launch? Imagine a shallow taco shell shape that holds the kayak in place, up on top of the water allowing you to get in at the speed that is most comfortable to you without the fear of tipping the kayak. The shallow taco edges have indentions for the kayak paddle. From a sitting position in the kayak, the paddles can be inserted into these indentations. When the kayaker “rows” motion propels him forward into the water.