A new survey shows that downtown Lafayette businesses, residents and property owners oppose a proposed change adding Jefferson Street to the city’s 2026 Mardi Gras parade route.
The survey, conducted by Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, received 155 responses, of which 81 were from Downtown Lafayette Unlimited members, according to a Downtown Development Authority press release. DLU is a member-based non-profit that operates under the Downtown Lafayette Inc. umbrella.
The route change would mean all Mardi Gras parades would roll through the heart of downtown via Jefferson Street, starting near Evangeline Thruway and ending near the Cajundome. The new route would be shorter than the current route and eliminate some public spaces for parade-goers to watch the processions.
Mayor-President Monique Boulet’s proposal to change the parade route has drawn support and opposition, with most concerns voiced so far surrounding safety and displacement of residents who live on or near the main strip.
Here’s how residents responded to the four-question survey
The first question asked residents if they supported moving the Mardi Gras parade route to Jefferson Street for 2026. Around 53% of respondents said they did not support the change announced by Boulet in October. Around 37% of residents supported the route change, with 10% being unsure.
The same question was asked to the public respondents, with 65% saying they don’t want the changed route.
A second question asked whether downtown businesses should have formal representation in decisions impacting Mardi Gras and major downtown events, to which 77% said yes. Around 12% of respondents said no, with 11% unsure.
"Not surprisingly, Downtown residents and business owners, even those who agree with the decision to move the route this year, believe that Downtown should have a formal voice in the process." DDA CEO Kevin Blanchard wrote," That’s because they understand the historically critical role that Downtown has played in making large-scale community events successful.
A third question asked whether businesses and residents supported an ordinance that would give the Lafayette City Council the authority to approve route changes after stakeholder review.
The majority of responses, at 54%, said they would support an ordinance. Around 30% of respondents said they do not support the ordinance, with 16% unsure.
The fourth question asked if businesses expect to remain open during parades. Around 38% said they would close, 27% said they would remain open, and 35% were unsure.
Mardi Gras parade changes spark debate
The change from the previous route to Jefferson Street has caused heated debates between Boulet and Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux. It's led to Boudreaux sucessfully introducing an ordinance that seeks to create a nine-person committee and give the City Council authority to approve any modifications to routes and activities.
The City Council is expected to vote on amending the original 1999 ordinance that created the Mardi Gras Activities Advisory Committee at Tuesday night's council meeting.
Last Monday, Boulet hosted a community meeting to discuss concerns about the parade route which Boudreaux called productive, though he added the audience was mostly made of up of krewe members.
"I think that we were able to hear from some additional people on this issue," Boudreaux said at the time. "I'm still concerned that we're putting parade before people."
Boudreaux has continued to take to social media to reiterate his concerns about the new route and to ask those he sees as being impacted to show up for meetings and share their viewpoints.
Boulet argued after last week's meeting that a committee might slip into government overreach regarding Mardi Gras.
"I think there is a role with the administration and the council, but I think we have to be real careful on creating committees or creating bureaucracy that is involved in an event that we actually don’t facilitate or organize," Boulet said.
Download the survey below:
DOCUMENT COURTESY OF DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY