Local Organization Donates BBQ Pits to Thibodaux Parks 

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If you’re planning a day at the park in Thibodaux in the near future, prepare a stack of raw meat and some fixins to bring with you. 


Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge No. 52 purchased 10 barbecue pits to be installed in each of the parks inside Thibodaux’s city limits. 

“We were just kind of brainstorming ideas of something to do to physically give back to the community, something that they can benefit from,” said Lieutenant Clint Dempster, President of FOP Lodge No. 52.

After they came up with the idea of putting the stationary pits in the parks, they sought approval from Mayor Tommy Eschete, who thought it was an excellent idea, Dempster said. 


“We have a strong partnership with the City, and [Eschete] was gracious enough to sit and listen to us,” he said. 

The production of the barbecue pits, custom built by Supreme Ornamental Iron Works, took a while, Dempster said, because the organization wanted the grills to be reliable over a lengthy period of time. 

“You wan’t to make something that’s going to last; we didn’t go the cheap route,” he said. “You want to make something that really can’t be damaged in any way.”


The finished product is a shiny aluminum BBQ pit with a stainless steel grill. Dempster noted that rust should not be a factor with the new outdoor grills, and their maintenance should be relatively low because of the quality.


He also addressed the public’s concerns of the pits possibly getting stolen: “I’m not gonna say that anything is theft-proof, but I will tell you that we thought of and took every avenue we can to make this thing theft-resistant—from the parts and pieces of the pit to the actual pit itself.”

“Most of our community is honest and is going to take care of this equipment,” Dempster continued. “The reality of it is, you do have to set it up in case you do have someone who will try to take it, damage it or something like that.” 


Dempster said they are planning to install the barbecue pits within the next couple of weeks, and each park will get one or more, depending on its size. He said they are going to be set up in areas of the parks that are more feasible for both the public and for Thibodaux Parks and Recreation to maintain as well. 

“It’s a blessing for us and all of the members of FOP because that’s our vision: to keep doing positive things for the community,” Dempster said. “And we aren’t going to stop there.”

FOP Lodge No. 52 is a Thibodaux non-profit organization of POST certified law enforcement officers. The organization participates in several local non-profit fundraisers, sponsors little league teams and awards scholarships to local teens. 


Its own fundraiser, the Mud Bug Boil-Off in Downtown Thibodaux, has become a local favorite and has generated a significant amount of funds for other nonprofits. 

“Every little thing we can do to make the City of Thibodaux a better place, we want to do it,” Dempster said.