The Cotile Lake Campground and Recreational Area will receive several upgrades, and many longtime members of that community agree these improvements are long overdue.

The Rapides Parish Police Jury is investing $1.3 million to update the lake’s recreation area.

District B Police Juror Daniel Lonsberry said the money was obtained from the state and as a consequence of insurance. 

“Cotile is a beautiful place, and we want to help make it even better,” Lonsberry said.

The bathhouses on site have been rehabilitated as part of the project. Kathy Mixon, a long-time community member, commented that there was a need for more bathrooms for the public. 

“I think we could have a little bit more bathrooms open for the public, other than just this one here in the camping,” said longtime community member Kathy Mixon. “But they’re working on it daily, it’s a lot better than it was 20 years ago. The water’s hotter than it used to be, and the bathrooms are a lot cleaner than what they used to be. It’s not as run down.”

Mixon added that safety was also a concern where the bathrooms were concerned.

“You have people coming in all hours of the night to do whatever, take a bath or whatever else,” Mixon said.

Lonsberry said the police jury is working on adding an after-hours gate, installing additional security cameras, and requesting that the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office have more deputies to patrol the area.

The police jury said some of the funds will provide new decks and extend parking for RVs.

Lonsberry said there is still about $436,000 remaining for the project. Some of that funding will go toward finishing the current work and, Lonsberry’s words, to “beautify the park.”

Renee Morrison, another long-time member of the community, said all of this work will be a benefit to the community.

“I think it’s going to help to bring people back to the lake and enjoy themselves out here. It’s beautiful out here. This place was made for families, and that’s exactly what it needs to be for,” she said.