After over a decade of planning, work on the final major improvements laid out in the River Bluff Park Development Plan is starting.

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for the River Bluff Park Pavilion and Walking Path project.

This is the third phase of a years-long $5.3 million project to make River Bluff Park a gem of Moss Bluff.

Planning for the park began in 2011. The first phase of the project included a boat launch and parking lot, and was completed in 2015. The second phase was fully completed in 2017, and included a new restroom facility for the boat launch, a waste treatment plant, a picnic area, a quarter-mile walking path, an exercise area, a splash pad and inclusive playgrounds.

The major improvements included in the final phase of the project are a new 4,800 square foot pavilion/event center; a new tournament pavilion near the boat launch; electrical, lighting and security infrastructure improvements; emergency suction supplies at the boat launch; and elevated walking paths that will run through the wetlands and riverfront.

Dane Bolin, assistant administrator, CPPJ, said that well-maintained parks are a great place to “play, pray and get away.”

“This is a great opportunity to do this at this park, and it’s another example of how our police jury really provides quality spaces for our citizens in Calcasieu Parish,” he said.

CPPJ President Anthony Bartie, District 9, anticipates the pavilion will be “constantly used” by locals.

“This park is a beautiful, beautiful area, and the additions we make will serve as a great environment for our residents here, the natural beauty of the walking park that we’re going to build, as well as the pavilion that’s going to be used for many years to come.”

Police Juror Darby Quinn, District 1, served on the Moss Bluff drainage board when the project was under initial development. He said he has already gotten rental requests for the event center and inquiries about fishing tournaments in the park.

“We’ve been looking forward to this for a long time,” he explained. “This is really going to be a good thing for Ward 1 as we continue to grow, and we continue to do things better.”

The project is set to be completed by the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026.