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Stop the takeover of City Park! (Baton Rouge)

Posted on 10/7/25 at 2:31 pm
Posted by Bendelow
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2024
21 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 2:31 pm
At a special meeting on Thursday, October 9, BREC Commissioners will consider approving a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement to conduct a planning process that will result in rolling City Park into a Lakes Conservancy tied to the ongoing Lakes Project.

The proposal, backed by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, presents the benefits of a CEA-directed master plan for City-Brooks Park and the University Lakes system. Those two different projects were not presented as connected in any planning session for the new BREC Master Plan -- Imagine Your Parks 3 – that will guide the park system for the next 10 years.

This appears to be an attempt to alter BREC's most recent master plan after the fact. And the Civic Collaboration Foundation is asking BREC for $300,000 to conduct their master planning, should this proposal be approved.

Think of what that $300,000 might be like if spent on improvements to City Park.

What this means to golfers is that the historical nine-hole golf course will either be eliminated or reduced to three holes for pitch and putt.

The 140-acre City Park, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2028, has NOTHING to do with the Lakes Project, and must not be allowed to be rolled up into a conservancy that no one voted for and only a handful of people are pushing. Please email BREC commissioners prior to the meeting at commissioners@brec.org to voice your opinion.
This post was edited on 10/9/25 at 6:27 pm
Posted by BRsundog
BR
Member since Feb 2020
478 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 3:25 pm to
I see both sides. I never play at city park, it’s always too crowded and I don’t love it. That being said it is historical.
Posted by Bendelow
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2024
21 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 3:46 pm to
Good, thanks. Being too crowded is a consequence of there being only two public courses in the city. Three if you count LSU, But if LSU closes, as is planned for the new LSU Arena project, that leaves only 27 holes of public golf in the city. Close City Park and you are down to 18 holes at Webb, which is already under a lot of pressure.

Please let the BREC Commission know your thoughts and ideas.
Posted by HarryVardon
Member since Apr 2024
6 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 3:49 pm to
Historic City Park Golf Course had 26,600 rounds played there last year and generated $440,000 in revenue. The move to combine all of City Park with the Lakes Project at a cost of $300,000 to BRAF to do a study is a step in the direction of destroying the golf course as it is which seems to me to be a complete abrogation of BREC's responsibility to maintain and manage recreation for the Parish by introducing BRAF as a first step to obtain a tailored study to achieve a conservancy used to destroy the first municipal golf course in Louisiana and the first golf course in the United States to be admitted to the National Register of Historic Places. Urge your representatives to VOTE NO to this proposed collaborative endeavor agreement.
Posted by Bawpaw
Member since May 2021
1536 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 4:14 pm to
Please don’t let this happen!

Everyone take two minutes of your time and email anyone you can to voice your disapproval of this!
Posted by Ernie Gott
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2016
3 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 4:14 pm to
Why isn't this getting any news media attention? Back door politics at its finest. Say no to the power brokers in the shadows. Attend the Oct. 9 meeting or let the BREC commissioners know via email how you feel. Save City Park GC!
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
40391 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 4:24 pm to
I don't know what the hell any of what the OP posted means, I live in North LA and I've never played at that course. But if yall type a generic email message of what you want said and give the email to send it to, I'll do my part.
Posted by BRsundog
BR
Member since Feb 2020
478 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 5:57 pm to
Posted by 904
Forever under I-10
Member since Dec 2009
1074 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 5:58 pm to
As an avid walker, this would be disastrous for weekday public golf. City Park GC fills a much-needed role and would also drastically impact Webb’s playability as well.

Email sent. Thanks for the heads up.
Posted by Bendelow
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2024
21 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 6:29 pm to
Thank you for your timely response and action.
Posted by VernonPLSUfan
Leesville, La.
Member since Sep 2007
17496 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 7:45 pm to
Letting my reps know. Loved that course and the old time vibe it gave off.
Posted by doubleb
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2006
41575 posts
Posted on 10/7/25 at 8:22 pm to
It seems like special interests are trying to pick apart BREC. They couldn’t work with BREC so they try and pull an end run and take control of this historical park.

Are they going to use private money to keep it up, make improvements, etc? Are they going to take the Park and do what they want with it?

This would be a bad precedent.
Posted by Bendelow
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2024
21 posts
Posted on 10/8/25 at 6:53 am to
BRAF specializes in using other people's money to fund their "visionary" projects, and that means they are after BREC dedicated property tax funds to operate their conservancy. Nobody voted for that, and it is a money grab such as the ones going on all over EBR Parish.
Posted by farad
Member since Dec 2013
12176 posts
Posted on 10/8/25 at 8:14 am to
email sent!...

Posted by Bendelow
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2024
21 posts
Posted on 10/8/25 at 8:20 am to
Thanks for your support!
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
40391 posts
Posted on 10/8/25 at 10:18 am to
Alright I sent a scathing email.
Posted by Harry Caray
Denial
Member since Aug 2009
20029 posts
Posted on 10/9/25 at 10:27 am to
I got a response this morning:

quote:

Thank you for taking the time to write to the BREC commission regarding the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement we are being asked to vote on tonight. I too am deeply concerned about the CEA and appreciate having input from fellow citizens.

While it is a two step process with this portion being the first step, I do not like the public having limited stakeholder access to the decisions that would be made by the Civic Collaborative Foundation..(i.e. 3 board members who are all employees of BRAF).

I will continue to educate my fellow commissioners on what this might mean long term and hope you will continue to communicate to your fellow stakeholders.
Posted by In The Know
City of St George, La
Member since Jan 2005
6238 posts
Posted on 10/9/25 at 11:07 am to
I’m torn. I like the idea of a Central Park-like setup with a big open amphitheater for concerts and special events. But I also like the course because it’s so different from anything around and my boy enjoys playing it.
Posted by Bendelow
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2024
21 posts
Posted on 10/9/25 at 11:58 am to
Thanks, Tom. The amphitheater might better be built in Brooks Park across Dalrymple where there is space next to the Knock Knock Children's Museum.
Posted by In The Know
City of St George, La
Member since Jan 2005
6238 posts
Posted on 10/9/25 at 2:04 pm to
Perhaps. I would agree that if they’re gonna make a pitch and putt course, just keep the existing course as is.
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