Funding for Rayne Veterans Park gets boost

Funding efforts for the Rayne Veterans Park got an unexpected boost in the form of recent donations from members of the Privat family.
During the July meeting of the Rayne City Council, Mayor Chuck Robichaux reported that he had been contacted by Fernand Privat, formerly of Rayne and current owner of Privat General Contractors of Lafayette, regard the Rayne Veterans Park.
“Mr. Privat said he was considering assisting in a major way with the building of Veterans Park,” Robichaux said, adding that, after seeing plans for the park, Privat considered “doing the whole park, or a major part of it.”
However, the timetable for construction interfered with a project currently under way elsewhere so Privat forwarded a check in the amount of $1,000 to be put toward construction.
“He also sent along a challenge to his cousin, (attorney) Ken Privat of Crowley,” said Robichaux.
From that challenge, Ken Privat was able to secure a donation of $2,000 from the Florence Mauboules Memorial Trust, that money also dedicated to the park construction fund.
In addition, Robert Comeaux, chaplain of Arceneaux Post 77, American Legion, announced that family members of the late Frank Privat also had donated $1,000 to the Veterans Park in appreciation for the memorial services conducted by the Post at his funeral.
Work at the site of the park — at the intersection of Gossen Memorial Drive and Oak Street — began earlier this month with bulldozers clearing ground.
The park will honor servicemen and women of all of the nation’s military branches — both living and deceased.
While the sale of engraved brick pavers will continue indefinitely, the task force has set a deadline of July 29 for bricks to be included in the order for the first phase of construction.
The brick pavers are $75 each and can be ordered at Rayne City Hall.