(Opelousas, LA) – The City of Opelousas, in coordination with Opelousas Main Street, invites residents and stakeholders to participate in “Imagine Opelousas Main Street Events.” Residents are invited to share their vision for the future of downtown Opelousas during the Imagine Main Street Visioning Session on Tuesday, Oct 21st and during a Main Street Walking Tour on October 20th. Through this activities, we will identify projects and funding opportunities focused on transportation & connectivity, economic development, and parks & open spaces which are the three areas of focus for the Thriving Communities Program.
Workshop Details
The workshop is the first of three major public engagement opportunities planned as part of Opelousas’ participation in the Department of Transportation Thriving Communities program. Opelousas is one of only six Louisiana Main Street communities selected for the $1.9 million grant. The Thriving Communities program (TCP) funds provide tailored technical assistance to communities to advance infrastructure projects that increase mobility, reduce pollution, and expand affordable transportation options.
Main Street Walking Tour
Monday, October 20 | 6:00 PM | St. Landry Parish Courthouse
Join us for a walking tour of Main Street as we take a creative approach to imagine new uses for vacant buildings.
Visioning Workshop
Tuesday, October 21 | 4:30–6:30 PM | Opelousas Civic Center
Drop in anytime to share your ideas on improving transportation and public spaces in downtown Opelousas.
“Downtown is the heart of Opelousas, and this workshop is a chance for residents to shape how it grows,” said Opelousas Main Street Director Melanie Lebouef. “Community input is essential to ensure that planning efforts reflect the needs and priorities of residents.”
Community Input Opportunities
In the weeks leading up to the event, a community chalkboard will be installed in the community, inviting residents to share what they love about Opelousas and what could make it better. A digital version is available to provide an online option to collect community input.
Based on input from this workshop, Opelousas Main Street will host a second public engagement event in winter or early spring 2026. There will also be a public comment period on draft plan documents. A final community event highlighting the project will be held in fall or winter 2026.
Part of Federal Thriving Communities Program
The Thriving Communities program provides customized technical assistance and capacity building services to help communities advance infrastructure projects in Opelousas and the five other selected Louisiana communities: Homer, Franklin, New Roads, St. Martinville, and Winnsboro.
The Louisiana Division of Administration Office of Planning and Budget, with support from Louisiana Main Street, is leading this three-year initiative alongside state partners including the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana Department of Health, LSU Agricultural Center, and Louisiana Economic Development. The consultant planning team includes the Center for Planning Excellence, Grey Engineering, and Place + Main. A small steering committee composed of Opelousas community members has been meeting to provide close feedback to the planning team.
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About Opelousas Main Street
As a Main Street America Accredited Program, Opelousas Main Street is part of a national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.
Opelousas’ vision is to have a vibrant and historically preserved downtown district that is a gathering place for everyone to enjoy hometown hospitality. For more information about the “Imagine Opelousas Main Street” workshop on October 21, contact Melanie Lee-Lebouef, Director, Opelousas Main Street at tourism@cityofopelousas.com
To provide feedback to the community chalkboard online, access this survey link: https://tinyurl.com/ImagineOpelousasMainStreet
Last modified: October 8, 2025
