LCG Dedicates Moore Park Soccer Complex to Deanna Bostick
MOORE PARK SOCCER COMPLEX DEDICATION HONORING LAFAYETTE SOCCER PIONEER DEANNA BOSTICK
LCG unveils new signage recognizing Bostick’s decades-long commitment to Lafayette soccer
Lafayette, LA – Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Parks, Arts, Recreations and Culture (PARC) Department dedicated the new Deanna Bostick/LYSA Moore Park Soccer Complex sign today, honoring a woman whose dedication helped establish Lafayette as a hub for youth soccer in Louisiana.
Known affectionately as “Ma D,” Bostick was a pioneer in Lafayette soccer and the founder of the Louisiana Youth Soccer Association and Lafayette Youth Soccer Association (LYSA). Her work began with a simple goal: to make sure children in Lafayette had the opportunity to play the sport she came to love.
“Deanna Bostick’s legacy is about much more than soccer, it is about service, opportunity and the impact one person can have on generations of a community,” said Lafayette Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet. “She saw a need and stepped forward to meet it, opening doors for countless young people and families along the way. It is fitting that her name will now be permanently connected to Moore Park and to the game she worked so hard to grow in Lafayette.
In 1981, Bostick made the decision that her family would play soccer. Living on Lafayette’s Northside, she quickly recognized that access to the sport was not easy for everyone. Rather than accepting that barrier, she became part of the solution, helping bring soccer opportunities closer to families throughout the community.
“Moore Park really is part of Mom’s legacy,” said Pam Bostick Foreman and Aaron Bostick. “She wanted every child to have the opportunity to play soccer, no matter their circumstances. Our family is incredibly proud to see her name here, across from the fields where so many people remember her standing on the sidelines, encouraging players to keep going. This place was such a big part of who she was, and it means so much to see her name here.”
Bostick eventually founded LYSA and operated the organization from her home for years, often volunteering her time and resources to make sure children could participate. She helped families who could not afford registration and connected young players with donated or gently used equipment. Her focus was never simply on putting children on a soccer field, it was simply to ensure every child had the opportunity to participate and feel valued.
“Deanna was a big part of Lafayette soccer for decades, and so many people have a story about her and their time at Moore Park,” said Byron Stark, PARC Director. “She cared about the kids, the families and the game, and you could always find her on the sidelines cheering them on. Having her name here at Moore Park is a great way to recognize everything she gave to soccer and to this community and for the next generation of players to see.”
For decades, Moore Park was one of the places where Bostick’s passion for soccer was most visible. She became a familiar presence on the sidelines, cheering for players, supporting families and making her voice heard for the sport she loved.
The newly unveiled Deanna Bostick/LYSA Moore Park Soccer Complex sign ensures that her name will remain connected to the sport and the community she helped build. For generations of Lafayette players and families, Moore Park will now carry the name of a woman who believed every child deserved the chance to play.
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