In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Greenwood Park is the largest park in the Baton Rouge Park System, and includes golf amenities, miles of trails, waterways, and the Baton Rouge Zoo. But had become quite run down over the decades, and thorough redesign and renovation was in order.
On December 8, BREC held an official groundbreaking ceremony marking the beginning of Phase I implementation of a design by Sasaki and local team, Torre Design Consortium, for Greenwood Community Park and Zoo.
In 2018, Sasaki was hired to reimagine the future of Greenwood Park and lead a community process that worked in collaboration with the Baton Rouge Zoo, which underwent a simultaneous master planning process led by Torre Design Consortium, Ltd.
Then, in late 2019, the Sasaki and Torre team were asked to lead Phase 1 design implementation of the plan.
The design’s first phase will include a signature adventure playground, a new entry building and sequence for the zoo relocated within Greenwood Park, AZA re-accreditation for the zoo, a giraffe feeding, a pygmy hippo exhibit, re-routing of the zoo train, an expanded and upgraded J.S. Clark Golf Course, the restoration of Cypress Bayou, and the creation of the Signature Bayou Promenade.
“In a well designed park, families are encouraged to create unforgettable moments,” said Corey Wilson, Chief of Management and Business Services at BREC.
“Redesigning the Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Park will strengthen our communities, strengthen our mission to create a healthier, more vibrant community, providing exceptional parks, open spaces, and recreational experiences for all of East Baton Rouge Parish,” he added.
Back on September 18, 2019, the Greenwood Park master plan was unanimously approved by the board of commissioners of the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC), following a final presentation by Sasaki.
The Greenwood Park visioning and planning process has been especially inclusive to ensure future plans for the North Baton Rouge park reflect the needs of its surrounding community and visitors, alike.
The Sasaki team spoke to over 4000 Baton Rougians over the past nine months.
Coming out of this deep public engagement effort, the broader Baton Rouge community has begun to view the future Greenwood Park as a unifier and revitalizer for the whole city, celebrating the investment in an area that has historically lacked investment.
All renderings courtesy of Sasaki.