Outdoors in Dubach
Leader photos by Caleb Daniel Dubach resident Sue Dyes makes use of the new fishing dock on James Lake, also known as the Dubach Pond. Officials said residents have enjoyed the dock, but the town is fighting acts of vandalism and theft with many of its recent outdoor projects. Dubach Legends had the old bird trail (below) that lines the lake cleared up so it could be reopened.
The town of Dubach has developed several new offerings for outdoors enthusiasts over the summer and is working on more.
But some of the upgrades have been met with vandalism and theft. As projects continue, Mayor Mona Wilson said the town has a strong message on that front.
“We are going to prosecute,” Wilson said. “We want them to know they’re going to have to pay the consequences.”
Many of the projects, and the vandalism, center on James Lake, also known as the Dubach Pond.
A start-up nonprofit spearheaded by Randy Rogers worked with the town to construct a dock on the lake, which Wilson said the town will use to promote fishing and kayaking.
“People like to come down here and fish,” she said. “The second day it was up, people were out here sitting on their buckets fishing.”
Rogers’ group, the Dubach Legends, also paid for the old, long-unused bird trail that lines the lake to be cleared up so the town could mow the trail and reopen it. That is now open to the public for about a mile.
“ We didn’t do anything to get this (lake and trail),” Rogers told the Dubach Town Council at its August meeting. “God gave us this. But we’re going to use it, leverage it, and make it an asset for Dubach to bring people here.”
Rogers’ group has also re-roofed and repaired the rotting theaterstyle pavilion on the lake. More work is needed, but the hope is the space will be able to host concerts and other outdoor events.
A fountain has also been installed in the lake near the pavilion.
Then there’s the old Dubach ballpark nearby. While still in much disrepair, the town has recently held three clean-up days to remove the weeds and plants that have overgrown the area.
But in nearly each case, the improvements have not been treated well.
Not long after the dock was installed, some of the rope and the life preservers tied to the dock were stolen. Concrete at the ballpark has been graffitied, and an extension cord meant to feed power to the lake fountain was also stolen.
Wilson said she’s especially concerned with the vandalism because the town is about to spend $125,000 in federal grant money to revitalize the playground next to the lake.
“We just want them to know they can’t come and just tear everything up,” she said. “If we come and put this new equipment out here (at the playground), they can’t tear that up. We’ve got this $125,000 grant. Can’t put that out here in this park and then somebody destroy it.”
The town has received a Love Louisiana Outdoors grant, an offshoot of federal COVID-19 stimulus monies, and the playground project has been approved.
Wilson said the project will replace the playground’s old picnic tables and add more, construct a new pavilion, an asphalt walkaround of the area, and some new playground equipment for younger children, as well as new paint jobs and refurbishments for existing metal equipment.
The town encourages residents and visitors to make use of the new offerings as they become available. Just please, treat them with respect.
