Haughton secures $250,000 grant for Joe Delaney Memorial Park

HAUGHTON, LA (KSLA) - Joe Delaney Park in Haughton will see some major changes in the next couple of months.

The town of Haughton has secured a $250,000 matching grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund Program for the Joe Delaney Memorial Park.

The grant will pay for a splash pad, pavilion, walking trail, benches, and tables.

The first thing to be built will be the splash pad.

"We are so excited. It's going to be wonderful on days that are hot," said Lauren Brimer, a Haughton resident. "We're going to have the new splash pad, so [the kids] are going to be able to bring their swim suits."

The pavilions and shade structures will be built after the splash pad, then the walking trail.

Martha McGee, the park committee's chair, said the grant projects have already been approved, so they won't have to wait for any approval time in between projects.

Even though McGee said they cannot build more than one thing at a time, she expects everything to built by the end of the year.

The park was officially opened last fall and was dedicated in memory of Haughton native Joe Delaney. Delaney was a two-sport All-American at Northwestern State University and a Pro Bowl running back for the Kansas City Chiefs.

He died in 1983 while trying to save three children from drowning in a pond near Monroe.

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