Dugas Community Park is named in honor of the Dugas family, led by Laura Jo and Wayne Dugas. Laura Jo, a native of Scottsville, was the daughter of the late Cal Turner Sr., founder of Dollar General Stores. Wayne, originally from Des Allemands, Louisiana, and Laura Jo raised their three sons—Foster, Steve, and Bruce—on the land that now houses the park. The Dugas family lived on the property from 1963 to 1990, and their former residence now serves as the operational office for the park.
In a generous act of community dedication, the Dugas family donated over 240 acres of land to establish Dugas Park. Along with the land, the family created an operating endowment to ensure the park’s sustainability without placing the financial burden of upkeep on the community. The Dugas family’s vision was to leave a lasting legacy—creating a treasure for the region’s residents to enjoy for generations to come.
The planning for Dugas Community Park began in the spring of 2014 when the Dugas family set out to turn their vision into reality. Over the course of the year, the family, along with key stakeholders, worked to shape a park that would celebrate the area’s rich history and natural beauty.
The park was opened to the public for the first time with access to walking and hiking trails.
Phase one including the Pavilion & Amphitheater was completed that allowed the community and groups to have events at the park
