BREC Purchases 396 Acres in Pride for Community Park

Submitted by Kristi Williams

    BREC, The Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, bought 396± acres on March 11 from several landowners in the northeast part of East Baton Rouge Parish. Twelve community parks are being developed. Nine existing parks are being or have been converted to Community Parks. This land purchase was for the last of the three community parks sites that BREC needed to acquire for the Imagine Your Parks Plan.

 This Community Park will serve the northeast part of the parish, but will have a regional draw. Ideas for the park include an equestrian theme, complete with horse trails, and a community playground and trails for mountain bike riding. Other amenities will be determined with public input during the master planning process.

     BREC paid $1,072,191.61 for three tracts of land. The Ewell tract is 161.55 acres and cost $386,085.94. The Geronimo tract is 98 acres and cost $340,000. The Davis tract is 136.78 acres and cost $346,105.67. A map of the tracts is online at brec.org.

  Voters approved the citizen-driven strategic plan, Imagine Your Parks, in November 2004. The strategic plan calls for the development of 12 community parks and other improvements across the parish park system.

    It is BREC’s mission to provide quality parks and recreation programs to all residents of East Baton Rouge Parish.