NEWS

Notice of Public Hearing

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing of Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge will be held.

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo Again Earns Prestigious National Accreditation

After an extensive year-long process, the Baton Rouge Zoo has once again achieved AZA accreditation.

From Vision to Reality: BREC to Unveil Impactful Initiatives in 2024

Prescribed Burn Taking Place at Howell Community Park

BREC will be completing a prescribed burn at Howell Community Park tentatively the week of Jan 15, 2023, starting Tuesday, Jan 17, 2023

BREC Wins Prestigious 2022 National Gold Medal Award

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), announced this morning at its national conference in Phoenix that for the third time in its history, BREC has won the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Musco Lighting LLC has been a proud sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program for more than 15 years.

BREC Announces New Zoo Director

BREC is proud to announce that after a five-month national search, Jim Fleshman has been named the fourth Zoo Director in BREC’s history. Fleshman has worked alongside Phil Frost for the past three years, playing an integral role in the development of the Zoo’s master plan, strategic plan and business plan which is guiding the largest construction project in BREC’s history to reimagine the 51-year-old facility.

BREC Seeks Public Input for Scotlandville Parkway Master Plan

BREC announces the master planning process of the Scotlandville Parkway, a tremendous recreational asset located in North Baton Rouge.?Community partners including Healthy BR, Community Against Drugs and Violence (CADAV), Scotland Saturdays, Front Yard Bikes, and Bike Baton Rouge are working collaboratively with BREC to gather public input with support from a Trust for Public Land grant.

Baton Rouge Boom Bash Celebrates Installation of Litter Catcher in Bayou Fountain

BREC, the Louisiana Stormwater Coalition (LSC), Paddle BR and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) have entered a partnership to install a boom to clean up litter that washes down the waterway every time it rains.

Survey Shows Majority of Residents Satisfied with BREC Services, Weren’t Consulted About Breakaway Bill

Before filing a bill to take resources from BREC and create additional park systems, the authors of Senate Bill 205 largely neglected to consult with voters who approved the property taxes that fund the parish-wide agency and its 10-year strategic plan to determine whether they support such a drastic change.

BREC Responds to Bill Filed for the 2021 Legislative Session

BREC is expressing deep disappointment in Senate Bill 205, which seeks to pull assets from award-winning and nationally recognized park parish-wide park and recreation system for the creation of three new parks and recreation districts, along with new paid staff and governing authorities.

BREC Mourns Death of Longest Serving Commissioner

The Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) is mourning the death of Commission Davis Rhorer. Rhorer was appointed to the BREC Commission in 2013 by Mayor Kip Holden and reappointed by Mayor Sharon Weston-Broome in 2017

BREC Mourns the Death of the Longest Serving Superintendent in its History

For 42 years, the name Eugene A. Young was synonymous with BREC as he was the longest serving Superintendent in the agency’s history. Young retired in 2003 ending a 57-year career in the recreation and parks industry which began when he worked for recreation departments in Austin, Texas and Bloomington, Indiana while in college.

BREC Commission Approves Master Plans for the Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Community Park

The BREC Commission approved master plans for the Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Community Park.

Open House Set for BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Community Park Master Plans

BREC is pleased to announce the launch of the master planning processes for the Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Community Park. Two nationally-acclaimed design consultants have been selected through a competitive bid process and kickoff meetings were held in late November 2018, allowing the consultants to gain a better understanding of the sites and scope of the projects.

Draft of Audit Shows BREC is Making Progress Recovering from the Historic Flood of 2016

BREC’s external auditor, Postlethwaite & Netterville, has submitted a preliminary draft of BREC’s 2017 annual audited financial statements to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA) as required by state law. The draft audit report, which cannot be finalized and released publicly until it is reviewed and approved by the LLA, shows that revenues generated from BREC’s programs and services have returned to pre-flood levels – increasing from $9,839,713 in 2016 to $10,137,338 in 2017, or a total increase of 3%.

BREC Takes First Step in Reimagining the Zoo and Greenwood Community Park

In the first step toward the creation of a reimagined Zoo and Greenwood Community Park, BREC is soliciting proposals from highly qualified and innovative design teams to develop a master plan for the 660-acre park.

BREC Releases Corrections to Public Statements Regarding Reimagined Zoo

Yesterday’s news conference held at Greenwood Community Park regarding BREC’s proposal for a more visible and sustainable location for the Baton Rouge Zoo included several incorrect statements made by speakers that BREC would like to correct.

BREC Commission to Vote on Alternate Location for the Baton Rouge Zoo

Thursday, March 22, the BREC Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at 5 p.m. at 6201 Florida Boulevard. The meeting will include a presentation from outside experts who have evaluated BREC’s Airline Highway Park as a feasible site for the Zoo.

Baton Rouge Bicentennial Oak Dedication

In partnership with BREC, The Baton Rouge Bicentennial Commission, The East Baton Rouge Parish Library System, and Baton Rouge Green, a Live Oak will be planted at Expressway Park in honor of Baton Rouge’s 200th birthday.

BREC Wins Two Prestigious National Awards at NRPA Conference

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), announced at its national conference in New Orleans that BREC won two national awards including the Excellence in Innovative Programming Award for BREC’s LEO Program which is working to bridge the gap between law enforcement and young adults, teens and youth and Project ARK: Animals Reaching Kids which brings Zoo staff and animals into science classes of low-income students to strengthen their STEM skills and develop an understanding of the importance of conservation efforts in our area and around the world

BREC to Celebrate the Completion of New Playground & Other Improvements at Rita Street Park

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH – BREC recently completed improvements and construction of a new playground and other amenities at Rita Street Park located at 2315 Rita Street in Zachary. The public is invited to attend the unveiling and Back to School Bash event on Sunday, September 17 from 3-5p.m., with the playground ribbon cutting beginning at 3:00 p.m.