Baton Rouge residents fight proposed park closures

Community members voice strong opposition to BREC's plan to sell several neighborhood parks

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:33am

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeating pattern of a simple park bench in vibrant shades of green, yellow, and red, conceptually representing the community's fight to save their neighborhood parks.A community-driven fight to preserve local green spaces reflects the ongoing tension between data and public input in urban park management.Baton Rouge Today

Residents in Baton Rouge, Louisiana are pushing back against a proposal by the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) that could lead to the closure and sale of several local parks across the parish. Dozens of people attended a recent community meeting to voice their concerns, arguing that the decisions should be driven more by community input than data alone.

Why it matters

The proposed park closures have sparked an impassioned response from residents who view the green spaces as vital community assets. The issue goes beyond just the loss of recreational areas, as some residents feel the parks are integral to the character and identity of their neighborhoods.

The details

BREC has identified several parks, including Fortune Addition Park, Wenonah Street Park, Dover Street Park, Lanier Drive Park, Blueberry Street Park, Alexander Street Park and Sharon Hills Park, as potential targets for closure and sale. The agency cites financial challenges and data on park usage and proximity to other facilities as the rationale behind the proposal. However, many residents argue that the decision-making process has lacked sufficient community engagement.

  • A second community meeting was recently held at the Charles R. Kelly Community Center to collect public feedback on the proposal.
  • A third community meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 23 at the Jewel J. Newman Community Center.
  • The BREC commission is expected to hold a public hearing and take a final vote on the proposed closures on April 23.

The players

Wendell Mack

A resident who has lived across the street from Fortune Addition Park for years, one of the parks being considered for closure.

Janet Simmons

The BREC Superintendent, who acknowledged the agency made a mistake by not engaging the community earlier in the process.

BREC

The Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, the agency proposing the park closures.

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What they’re saying

“We're here fighting to keep our parks. We have to keep fighting and fighting. But I'm tired of fighting.”

— Wendell Mack, Resident

“That was a misstep on our part. As soon as we realized what happened, we worked to correct it.”

— Janet Simmons, BREC Superintendent

“This is about my fifth BREC meeting in the last two weeks, and the community is showing up. People are telling you what they need, but are you hearing them?”

— Resident

What’s next

A third community meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 23 at the Jewel J. Newman Community Center at 6 p.m. The BREC commission is expected to hold a public hearing and take a final vote on the proposed closures on April 23.

The takeaway

The proposed park closures in Baton Rouge have sparked a passionate response from residents who view these green spaces as vital community assets. The issue highlights the importance of robust community engagement in decision-making processes that impact local neighborhoods and the need to balance data-driven analysis with the lived experiences and needs of residents.